When you are adopting a child, you must begin with a home study. An adoption home study is an overview of your life. It consists of a criminal background check, health clearance, a review of your finances, an assessment of your marriage, partnership, and other personal relationships. A home study is used by the courts to determine whether a stable environment exists for a child to be placed in your home.
A home study is required for every adoption with the exception of relative or step-parent adoptions. The child you are adopting can be an infant or a teen; the adoption may be international or domestic, it may be done privately or through a foster care agency. If a prospective adoptive parent is not a relative or a step-parent, they must go through this study.
The adoption home study is the most significant first step in the adoption process, and it is often the lengthiest. The entire thing can seem overwhelming. The more you know about how a home study works, the more prepared you will be for one.
To successfully complete a home study, you will need to meet at a minimum the following requirements:
Taking the initiative is the key to completing an adoption home study successfully and expeditiously. The following are the general steps required to complete a home study:
This process is new to just about anyone who is adopting for the first time. While there may be several steps to go through and it might seem daunting at first, know that we’re here at Gulf Coast Adoptions to help go over all of this with you and prepare you along the way. Please contact us to find out more about the home study process or to start your adoption journey today.