Adopting A Child from the Foster Care System, Page 4
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WHAT IS A HOMESTUDY?
A homestudy is a completed document required for an individual or couple to adopt in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. There are specific guidelines and conditions that must be met in completing a homestudy. There is no standardized format required for all agencies however, homestudies are usually divided into two parts.
The first part is a training process that focuses on education and preparation to adopt. General topics presented in this training can include: preparing extended families for the adoption, helping children adjust to a new family composition, bonding and attachment in adopted children, parenting challenges and strategies, and talking with children about adoption.
This training takes between 10-20 hours and is usually done in the context of a meeting with other prospective adoptive parents. This may seem like a lot of time, but the foundation it provides not only gives you a better understanding of adoption, but also makes you better prepared to take an adopted child into your home. Many parents report making lasting friendships with other adoptive parents they meet in this training. They also report developing natural support systems they use as they face some of the challenges of adoption and parenting.
The second part is devoted to information gathering. This usually involves a series of meetings (both individually and as a couple) with a Case Worker. At least one of these meetings will take place in your home. If other people live with you, including children, they will also be interviewed. You will be asked to provide documents to include birth certificates, marriage license, child abuse clearance (the agency will tell you how to do this), health records, criminal background check reports, and personal references.
Most agencies also ask you to provide written information about yourselves, your family, and your life experiences. During this process that you will also talk with your Case Worker about the types of children you feel you can best parent and take into your family and home.
All of this information is compiled into a written document called the "homestudy".
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MY HOMESTUDY IS COMPLETED?
When your homestudy is completed, your Case Worker and agency will notify you that you have been "approved to adopt." Now you can continue with the process of working toward finding a match between you and an adoptable child, and going through the steps to adopt that child. Many adoptive parents say the period between completing the homestudy and having a child placed in their home is the hardest time in the adoption process. During this time of waiting, be patient and do all you can to be prepared to have a new child in your family.
HOW CAN I FIND CHILDREN AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION?
As part of your homestudy, you most likely spent time thinking about and discussing the types of children you feel you can best parent. Once your homestudy is completed, talk with your Case Worker about how best you can work together to find a good match for you and a child. Your agency, particularly if it is a public agency, may have children in its care that you can learn about. Your Case Worker may network with child placement agencies. You can make contacts in your state of residence as well as in other states.
Most states post adoptable children on the Internet. These state Internet sites have pictures and brief descriptions of children waiting to be adopted. Some states also have books with pictures and descriptions of children. You can continue to visit our national photolisting site at photolisting.adoption.com to see thousands of adoptable children across the country. It is valuable and worthwhile to search on your own in addition to looking with your Case Worker. Talk to others who have adopted about how they found their child. There are wonderful stories about unique situations and events that bring adoptable children and adoptive parents together.
