Steps in the Home Study Process
The Adoption Home Study Process
To start the process, you need to create an account on our new My Adoption Portal (MAP), and complete your application online. You can log into your existing account or create a new account here.
My Adoption Portal is a new system that is organized, easy to understand and user friendly for our clients. There is no mystery on what stage you are in or what paperwork still needs to be completed. The majority of our forms have been changed to accept electronic signatures which will cut down on the burdensome process of printing, signing and mailing the whole packet. You will also have the ability to upload copies of required documents directly into your case file so that there is no chance of personal information being lost in the mail or retrieved from email communications. You will have the constant ability to communicate with your caseworker and staff members throughout the process with a secure messaging system. We have implemented the use of My Adoption Portal to make the home study process for our clients as smooth and transparent as possible.
After your application has been reviewed and approved by the Assessments Manager, you will then be assigned a social worker and have access to a detailed home study packet via My Adoption Portal. At this time, a social worker will contact you to schedule the first interview.
Prospective parents often have a number of questions at the start of the home study process, and the assigned home study social worker or the Assessments team will be able to answer any questions you have regarding the process or documents involved.
After you have completed all necessary documentation and the document checklist, you will return the original documents for the necessary forms and complete payment of the home study fee
(please see our
fee schedule to determine the remaining fee as home study fees vary by program).
After Submission of the Adoption Home Study Documentation
The adoption home study social worker assigned to you will set up a number of additional interviews: two if you are single and three if you are a couple. Each interview is about one-and-a-half to two hours long. At least one of the interviews must take place in your home. In anticipation of the social worker’s visit, many families feel the need to clean and redecorate their home. Please rest assured that this is not necessary. The home study social worker is only there to ensure that your home environment is safe for a child.
After Adoptions Together verifies completion of home study documentation
, our commitment is to prepare the final home study report within 90 days.
During the home study process, two personal references will be contacted by telephone and one will be interviewed in person. At any time during the home study process, your home study social worker may choose to consult with the clinical team at Adoptions Together to review the status of your home study.
Your social worker will complete the home study and submit for review with the Adoptions Together Home Study Review Team. Once Adoptions Together has reviewed the home study, you will be asked to review the home study for any factual errors. If you are working with another agency for placement, we will also have your placement agency review the home study before it is finalized for any specific requirements requested by the placement agency, state, or country where you are adopting from.
Adoption Home Study Tips
• Be yourself and be genuine when working with us.
• Be honest with the home study social worker; try to avoid keeping things hidden.
• Complete the packet in its entirety, do not exclude information.
• Do not be afraid to ask questions, the adoption home study social worker is there to help.
Adoption home study requirements are in place to keep children safe and assist with placing them in stable homes – you will gain the most benefit, as will the child, by following the guidelines and providing all necessary information throughout the home study process.