Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the home study take?

We usually spend about two hours on our visit together. For international adoptions, additional visits may be required and the length of each visit may vary. The home study will be completed within three weeks of receipt of all the necessary documents and interview. You can help speed up the process by filling out your paperwork, scheduling your medical appointments, and gathering the required documents without delay.

How many visits are required?

At least one visit with you and your family in your home is required to complete the home study for a domestic adoption. More than one visit may be needed to complete the interview. The number of visits required for international adoptions depends on the country from which you are adopting. Your social worker will let you know the specific requirements for your international adoption.

When are visits scheduled?

We will work with you to find a time and day that is convenient for you. Appointments may be scheduled for evenings and weekends.

What do I need to have before the first visit?

What is required at the first visit is dependent on the type of home study. When scheduling the visit with the social worker she will review with you what is needed.

How much does a home study cost?

The cost of the home study depends on the type of adoption you are pursuing. For domestic adoption, the cost of the home study is $1000. For an international adoption, the cost is $1200 to $1500 depending on the country. Post placement visits are $250 each. After the home study report is finalized, additional fees may be incurred if changes, addendums, or updates are required.

How will the children in our family be involved in the home study?

Children in your family will be included in the home study. Depending on the age of your children the social worker will likely ask them about their progress in school, their interests and hobbies, their friends and their feelings about the prospective adoption. The emphasis will be on how the children see a new sibling (or siblings) fitting into the family and whether they are prepared to share your time and attention. Children's input is usually quite important in the overall assessment of a family's readiness to adopt a child. The social worker will want to make sure that an adopted child or children will be wanted and loved by all family members from the start.

What happens after our child is placed in our home?

If you have adopted domestically, the social worker will make additional scheduled home visits and prepare a post placement report to finalize the adoption. The post placement report contains information about the family's adjustment, the child's health, growth and development, childcare arrangements and any other pertinent information including any significant changes since the home study. If you have adopted internationally, the frequency and duration of post placement visits required varies by country and agency. The social worker will let you know the requirements based on the direction provided by your agency.