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What Is a Home Study?

A homestudy is sometimes called a "family assessment," and is a written report containing the findings of a social worker who has met on several occasions with the prospective adoptive parents, has visited their home, and who has investigated the health, medical, criminal, family and home background of the adoptive parents. If there are other individuals that are also living in the home of the adoptive parents, they will be interviewed and investigated, if necessary, by the social worker and included as part of the homestudy. The purpose of the homestudy is to help the court determine whether the adoptive parents are qualified to adopt a child, based on the criteria that have been established by state law.

• Interview
  You will be interviewed several times by the social worker. These interviews help you develop a relationship with your social worker that will enable him to better understand your family.

• Home Visit
  Home visits primarily serve to ensure your home meets State licensing standards (e.g., working smoke alarms, safe storage of firearms, safe water, adequate space for each child, etc.). Social workers are not inspecting your housekeeping standards.

• Health Statements
  Each prospective adoptive parent will be required to have a physical exam. The purpose of the exam is to know that the prospective parents are essentially healthy, have a normal life expectancy, and are physically and mentally able to handle the care of a child.

• Income Statements
  The prospective parents are asked to verify their income by providing copies of paycheck stubs, W-4 forms, or income tax forms. You will be asked about savings, insurance policies and other investments and debts.

• Background Checks
  Each prospective adoptive parent and anyone living in the home over the age of 16 years old will be required to have a criminal and child abuse record clearance for all adoptive applicants. While the vast majority of prospective adoptive parents have no criminal or child abuse history, it is important for children's safety to identify those few families who might put children at risk.

• Biographical Statements
  Each prospective adoptive parent will be asked to write an autobiographical statement. This is, essentially, the story of your life. This statement helps the social worker better understand your family.

• References
  The social worker will ask you for the names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of three or four individuals to serve as references for you. References help the social worker form a more complete picture of your family and support network. References should be individuals who have known you for several years, who have observed you in many situations.

The above steps culminate in the writing of a home study report that reflects the social worker's findings. In general, home study reports include the above-information, as well as, the following types of information: Family background; Education & employment; Relationships; your daily life; Parenting; Neighborhood; your religious beliefs; Feelings about your readiness for adoption; Approval/recommendation.

Seattle (206) 452-2007
Puyallup (253) 604-0466
Toll Free (800) 643-3960
Fax (253) 604-0465

Office Location: 10116 - 116th Street East, Suite 201 | Puyallup, WA 98373
Mailing Address: PO Box 731128 | Puyallup, WA 98373

For more information or to set up a homestudy, click here to email us.

www.AdoptionHomeStudyService.com