Every family who completes an adoption home study has a slightly different time line. The process and time line depend on whether they are planning to adopt internationally or domestically. Depending on the family’s needs and where they are adopting from, the home study investigation can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 months to complete.
Family Connections, Inc., is a New York State authorized adoption agency that has achieved Hague Accreditation through the Council on Accreditation. We provide both domestic and international home study services throughout the state of New York, from Syracuse, Rochester, Binghamton, Albany, Buffalo, and all cities in between. We also serve the New York City and Long Island Areas.
To successfully complete a home study investigation prospective adoptive parent(s) must complete a series of tasks. The process follows this general time line:
1) Apply for Services: You must research, select and apply to a home study provider authorized or licensed in your state of residence. (e.g. Family Connections, Inc. in New York).
2) Obtain Child Abuse & Maltreatment History Reports: You will be asked to provide information (names, dates of birth, addresses) for you and any adult household members to the home study provider or court so the provider or court 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(ies) for the home study provider (if the country has a child abuse registry)(if the country does not have a registry, the applicant must provide proof that the country does not have a child abuse registry to the home study provider).
3) Obtain Vulnerable Persons Abuse and Maltreatment Screening Results: You will need to sign a release of information document that permits the home study investigator to request the screening through the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs for you and any adult household members (if any).
4) Acquire Criminal History Reports: You and any adult household members will need an appointment to get fingerprinted so the home study provider or court 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(ies) (if available) for the home study provider.
5) Complete Medical Examinations: You will need to have a medical examination, every adult household member and every child living in the home will also need to have a completed exam and submit the medical report to the home study provider.
6) Request Personal References: You will need to ask three to five friends, co-workers, or clergy who know you will to write a letter of reference to be submitted to the home study provider. We suggest you ask for five references to guarantee the receipt of at least three.
7) Complete Face-to-Face Interviews: An adoption Social Worker will visit you for a face to face visit to interview you and discuss your adoption plans..
8) Conduct Home Visit/Inspection: The adoption Social Worker will visit your home and complete an evaluation of the home’s safety and suitability for a child(ren).
9) Finish Adoption Training: You will need to complete training as indicated by the home study provider and international adoption placement agency (if any).
10) Submit Home Study Documentation: You will need to complete and provide the required home study investigation paperwork to the home study provider. In New York State, the documents may include, but are not limited too:
- Child abuse and maltreatment informational form (name, dates of birth, and addresses) and release of information agreement for child abuse and maltreatment review (a release so States may provide the results of their child abuse and maltreatment history search for each prospective adoptive parents and adult household member to the home study provider)
- Criminal history release of information agreement (a release so that New York State may provide the results of the criminal history search to the home study provider)
- Sworn statements of criminal history for each prospective adoptive parent and all adult household members
- Medical reports for each prospective adoptive parent, all adult household members, and all children living in the home
- 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
If you would like more information about adoption, please contact Anita or Renee at 607-756-6574 or 1-800-535-5556, they would be happy to help you explore your adoption options. You can also contact us to schedule a free no-obligation personal consultation to learn more about your adoption options by clicking on the link below.
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