^{Home Study Services for Prospective Adoptive Parents}     

 In order to be approved as adoptive parents a family needs to complete a home study investigation, conducted by a licensed/authorized adoption agency.  All home study investigations for international adoption must be conducted by a Hague Accredited agency.  Family Connections, Inc. is an authorized New York State Adoption Agency that has achieved Hague Accreditation from the Inter-country Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance Entity (IAAME).  Family Connections, Inc. provides home study investigation services to families wishing to adopt a child from a foreign county (known as International Adoption or Inter-country Adoption); from the public foster care system; through a private independent domestic adoption; or through a private agency domestic adoption.   

The Purpose of the Home Study Investigation Is:

• To prepare you for the addition of a child(ren) to your family through adoption. 
• To ensure that an adopted child would be safe and nurtured in your home.
• To explore your adoption plan so the adoption agency can properly assist your family and so the home study investigation report can accurately state your adoption wishes.
• To understand the essence of who you and your family are so that the adoption agency can support your needs and the home study investigation report effectively reflects who you are.
• To prepare you for the adoption process.

New York State has 12 Major Components/Requirements:

1. Face-to-Face Interviews of the prospective adoptive parent(s), children in the home, and adult household members (persons living in the home age 18 years and older) by an adoption Social Worker.  The number of interviews is determined by the specific requirements of the family’s planned adoption. 
2. Home Visit(s) / Home Safety Assessment will be conducted by an adoption Social Worker to ensure the prospective adoptive family’s home is suitable and safe for a child(ren).  The number of home visits is determined by the specific requirements of the adoption. 
3. Child Abuse and Maltreatment History Reports (aka child abuse clearances) must be acquired from each state and country from which the prospective adoptive parent(s) and adult household members have lived.
4. Vulnerable Persons' Central Registry screening must be obtained for each prospective adoptive parent and adult household member from the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.
5. Criminal History Reports (aka criminal clearances) must be obtained from the New York State Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and any country from which the prospective adoptive parent(s) and adult household members have lived. In addition, each prospective adoptive parent and adult household member must sign and have notarized a Sworn Statement of Criminal History that denies a criminal history or discloses a history of arrest(s) or conviction(s).
6. Medical Reports for the prospective adoptive parent(s), adult household members, and children in the home must be provided to the home study provider. 
7. An Analysis of the Financial Resources of the prospective adoptive family will be conducted.  The prospective adoptive parent(s)’ must provide proof of income, assets and liabilities, and insurances. 
8. The Adoptive Parent(s)’ Birth, Marriage, and Divorce (if any) must be verified.  The prospective adoptive parents must provide their birth certificates, their marriage certificate and divorce decrees (if any) to the home study provider.
9. Adoption Questionnaires will be completed by the prospective adoptive parents.  The questionnaires explore the family’s understanding and preparedness for the adoption process and for parenting an adopted child.
10. The Adoptive Parent(s)’ Family, Education, Employment, Martial, and Parenting History will be explored by the adoption Social Worker. 
11. Personal References from individuals (not family members) who have known the prospective adoptive family for a long period of time are required.   The references should comment on the prospective adoptive parents’ personal values, status of their marriage or life partnership, parenting history or experience with children, and suitability for adoptive parenting.
12. Adoption Training will be completed by the prospective adoptive parents.  The adoption Social Worker will assess each family’s specific training needs.  The Social Worker may provide one-on-one personal training, and/or refer the family to group classroom training, and/or require them to complete on-line coursework.  In addition, the Social Worker will provide the family with a suggested reading list of relevant adoption literature and refer the family to local adoption support networks.  For families adopting a child(ren) from a Hague Convention Country, they will be required to complete a minimum of ten hours of training as required by the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. 

 How Long Does A Home Study Take?

Depending upon the needs of the family, the requirements of the country from which the family is adopting, and the diligence of the adoptive family, a home study investigation can typically be completed within 3 to 4 months (or less) from the time of the home visit. The timing of the home study typically depends on how quickly the home study paperwork is completed by the family.

For an additional fee, the home study can be expedited. Family Connections, Inc. will expedite a home study investigation by completing the first draft of the report in 6 weeks or less from the time of the home visit.

Family Connections' professionals have been conducting home study investigations for domestic and international families for over twenty years and has the expertise to support your family's home study needs. To request home study investigation services from Family Connections, Inc., please contact Dan at dan@adoptfamilyconnections.org or call 607-756-6574.

We look forward to supporting your adoption home study needs.