The Adoption Home Study Process
Every State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico require all prospective adoptive parents (with the possible exception of stepparents) to participate in a home study prior to being considered as an adoptive placement for a child or youth. The process is subject to change and varies considerably from State to State, depending on laws and policies for approving prospective families. The process involves an assessment of the adoptive parent or parents. Although the home study can seem intimidating at first, by completing the process, parents gain personal insight and understanding of the adoption process while adoption agencies gather important information about the family. The home study process has three main purposes:
Educate and prepare the prospective parent or family for adoption
Help agencies evaluate the capability and suitability of the prospective parent or family to adopt
Help social workers or home study specialists gather information about the prospective parent or family to help ensure that each child or youth is placed with the family that can best meet their needs