Do You Need a Home Study?

If you want to adopt, yes.  The laws of every state require all families wanting to adopt participate in a home study/pre-placement assessment.  The home study social worker & agency are here to help you, not to judge you or find the perfect family. We want to educate and prepare you, to support you, be a resource to you, and to gather information that will help us to connect you with a child.  We are not there to find perfection and a spotless house, just people who are capable of providing a child with a loving and permanent family. 

If ABC is doing your home study:

• First, you will complete your home study history which is the basics about you & your family
• We will then match a social worker to you who specializes in adoption home studies. 
• Your social worker will contact you directly to schedule your first interview.
• In most cases you will have 4 interviews, which include:  individual interviews, joint interviews, and a home visit.
• During this time you will gather specific documents that help tell your story with the guidance of ABC.

Review and approval of your home study:

Before your home study is finalized, you are provided an opportunity to review the home study draft and approve the draft.  Once the final approval and version are complete in our office, your home study is then submitted to various officials depending on the type of adoption.  You are also given 2 or 3 originals. 

How long will my home study be valid?

In Virginia, the home study is valid for 3 years; however, many adoption agencies, foreign countries and government officials may require that it be updated annually.  The validity period for a home study varies from state to state.

What do I do if time is running out? 

Should you find that your adoption will not be completed prior to the expiration date of the home study, it will be necessary for the agency to complete a home study update.  This can be done by contacting us. 

If you have questions about home studies, please contact Tricia Wood.  To view our sample home study contract and fees fill out our Request Information page to have on demand access to the informaiton.