How Intrusive is the Adoption Process?

If you’re a hopeful parent considering adoption, you’ve likely familiarized yourself with the adoption process to some degree. The steps involved and the information that is asked of you can seem daunting at first, but we promise that it is all to ensure the long-term safety of the adopted child.

Any information and documentation you share with your adoption professional will be remain secure and will never be shared without your permission.

“How intense is the adoption home study?”

Many prospective adoptive parents are worried that the home study is going to put themselves and their home life under a microscope during the home visit. Your home study professional isn’t expecting a spotless home; they just want to make sure that your home is safe for a child to live in.

“Why am I being asked about my financial habits?”

Part of the home study is the review of financial documents. Your adoption specialist will want to review tax returns, pay stubs and letters from your employer verifying your current income.  This is solely to ensure that you will not only be financially able to support your child, but to do so without living paycheck to paycheck. You certainly don’t have to be wealthy to qualify for adoption. Here is a helpful checklist of documents you’ll be required to submit during your home study.

“If I have a criminal record, how will it affect my home study?”

One of the most important parts of the adoption home study is the background check.  If you’re worried that your past will affect your home study process, the best thing you can do is be as open as possible with your adoption professional. Whether it’s a traffic ticket or a DUI, it’s important that you are completely honest with your adoption professional so that they don’t have to learn these facts from the background check first.

Minor offenses won’t immediately prevent you from adopting, but trying to hide them might. Your adoption professional will likely ask you follow-up questions about any misdemeanors, such as why the offense occurred, to gain a better understanding of the situation. However, criminal backgrounds of violent offenses or abuse will result in immediate disqualification.

“What kind of questions will I be asked during the interview?”

The interview portion of the home study is an opportunity for your home study professional to get a feel for your parenting style and the kind of life you plan to give your future child. Typically, the interview starts off with your professional asking about what you do for a job, what your hobbies are, what your relationship with your partner is like, etc. This is your chance to talk about who you are as a person so that your professional can get to know you better.  

Your home study professional will ask you questions about why you want to adopt and what your hopes are for your child once the adoption has been completed. They will also make sure that you have an understanding of how the adoption process works and answer any questions that you might have. This is of course not the only time you will have to ask questions. You can reach out to your primary adoption professional at any time during the adoption process.