The adoption process can seem overwhelming at times. It helps to break things down and take it one step at a time. One of the first things to complete is your adoption home study. While you may be nervous about having a social worker visit your family and home, relax and enjoy this time, it can be very beneficial to learning more about adoption. It is understandable that the home study investigation process and required paperwork can seem daunting to prospective adoptive parents. Most prospective adoptive parents are very nervous about the home study investigation. To help calm the nerves follow these tips to help you successfully complete the home study process...
- Employ the services of an authorized adoption agency with expertise in home study investigation
- Have an adoption agency and social worker complete your home study investigation whom you trust and feel comfortable with and confident in
- Work with an adoption agency and social worker who has experience in the type of adoption you are planning (e.g domestic infant, international, special needs)
- Have a social worker who is an adoptive parent herself/himself (it may help to have someone who has "walked in your shoes")
- Remind yourself that the home study investigation is not only to ensure the safety of a child in your home but to also prepare you and support you as you become an adoptive parent
- Know that your social worker and adoption agency want you to be successful and are there to help you through the process
Some prospective adoptive parents can be overwhelmed by the home study investigation process and paperwork requirements.
To help work through the process:
- Organize: Make a list of the required steps in the process and the required home study documents. Take this list and organize it by who needs to complete the step or document (e.g. father, mother, adult household member, reference, medical provider) and when it needs to be completed.
- Assign Tasks: The home study process is for the whole family and no one person should be responsible for the process or paperwork. Give each person (e.g. mom, dad, adult household member) their own responsibilities and assign them tasks to complete (e.g. make medical appointments, obtain bank records, complete adoption surveys).
- Prioritize: The home study provider should provide the family with information regarding the time it takes to complete a task (e.g. it takes 2 weeks to get a fingerprint appointment or it may take a month to obtain a child abuse history report or getting a passport can take 6 weeks). Then decide what to do first, second, third, etc.
- Chunk: Completing the required steps and paperwork in one setting is an impossible task. So once organized and prioritized, divide up the requirements and work on it in chunks. For example, one night contact references to request recommendation letters, the next day write the autobiography, then gather financial documents, and so on.
- Set Goals and Deadlines: Determine when you wish to complete your home study investigation and then set small goals and deadlines for each task to ensure that you finish your home study investigation within the time frame you planned (of course plan for unexpected paperwork glitches).
MOST IMPORTANTLY, ENJOY THE PROCESS! A home study investigation is the first step in a family’s adoption journey and it should be an educational and enlightening experience. It is a wonderful beginning that will bring the joy of a child into a forever, loving family.
If you would like to learn more about adoption, Family Connections, Inc. is a New York State authorized adoption agency that has achieved Hague Accreditation through the Council on Accreditation. The Agency offers a free, no obligation consultation. You can contact Anita or Dan at 607-756-6574 or 1-800-535-5556. With over thirty years experience Family Connections, Inc. can complete home studies throughout New York state.
For more information on the home study process, you can download our Adoption Home Study Guide by clicking on the link below.
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