Giving a child a permanent home is a wonderful thing, and you probably feel excited to be starting the adoption process. After your initial celebration, there are many steps before you can bring a child into your home.
The first one is the home study.
Being nervous is understandable, but there are many ways you can make the process easier for yourself. Knowing what the social worker will be looking for can not only speed things up but also improve your chances of approval.
Gather your information
As part of the adoptive parent vetting process, you and your family will be subject to comprehensive background checks. These are used to determine whether you are fit to be parents and whether there are any factors that present potential dangers to a child.
There are several pieces of information you’ll need to provide, and having them ready can reflect positively on you. Your medical records, bank statements and personal references are some of the things that you can take care of beforehand.
Childproofing
If you’re adopting a young child, you may need to make some safety modifications to your home. A home study does not necessarily require that your home be child-ready at that moment, but you can show how serious you are with good preparation. It can be overwhelming to comb through your entire house for safety hazards, but there are resources to tell you what to look out for.
Have your own questions
The home study is an important step to getting questions about prospective parents answered. However, you may have your own questions or concerns as well. Your adoption lawyer can be a great resource to guide you through the process. It’s worth taking the time to learn as much as you can in advance.
