The Adoption Home Study Process in 5 Steps

Everything You Need to Know About an Adoption Home Study in Indiana

The adoption home study process is a pivotal moment in your adoption journey.

It’s normal to feel some apprehension at the thought of a social worker sorting through your home and personal life; however, home studies don’t have to be a source of stress. The home study process is designed to protect your and your child’s wellbeing by ensuring that you’re ready to bring a child into your home.

We can help you prepare and complete the home study process for you. Sign up for your home study in Indiana today.

In the meantime, let’s break down the details on the adoption home study process. We’ll discuss what a home study is, what a home study for adoption is like, what to expect during a home study, the three steps of an adoption home study and how to prepare for each one.

5 Steps of the Adoption Home Study Process in Indiana

Adoption home studies are extensive interviews, accompanied by a background and safety check, conducted in your home by a licensed social worker.

Though it is possible to fail a home study, it’s not considered common. As long as you take the proper steps to prepare and maintain honesty during your interview, there are rarely problems that rise to the level of blocking a family from adoption.

Finding a provider to conduct your home study is an important step that will affect the entire process. The main difference between home study providers is how much support they offer before conducting the home study. With American Adoptions of Indiana, you’ll have access to supportive social workers who can answer all your questions before the in-home visit.
Now that you’ve settled on working with a provider, you’ll need to apply for adoption. The application process isn’t too intensive, but won’t be complete until we have the results of your home study.
At the beginning of the home study you must submit a list of documents for social workers to review. This can be quite an extensive list, and many of these documents may not be kept on hand by everyone. As a result, this step can be very time consuming.
A social worker will visit your home to perform a safety inspection and interview members of the household. Further in this article we have resources to help you prepare for both of these checks.
A while after the home visit you’ll get the results of your home study back. Congratulations, you’re one step closer to adoption.

What is a Home Study Like for Adoption?

Home studies for adoption are largely the same as home studies for foster care, with a few notable exceptions. The differences will come down mainly to baby-proofing. If you’re becoming a foster parent to older children, you may not have to baby-proof your house.

We understand that home studies may seem invasive at first glance. It can be a bit uncomfortable sharing so much with a stranger.

Remember that your home study provider is a professional, and is there to help you meet your requirements.

If you’re working with American Adoptions of Indiana, your adoption home study process doesn’t have to involve a stranger, instead one of our dedicated staff members will work with you at every step of the adoption process, home study included.

What Does a Home Study Consist of in Indiana?

An adoption home study process can generally be broken down into 3 parts: document review, home safety checks and interviews.

What to Expect During a Home Study: Document Review

You may have had background checks before for your work, particularly if you work around children, but this review process is very extensive. Be prepared for a much more comprehensive investigation than most background checks.

Here’s a list of everything you’ll need for Indiana’s home study document review. Some of these, like immigration records or military discharge papers, may not apply to everyone.

Drivers licenses or other photo ID
Social Security cards
Passport(s) (if applicable)
Green Card (if applicable)
Naturalization Papers (if applicable)
Birth certificates
Marriage certificates
Divorce decrees (if applicable)
Previous adoption decrees (if applicable)
Financial statement
Proof of income
Tax returns
Proof of insurance: home, health, auto, life
Health statements from a physician
Disciplinary statement (if applicable)
Military discharge(s) (if applicable)
Pet vaccinations (if applicable)
Autobiography
References

If you don’t know where to get some of these documents, don’t worry, that’s why we’re here. You can contact our Indianapolis or Brownsburg office for help securing these documents. Fill out this form for more information and help with completing your home study.

What to Expect During a Home Study: Home Safety Check

Home Studies also try to make sure your physical home is as safe as possible for children. Social workers will check to make sure you’ve implemented the safety features below. If you’re preparing to foster older children instead of adopting an infant, you won’t need to worry about baby proofing your stairs and furniture, but most of this list will still apply.

A smoke detector within 10 feet of each bedroom door.
A carbon monoxide detector.
Fire extinguishers, at least one per floor.
Sharp objects stored securely.
All weapons and ammunition stored securely (in a locked room or safe).
Covered outlets, and no electrical hazards like exposed wiring.
Gates and handrails on staircases.
Fencing around a swimming pool (if applicable).
No environmental health risks like lead paint, mold, radon, or asbestos.
General baby proofing, like making sure drawers and cabinets have child locks, and any sharp corners of furniture are covered and padded.
General safety concerns, like heavy furniture being anchored to the wall.
General maintenance, like working basic appliances, nothing in obvious disrepair.
General cleanliness, a non-hazardous living space.

It may also be a good idea to discuss a basic emergency / evacuation plan before a home study. In Indiana it’s always a good idea to know where you’ll go if a tornado gets too close. Emergency plans probably don’t have to be written out, but if a social worker asks, it will look good if you have at least a vague plan in place.

What to Expect During a Home Study: Interview

You’re almost through – Now you just have to prepare for your interview. Social workers conducting your home study interview you to get a sense of your goals and general temperament surrounding parenting. They’ll ask questions similar to the ones in this list.

Lifestyle Questions

Tell me about yourself
What do you do for work? Is that your career? Do you enjoy it?
What do you do for fun? Describe your personality.
How do you think your friends would describe you?
Are you familiar with the home study process?
Are you a formal member of an organized religion or religious group?
What values are important to you?
Please share details about you employment, and your past and present financial state.
Is there a risk of your work relocating you?

Questions for Couples

How did you and your partner meet?
How has your relationship compared to your expectations of a relationship?
How do you handle conflict with each other?
How would you define your roles? Would you institute defined parental roles?
How is your relationship with your in-laws?
Do you have shared goals? How would parenthood affect your relationship?
How do you and your spouse view and experience religion?
Are there significant differences? How do you currently handle that? How do you plan to handle that in regard to a potential child?
Who makes final decisions in the home?

Questions about Social Life

Do you already have children? Have they been involved in the adoption process? What are their thoughts?
How is your relationship with your parents? Do you feel like you’re very similar to them?
How would you describe your childhood?
Are there family members aware of your plan to adopt/foster?
Describe your social circle. Will parenthood change your social life?
Describe your physical and mental health.
Does your family have a history with illness that could be passed down to you?

Questions about Health

Do you or any members of your family have a history of substance abuse?
Have you been HIV tested?
Describe any experiences you’ve had involving abuse.
Have you had fertility treatments in your past? Are they ongoing?
What will happen with your plan to adopt if you get pregnant / your spouse gets pregnant?

Questions about Parenting

What do you expect from raising a child?
What form of discipline do you plan to use?
What is your tolerance for aggression or defiance from a child?
Do you feel that successes and failures of children reflect on parents?
Do you have a plan in place for a child if something happens to you?
What are your plans around childcare?

Questions about Adoption

Why did you choose adoption? How long have you been considering it?
What is your opinion of an open adoption?
What has been your experience with the foster care system?
Are there any unstable areas of your life?
How soon are you prepared to complete your adoption placement?

FAQs About what a Home Study Involves

The cost varies by state. In Indiana the cost is typically between $250 and $500, depending on providers (American Adoptions of Indiana includes your home study in our agency fees). In other states, prices are much higher. For example, a home study costs between $900 and $3000 in Kansas and Tennessee.
In-home study is another name for a home study, a process where a social worker comes to review your home and conduct an in-depth interview. Home studies may be referred to as in-home studies by different organizations, but both terms refer to the same process.
While the steps vary a little based on who you ask, a Home Study is always early in the process. Most professionals will agree that the steps of adoption follow this basic structure:

Step 1: Decide if adoption is right for you.

Step 2: Contact an adoption professional.

Step 3: Complete a Home Study.

Step 4: Match with an expectant birth mother.

Step 5: Experience the birth and bring your child home.

Step 6: Finalize the adoption in court.

Complete Your Adoption Home Study in Indiana

Home studies are important, but they can also be easy. We believe you deserve the smoothest path to adoption possible, which is why we want to help you prepare for your home study. The first step towards completing your home study, and your overall adoption, is registering with a home study provider.

Once you’re registered, you can choose a time for the study that works for you; it doesn’t have to be right away. Signing up today could help you avoid weeks or months of waiting. Start your family the way you deserve; register with American Adoptions of Indiana today.

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Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

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