An adoption home study is required for almost every type of adoption, and adoption situation.  Some states allow for stepparent adoptions, and kinship adoptions to forego the adoption home study process, but as a general rule, all adoptions will require an adoption home study to be completed before the adoption can be finalized. The home study process is quite lengthy, and involves basic steps as well as additional steps that can be added on by the agency that is performing your adoption. 

If you are adopting from the foster care system than pat of the adoption home study process will include training/ parenting classes on how to deal with children that have been removed from their biological home.  Many agencies that handle inter-country adoptions also now require that prospective adoptive parents complete training/ parenting classes so that they are better prepared for any issues that they may face after bringing their child home.

Along with training, you will also have to complete interviews with the social worker that is handling your adoption.   These interviews allow for the social worker and the prospective adoptive family to better get to know one another, allowing for the family to feel comfortable with the social worker, and for the social worker to learn about the parenting styles, expectations, and emotional stability of the prospective adoptive parents.  At least of these interviews will occur in the potential adoptive parent’s home, as to allow the social worker to make sure that the home has adequate space, protection i.e. locks on exterior doors, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, etc., and is in appropriate condition.

Now, appropriate condition does not mean immaculate.  While the house does need to be in some order and not a complete disaster area, social workers are not looking for a home that is spotless, but a home that is packed up, tidy, yet comfortable enough to be lived in.  Having holes in the ceiling, or animal feces all over the floor is not appropriate, having some clutter, or perhaps some broken window blinds are not going to cause your social worker to deny your petition for adoption.

You will also need health statements from your primary care physician, stating that you are in good health.  Again social workers are not looking for perfection.  If there are some health concerns, as long as the doctor states that the potential adoptive parent is managing his or her health issues appropriately, and would be able to adequately care for a child, than you will most likely be approved.  Families which are facing terminal illness, or health issues that seriously impact ones quality of life may be denied an adoption petition because of the impact those issues would have on a child.

Money, money, money!  No, you don’t need tons of it in order to adopt a child, but you will need to provide your agency with financial records stating that you have enough money to cover the expenses of raising a child.  Each agency has their own set of requirements when it comes to what forms of financial information they are looking for, pay check stubs, income tax records, investment statements, and bank records are all common forms of proof of financial stability that agencies will ask for.

Along with everything else you will also need to complete   a state and federal background check.  Small infractions in the past can be over looked in most cases, as long as the potential adoptive parents have been upfront and honest about their occurrence, and the infraction(s) were not against or endangered children.  Repeat offenders may be denied the opportunity to adopt, because a pattern shows the social worker that the offender has not learned from his or her mistakes.

You will also be asked to write an autobiographical statement about your life.  Your agency will provide you with an outline of the information that they would like you to cover in your autobiography.  The outline will of course differ from agency to agency, however common items included are:

Happy Childhood memories
Sad Childhood Memories
Discipline Styles of Parents
Relationship With Spouse
Relationship With Extended Family

The agency will also be looking for references from three to five people that you have known for several years.  Many agencies require that these references are not from biologically related family members, but from long time friends, fellow church members, neighbors, old teachers, pastors or other religious leaders, or even co-workers.

Once all of the information has been collected by the potential adoptive parents and turned over to the social worker, he or she will then compile everything into an adoption home study report.  The length of time it takes to complete the report depends greatly on the caseload of the social worker handling your adoption, with the minimum amount of time it will take being two weeks, however very busy agencies can take two months or more to complete the report.

Adoption home study fees can range from $500 all the way up to $3000, depending on the type of adoption that you are pursuing.  Adopting through the state is on the lower end of the fee scale, while private adoption costs are much higher.