First of all, what exactly is a homestudy?

It is a report conducted by a licensed social worker (or if your state and foreign country allow, a case worker) that evaluates a family's fitness to parent a child. Don't panic, most families have no problem being approved. Many people believe that they need to have a spotless house in order to be approved. Fortunately, this is not the case. A standard cleaning should suffice - we all have closets that may not be eligible for first place in organization and beauty.

Who is allowed to conduct a homestudy?

Normally most states require a licensed social worker or a licensed agency. However, the rules can vary by state so please check with your agency. A social worker's job is to make sure that there are no serious problems that would prevent you from parenting a child.

Although a homestudy may seem intrusive, it can actually help educate a family on a variety of adoption issues, such as:

• The life changes a family will experience.
• Determining whether or not both parents are equally invested in the adoption.
• If applicable, discussing the grieving process from an infertility problem or the loss of a previous adoption placement.
• The risks involved in adoption.
• Cultural and possible ethnic differences.

Also, a good homestudy agency will offer additional support services such as parent groups, or newsletters.

What do you have to do for a homestudy?

Although the requirements may vary by state and country, here is a basic overview:

• House inspection - your home must meet fire, health and safety standards
• Home visits - the social worker must meet with everyone who lives in the home
• Autobiographies - each parent must write a few pages about himself/herself (Believe it or not, most people feel that this is the hardest part of a homestudy, but we are here to help you with this as well.)
• Physical exam - most social workers have a specific form that your doctor needs to fill out, and some lab work is normally required
• Legal documents:
  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Divorce decree or death certificate of spouse (if applicable)
  • Military discharge (if applicable)
  • Child abuse and neglect clearances
  • Criminal background checks (state and federal)
  • Financial records (e.g. - tax returns or bank statements)
• Personal references

Homestudy services typically take between 2 - 4 months to complete. Once finished, the report will be submitted to the INS along with a few other forms and documentation. The INS will use the report and other documentation to approve you to bring an adopted child into the U.S. The report will also become a part of your dossier, which is your family's file that goes to the foreign government. Please ask your adoption agency (the agency that will assign a child to you) how many original homestudy reports you will need, and what other documents your social worker will have to complete for your dossier.

Although the process may overwhelm you, most people find it very interesting to read their life story on paper. The process can be challenging, but it is necessary and can even be exciting.

Adoption Navigators can also help guide you through the homestudy process, including putting the multitude of necessary papers in order.