To adopt a child (kinship, domestic or international) all individuals must successfully complete a home study investigation in the state of their residence.
To successfully complete a home study investigation in New York, prospective adoptive parent(s) must complete a series of tasks:
1) Apply for Services: Research, select and apply to a home study provider authorized or licensed in the your state of residence (e.g. Family Connections, Inc. in New York). For international adoption, you must have your home study conducted by an authorized/licensed adoption agency that has achieved Hague Accreditation or is a supervised provider - Family Connections, Inc. is Hague Accredited!
2) Obtain Child Abuse & Maltreatment History Reports: Provide information (names, dates of birth, addresses) regarding the prospective adoptive parents and adult household members to the home study provider so the provider may obtain child abuse and maltreatment history reports; if any adult person in the household lived outside of the United States, that individual will be required to obtain child abuse and maltreatment history reports from that country for the home study provider.
3) Acquire Criminal History Reports: Get fingerprinted (prospective adoptive parents and adult household members) so the home study provider may obtain state and federal criminal history reports; if any adult person in the household lived outside of the United States, that individual will be required to obtain a criminal history from that country for the home study provider.
4) Complete Medical Examinations: Have medical examinations for each prospective adoptive parent, every adult household member and every child living in the home completed and submit the medical report to the home study provider.
5) Request Personal References: Ask three friends, co-workers, clergy or family who know the you well to write a letter of reference to be submitted to the home study provider.
6) Complete Face-to-Face Interviews: Participate in home study investigation interviews with the adoption Social Worker.
7) Conduct Home Visit/Inspection: Have the adoption Social Worker visit the home and complete an evaluation of the home’s safety and suitability for child.
8) Finish Adoption Training: Complete training as indicated by the home study provider and international adoption placement agency (if international).
9) Submit Home Study Documentation: Complete and provide required home study investigation paperwork to the home study provider. In New York State, the documents may include, but are not limited to:
- Sworn statements of criminal history for each prospective adoptive parent and all adult household members
- Pictures of family and home
- Informational form containing demographic information (e.g. address, phone number, employer, family members, etc)
- Statement of guardians
- Autobiographies for each prospective adoptive parent
- Adoption questionnaires
- Proof of adoption training
- References
- Financial statement (income, assets, and liabilities) with documentation
- Proof of employment
- Birth certificates of prospective adoptive parents
- Marriage certificate (if any)
- Divorce decrees (if any)
- Passports of prospective adoptive parents (if adopting internationally)
- Duty to fully disclose statement
Depending upon the needs of the family, the requirements of the adoption process, the country from which the family is adopting, and the diligence of the adoptive family, a home study investigation can typically be completed within 6 weeks to 4 months.
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