What happens during an for adoption homestudy?

Randy B

My last one lasted two days for about 3 hours each. They came the first day and sat at the table talking with my wife and I. She went over the answers we had provided to a long questionnaire (about 24 pages in a booklet). They had sent us the booklet a few weeks before so we could get it filled out before we scheduled the appointment for the home visit. She (and the booklet) asked about:

- our tombstone data (date of birth, name, age...);
- our family life growing up;
- current family configuration;
- medical history;
- job history;
- personal interests, hobbies;
- volunteer experiences;
- married life (how long, any separations...);
- finances;
- prior relationships/marriages;
- how our families feel about adoption;
- how we feel about adoption;
- religious beliefs (you don't have to be religious, it's just to learn a bit more about your overall beliefs and values);
- plans for the future.

By getting the answers in the booklet they can then compare them to what you say in the verbal interview to see if you were a) lying; b) didn't understand something; c) mistaken about something; or d) trying to hide something. About the only thing wrong you can do during the whole process is lie about something. You must always remember that nobody is ever "perfect" in a home study and there will always be something "wrong" but it's never an issue unless it is something seriously wrong or you get caught lying about something. Get caught with either of those and you are done for as far as being able to adopt is concerned.

After that first 3-4 hour "coffee meeting" she took everything back and started to go over it all to draft her report. At the same time she was contacting our references and waiting for the police and social services checks to come back on my wife and I as well as our oldest daughter (all members of your immediate family who are of age).

She then scheduled another visit to come back and clarify any points she needed clarified. It was during this visit that she also sat and spoke with our two daughters one 13 and one 15, to make sure they were in favour of adopting. This second visit was less then 3 hours.

After the second visit she finalized her report and then gave us a copy of it for review. We had an opportunity at that time to "challenge" any of her findings so that it can be either changed to reflect the situation or amended to clarify a point. As with any interview there are always things open to interpretation and we had a couple of small points we wanted addressed before the report went to the agency.

In our case, the first visit was 5 Nov, the second visit was 26 Nov, we had the report to review by 15 Dec and it was submitted to the agency at their case conference on 8 Jan. We got notified 2 days later that we had been approved and then all we had left to do was the home inspection (safety wise).

Nobody stayed over, nobody had to come for meals, nobody had to drop for surprise visits. It's work but it's nothing to be afraid of, from what I have found.

Mom to Foster Children

You will answer questions about your health / life / marriage / income etc. It's pretty simple. They will inspect your house, just basically wanna know if you have bed's set up / a place for them to play / fire escape (at least with mine)...

Ours lasted a couple of hours but no they do not spend the night at your house.

Ontario_Mom

We have an adoption buddy group on our site.

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