Home Study FAQ
Who has to be present?
The adoptive parent(s) must be present as well as any children who are also in the home.
Will you walk through my home?
Yes. I will walk through your home to ensure there is adequate space and safety features.
Are you going to evaluate how clean my house is?
I will not go through your home with a white glove! The expectation is that your home is reasonably clean.
I have a DUI or other criminal record. Will this prohibit me from being recommended for adoption?
There are certain offenses that will prohibit your ability to adopt and this question should be directed to an attorney.
Do I need to use the health forms you provide?
No. They are provided for your convenience. Your doctor’s office can use their preferred method to show you have no mental or physical health problems that would interfere with your caring for the health, safety and wellbeing of a child.
How long will the appointment take?
Generally three to three and a half hours. All of the information you provided on the Application will be entered into the home study template prior to the interview. This is the reason for the application fee, which is non refundable.
Can I make payments?
No. All fees are due at the time of service (day of the appointment) or before.
How long will it take for you to write up the home study?
Generally, this will take a week to ten days. You will have a chance to review your study prior to it being completed and signed. This is to ensure correct information.
What else do I need to know?
Avoid procrastinating! The background checks really don’t take long to run and you can do them online. If you have a current exam on file with your doctor’s office they may sign off on your health assessment without needing to make an appointment; that will be up to your doctor. Be sure to let your references know that they will be contacted and ask them to respond as quickly as possible. These items will be attachments to your home study and are needed for completion of the study.
