The Home Study-- No Rock Left Unturned!

What is a Home Study?

There are three purposes behind the home study process:

1. to educate and prepare the adoptive family for adoption,
2. to gather information about the prospective parents that will help a case worker match the family with a child whose needs they can meet,
3. and to evaluate the fitness of the adoptive family.

There are 6 main elements that are included within the home study application.  They are:

1. Interviews:  We will be interviewed by our case manager to ensure that we develop a relationship that will enable him/her to better understand our family and assist us with an appropriate placement.  The interview also includes a home visit which serves to ensure that our home meets state licensing standards and to make sure we have adequate room for our child/children.
2. Health Statements: Both of us will need to have a physical exam performed by our family doctor as well as medical forms filled out.  Remi, our dog, also needs to have a clean bill of health and needs to be up to date on her vaccinations.
3. Income Statements: We have to be able to show that we can manage our finances responsibly and adequately.  They also ask about insurance, savings, and other investments and debts.
4. Background Checks: Criminal background, child abuse, and FBI finger printing clearances all need to be completed and passed.
5. Autobiography: Both of us need to write a 2-4 page autobiography that answers extensive questions about our upbringing, experiences that we've had during elementary, middle, high school, and college, and what we've learned from them.  It's basically our life story.
6. References: We need to provide 5 references/recommendation letters from individuals who have known us for several years, who have observed us in many situations, and who have visited our home and know of our interest in and involvement with children.

In addition to all of the above paperwork, there is a 25 page application that asks questions in regards to our family life, what our house and neighborhood are like, our relationships with family, friends, and neighbors, our parenting styles, employment and school records, daily life routines, religion, and our feelings about/readiness for adoption.

Once all of this has been completed, our case manager will then take all of the information that we supply and will complete a written report that will conclude with an approval/recommendation that often includes the age range and number of children for which we are recommended.

On average, the entire home study process takes 3 to 6 months.

Prayer Requests:

1. Pray that we can answer all of the questions in a way that will provide our case manager and prospective birth parents a comprehensive knowledge of our family life and parenting styles.
2. Pray that we are able to gather all of the additional documents like clearances, physicals, financial info, and birth certificates in a timely fashion.
3. Pray that our house is clean and orderly and our basement and upstairs home improvement projects are completed before the home visit.
4. Pray that both of us continue to enjoy and feel excitement towards this process and that we don't begin to tear our hair out because of stress.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and financial support.  Please don't hesitate to ask us questions or engage in a conversation...we'd love to share!