At a home visit, DCF assesses the child’s overall safety and well-being. They look for signs or risk factors of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. They look for physical hazards in the home, and that the home has the resources to care for a child, like food and bedding. DCF observes the family dynamic and evaluates the appropriateness of the placement.
DCF Home Visits for Adoption
A Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) home visit can occur for multiple reasons. DCF may investigate a report of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment. DCF home visits are also required in the adoption, licensing, and placement process.
In this article, Gulf Coast Adoptions explains what DCF looks for in an adoption home visit.
What DCF Looks for in an Adoption Home Visit
Broadly, DCF looks for things that may expose a child to abuse, neglect, or abandonment if adopted into a home. Some of these dangers are physical things, like accessible knives and weapons, exposed electrical wiring, or a bed that isn’t appropriate for a child’s age. Other dangers may relate to parenting skills and family dynamics.
In addition, DCF evaluates if a placement is appropriate for a particular child. Children in foster care often have special needs, including emotional, behavioral, educational, and physical. DCF checks to see if the home can provide the child with care that meets their specific needs.
Overall
DCF assesses the safety and well-being of the child.
Physical needs
A visit will see if the child’s physical needs are being met in the home, including:
- Bed (age-appropriate, railings on bunk beds)
- Sleeping arrangements and room for child (their room or shared with siblings, depending on age and gender of children)
- Food, healthy food, no rotten food
- Clothes
Cleanliness
A clean home, including:
- Laundry and dishes not piling up
- No human or animal feces
- No offensive odor
- Free of infestation and pests
- Working smoke detectors
Hazards
Potential dangers include
- Chemical hazards
- Knives and sharp objects
- Weapons
- Electrical hazards, exposed wires
- Access to pools and bodies of water, drowning hazards
- Fencing if near a road
- Smell of cigarette smoke
- Access to alcohol or drugs, prescription, and over-the-counter medications
Medical care
DCF may inquire about the child’s medical care. They may review records to see if a child is receiving routine medical care and care for specific needs.
Educational
An inquiry will include the child’s education, interview questions, and a review of records.
Child-specific issues
The case worker will identify and inquire about child-specific issues:
- Sibling groups
- Allergies
- Childcare, if the child attends
- Special medical, emotional, or educational needs
- Medication the child is taking
Family interaction
DCF will watch interactions between family members and evaluate parental discipline. They look for a safe, comfortable home environment and developmentally appropriate parent-child relationships. They observe parenting style and whether parents are meeting the emotional needs of the children. Parents must show impulse control and an awareness of the child’s trauma and its potential impact on behavior.
Interviews
DCF will ask to speak with family members, including older children. Questions will include your understanding of adoption. They will ask about the child’s daily routines and activities.
When Visits Occur
DCF home visits for adoption occur both before and after the child is placed in the home. A home study is required as part of the approval process to place a child in the home. You may hear this home study process called a Unified Home Study (UHS).
After placement, at least three additional home visits occur before an adoption is finalized. The first visit should take place within a week of the initial placement. In addition, the entire family should be seen together at least once.
If you work with a contracting agency, rather than directly with DCF, your visits will be conducted by the case worker from the agency, rather than by a DCF employee.
Preparing for a home visit
DCF home visits are a standard part of the adoption process. To prepare, assess, and address physical dangers that may be present in the home. Provide appropriate bedding, sleeping arrangements, clothing, cleanliness in the home, and provisions for other physical needs.
If you need accommodations, like communication assistance, for your DCF visit, ask the case worker for assistance.
Talk to a Lawyer
DCF home visits are an important part of the adoption process. It’s important to understand what DCF looks for. Gulf Coast Adoptions is committed to helping adoptive parents navigate the adoption process, including DCF home visits. Contact us now.