Preparing for a Successful Home Study

A successful home study is the first legal step on every adoption journey. With a little bit of preparation and an experienced adoption specialist on your side, you’ll complete your home study in no time.

We’re committed to helping you prepare for your home study. As a local licensed home study agency in Indiana, we can even complete the process for you when the time comes. Reach out to us today for more information or to get started.

Keep reading for a full break down of how our services can help you kick start your home study.

How to Prepare for a Home Study in Indiana

Here are some of the steps that can help you jump start your adoption home study process.

Preparing for a Home Study: Gather Necessary Documents

The first step of preparing for a home study is gathering documentation. This step is often the longest to complete. It’s also the first thing you need to produce during the process. For a home study, you’ll need to produce:

• Drivers licenses or other photo ID
• Social Security cards
• Green Cards (if applicable)
• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Health statements from a physician
• And much more.

Read an exhaustive list of the required documents before you start this process.

We understand that life happens; sometimes documents go missing. If you know you’ll need a document from this list but can’t produce it for any reason, contact one of our adoption professionals. Our team will know how to get copies of your missing document.

Preparing for a Home Study: Childproofing Your Home

Next, you’ll want to make a few small changes around your home. For an adoption home study, child-proofing your house will be a large part of this. Gating off stairs, covering electric outlets and securing your cleaning chemicals are good ways to start.

Beyond child proofing, you’ll need to check in on other safety devices in your home. Make sure your smoke detectors have batteries, your heavy furniture is properly anchored, and your fire extinguisher is up-to-date and full. You can check a comprehensive list of safety concerns here.

Agencies can provide support and guidance to prospective parents who have questions about the safety review.

For example, some parents are worried their safety measures aren’t thorough enough. How high should the gates be? Do they need to cover all the outlets? What counts as a sharp object? Do all of the furniture corners need padding, or just the ones close to the floor?

Home study agencies like American Adoptions of Indiana have staff ready to answer your questions. And since these staff members are the same people who conduct the actual safety inspections, you know you’ll be getting good information.

Preparing for a Home Study: Practice for the Interview

The interview process is designed to establish that a child placed with you would be safe, happy and supported both now and into the future.

There are less specific requirements for this step than for the first two steps; a large part of the interview just comes down to answering questions about your life and sharing your thoughts on adoption and parenthood with the social worker.

To prepare for this step you can take a look at our practice question list. Don’t just answer with the first thing that you think of. Really consider these questions from all angles, so you can have a detailed and earnest conversation with the interviewer.

We’re happy to talk you through your preparations, or recommend strategies to help you in the interview. Talking through the interview before hand often helps get rid of any nerves that may come up – and who better to talk to than the same dedicated staff who will be giving the interview?

Start Preparing for a Home Study in Indiana Today

Home study agencies provide a tangible benefit to you during this process, especially when you choose to work with a full service local agency like American Adoptions of Indiana.

Our agency has guidance for you at every step of the adoption process, from the home study, all the way up to post-adoption support. We are a national agency that maintains local offices, staffed with a helpful community of experts in Indiana adoption law.

When you’re ready to start your home study process, even if that just means scheduling a consultation, or requesting a packet of free information, let us know. We’re always happy to help.

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