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Written by Jessie McNaughton
on August 30, 2016

Original post by Nancy S.

 

There are many adoption avenues, including international adoption, domestic infant adoption, kinship adoption, foster care adoption and more.  One big thing that all of these types of adoption have in common is the home study.  In New York State, home study investigations are usually conducted by authorized private Adoption Agencies (aka voluntary agencies), public Departments of Social Services, private Licensed Master or Clinical Social Workers, or individuals or organizations approved by a local court to conduct home study investigations. 

 

New_York_State_adoption_home_study.jpg 

 

Family Connections is an authorized private adoption agency, which means we can complete a home study in New York for prospective adoptive parents in any type of adoption.  The Department of Social Services (DSS) can conduct home studies for public foster care adoptions.  Licensed social workers and individuals or organizations approved by a local court can only perform home study investigations for prospective adoptive parents who can become pre-qualified as adoptive parents by their county’s family court (e.g. private domestic independent adoption, kinship adoption).  As of July 2014, home studies for international adoption need to be conducted by a Hague Accredited agency.  

 

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services authorizes adoption agencies in New York.  We have been authorized in New York State for 22 years.  Family Connections also has achieved Hague Accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA) in relation to International Adoption. Family Connections and other New York State authorized adoption agencies can conduct home study investigations and approve individuals as adoptive parents for ALL types of adoptions.

 

Every county in New York State has a Department of Social Services.  Caseworkers in the county’s Department of Social Services where the prospective adoptive parents live can complete home study investigations for families wishing to adopt from the United States’ public adoption system including foster care adoption or public domestic system adoption.

 

Social Workers in New York State are licensed by the State University of New York, the Department of the Professions as either Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW).   Licensed social workers may conduct home study investigations for kinship, step-parent, second parent, and private domestic independent adoptions.  Please understand that private licensed social workers are not able to approve individuals as adoptive parents; they can only recommend families for approval by the Court.  Private licensed social workers are unable to obtain the child abuse history reports and criminal history reports needed to approve individuals as adoptive parents.  Private social workers do not have legal authority to approve an applicant as an adoptive family.  Thus, if prospective adoptive parents choose to use a private licensed social worker, they will be required to petition their county’s Family Court to become pre-qualified (approved; aka pre-certified) as adoptive parents. 

 

Individuals or Organizations Approved by a Local Court may conduct home study investigations at the request/order of the court.   If ordered by the court, the approved individual or organization may conduct home study investigations for kinship, step-parent, second parent, and private domestic independent adoptions.  These individuals or organizations do not have legal authority to approve an applicant as an adoptive family.  Thus, prospective adoptive parents will be required to petition their county’s Family Court to become pre-qualified (approved; aka pre-certified) as adoptive parents. 

 

Family Connections, Inc. is a New York State authorized adoption agency who has achieved Hague Accreditation from the Council on Accreditation. With over twenty years’ experience in adoption, we would be honored to help you with your adoption plans.  To complete a home study investigation with Family Connections, Inc., an authorized New York State Adoption Agency, please call 607-756-6574 or 1-800-535-5556 to talk with Anita or Renee.  You can also download a free guide to your adoption home study by clicking below:

 

Download The Adoption Home Study Guide

 

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