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When you first look in to adoption you may become unnerved by the intrusive nature of the process but in reality this is a necessary part of the procedure. Placing children in people’s hands should not be taken lightly and therefore stringent criteria must to be met before someone can be considered as an adoptive parent. One of the main focuses of an adoption procedure is the home study.
Every state requires prospective adoptive parents to go through a home study. The adoption home study was put in place so that the state knows that the child is being placed in a safe and secure home environment. The home study was also put in place so that the family can adequate prepare for the adoption. The home study can last anywhere from three to six months and may cost upwards of one thousand dollars depending on the state and the situation.
The first part of the process is the relinquishment of all personal information. This is to see if the family is stable both emotionally and financially. This part can include anything from interviews, reference checks, background checks and fingerprinting. The state also requires all medical and bank records be handed over so they can deem the family suitable to take on the burden of a new family member both mentally and financially.
The next part is the education portion of the home study. At this time the family is required to go through a series of courses designed to prepare the family for an adopted child. The time required to complete the education portion of the home study differs from state to states as do some of the courses. But without the completion of the required home study training you cannot become an eligible adoptive parent.
The next step is home visits. These can be scheduled or unscheduled and the social worker may demand to see all parts of the house including where the intended child is to sleep. This process is to make sure the environmental factors in the home as suitable for a child.
When these steps are completed you will be notified if you are on your way to becoming an adoptive parent.
