For Adoptive Families
Home Studies
Adoption home studies are an important part of the adoption process to ensure a home is safe before a baby arrives.
An adoption home study is an evaluation written by a licensed adoption agency detailing your family’s suitability to become adoptive parent(s). This report is submitted to the Court and is a legal requirement for every adoption. It must be completed prior to placement of a child in public, private, interstate, and international adoptions. It is an imperative part of the adoption process.
What the Home Study Includes
- A description of your childhood, education, career, marriage/domestic partnership, experience with children, parenting philosophy, home and neighborhood, finances, health, and the type of adoption situation you are seeking
- Required documents including birth certificates, marriage license, divorce decree (if applicable), copy of most recent W-2 forms, child abuse and criminal record clearances and physical exam forms
- 5 letters of recommendation from family and friends
While this all may sound intimidating, the intent of the adoption home study is to support and prepare the adopting family for the adoption process and placement of a child. The home study is confidential, only to be submitted directly to the court or referring adoption agency. It is not shared with the birthparents.
As a licensed agency, we provide full adoption home study and post placement services to Pennsylvania residents who are looking to adopt either domestically or internationally. You do not have to adopt through our agency to utilize both home study and post placement services.
Our Adoption Home Study Steps
Request and complete our home study questionnaire
Submit the additional required documents
Schedule your home visit with one of our case workers
Review the draft of your home study report
Follow up phone call with your caseworker to finalize your report
We at A Baby Step Adoption Agency wish to make your home study experience as quick and simple as possible. Parenting classes are not required, but are available at the desire of the adoptive parent. We are able to complete the home study process in as little as a month or two if all required documents are received.
After a child has been placed in your care, post-placement reports must be completed and submitted to the Court before your adoption can be legally finalized. Your case worker will visit you and your baby in order to make sure the baby is healthy and adjusting well to your family and that you are adjusting well to parenthood. The state the adoption will be finalized in will determine the number of required reports. If you are finalizing in Pennsylvania, 3 reports are required.
We also offer adoption home study updates for those families who have had a home study completed, but it is set to expire. This process is faster and less expensive than a full adoption home study.
Ready to Learn More?
Get in touch with our caseworkers to learn about ABSA and applying to be an adoptive family