Your Adoption Home Study Checklist

A home study is a required part of the adoption process. Its purpose is to determine the safety and stability of the environment your child will grow up in while confirming you are ready to become a parent.

The home study consists of background checks, reviewing important documents, interviews and home visits. Although that can seem like a lot to tackle, we’re here for you. We can help you prepare for the home study by providing you with resources to prepare, such as an adoption home study checklist.

Contact us online to get more free information now about what should be on your home study checklist to ensure a smooth and straightforward process.

Home Study Checklist

As you delve into making a home study adoption checklist, you should know what the process for the home study is like.

It typically consists of three phases that will be part of the social worker home visit checklist:

Home Study Forms and Documents

Completing the forms and compiling the necessary documents prior to your meeting with your social worker as part of your home study checklist can help speed up the home study process.

This is typically one of the longest parts of the process because the documents need to be reviewed and verified first. Examples of documents that you may need for your home study adoption checklist include:

• ID (such as a driver’s license)

• Birth certificates

• Social security cards

• Marriage certificate (if married)

• Proof of citizenship or proof of legal immigration

• Proof of income

• Proof of employment

• Medical records

• Immunization records

• Pet vaccination records from the vet

• An autobiographical statement

Adoption Home Inspection Checklist

The home visit is to make sure it’s safe for a child. If you don’t know exactly what you need for the home inspection, you can ask your social worker for a home visit checklist.

Similar to preparing the necessary documents prior to the home study beginning, child-proofing your house before your social worker comes for the home inspection can help the process along.

Although your state might ask for more specifics, your adoption home visit checklist should include:

• Functioning smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

• Gates on stairs

• Covered electrical outlets

• Secure, locked windows with screens

• A first-aid kit on hand

• Any firearms out of reach and locked up

• Functioning heating and cooling

• No lead paint

• A safe yard, with proper guardrails around any decks or pools

• Safe, functioning appliances

• Child-proofed corners on furniture

Learn more about these different steps and get answers for any questions you have by filling out our online contact form.

Family Member Interviews

This portion of the home study checklist must be completed by every family member living in the household. It’s another opportunity for your social worker to get to know you and your family and your preparedness to be parents.

Each interview is different depending on who is being interviewed, but some of the questions you could be asked:

• Why do you feel adoption is right for your family?

• What is your parenting style?

• How has your own childhood affected the way you see parenting?

• Tell me about your job.

• What are your hopes and dreams for your child?

• How much do you know about the adoption process?

• Have you learned about the unique aspects of raising a child who comes home through adoption?

How to Complete the Adoption Home Study [6 Steps]

When it comes to your adoption home study, having a checklist for the process just like you do for the individual requirements of the home study can help you stay organized.

Consider these six steps:

• Step 1: Contact us.

• Step 2: Complete the background check.

• Step 3: Meet with your home study professional.

• Step 4: Prepare everything for your social worker.

• Step 5: Complete the home inspection and interviews.

• Step 6: Receive your home study document and verify with your social worker.

Whether you’re just looking for a home study professional or an adoption agency, fill out this form to get more free information about how to complete your home study or to pre-apply for adoption today. 

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