Part 1

In your research on adoption, you probably have seen the words “home study approved” in various places. You may (like me before I entered the adoption world) wondering what the heck a home study is and what it entails.

The purpose of a home study is to educate and prepare the adoptive family for adoption, to gather information on the family, and to evaluate the fitness and readiness of a prospective couple to bring a child into their home and life.

A home study is definied as:

A three-part process required before a child can be placed with a family for foster care or adoption: (1) Written portion includes autobiographies, references, medical reports, financial statements, child abuse and criminal clearances and other written materials; (2) Social work process includes a series of visits in the applicants' home to discuss a variety of issues from the applicant's background to their motivations to adopt and their understanding of adoption and parenting; (3) Educational process includes training in adoption and parenting issues. The end result of this process is a written document completed by a licensed agency giving a summary of the applicant's family life. This document indicates approval of the applicant for adoption (or foster care). It must be updated annually.
-- Source

When I was making my adoption plan for Charlie, I didn’t know much about home studies. I didn’t know I could ask to see it or really what it was. As far as I know in my dealings with adoption professionals and in researching online, an expectant mother has every right to see a home study if she asks for it on a particular couple. Many agencies will probably not offer it to you, but you can ask for it. In some states, it is required that you be given a copy at signing.