Adoption Home Study/Family Assessment

Regardless of the type of adoption (private agency, public agency, or intercountry), nearly all families must complete a home study process before adopting a child. There are a few exceptions. For example, stepparents adopting their spouses' children may not need a home study. The primary purpose of a home study is to ensure that each child is placed with a family that can best meet his or her needs. The home study process can help educate prospective adoptive parents about the type of adoption they are pursuing so they can make informed decisions that are best for their family.

This section contains resources about the home study process for different types of adoptions.

Relative/kinship adoption

Adoption Homestudy Requirements by State
Adoption Network Law Center (2016)
Explains the home study requirements designed to ensure that a potential adoptive or foster parent is mentally sound, financially stable, healthy and prepared. This resource outlines rules and exceptions to home study requirements for relative adoptions according to specific State laws.

Home Study Requirements for Prospective Parents in Domestic Adoption
Series Title State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability View
Download (PDF - 1,404KB)
Year Published 2016
Summarizes State laws and policies for approving prospective adoptive homes. This document describes who must be included in the home study, qualifications for adoptive parents, elements of the home study, exceptions for stepparent or relative placements, postplacement assessments of the child's adjustment to the adoptive family, requirements for placements across State lines, and more.

Paths to Permanence: Kin Guardianship and Adoption (PDF - 392 KB)
Rowe (2013)
Adoption Advocate, 59
Examines the benefits and challenges that kin guardians may face as they pursue formal adoption.

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Public agency adoption (foster care)

Casey Foster Family Assessments
Casey Family Programs
Provides free tools for workers and families to help with the foster family assessment process.

Home Study Requirements for Prospective Foster Parents
Series Title State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability View
Download (PDF - 1,593KB)
Year Published 2018
Discusses State laws and policies for licensing or approving family foster homes. A licensed family is one that is approved by the State to provide care for children and that meets basic standards of safety and is able to provide a healthy and nurturing home environment. The topics discussed include training requirements, the process for approving homes, grounds for not approving homes, kinship placements, adopting from foster care, and interjurisdictional placements. Summaries of laws and policies for all States and U.S. territories are included.

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Intercountry adoption

FAQ: Conducting Home Studies for American Citizens Residing Abroad in Incoming/Immigrating Convention Cases
U.S. Department of State
Supplies information on completing home studies for families who live abroad and wish to effect an intercountry adoption.

Home Study
U.S. Department of State
Outlines the requirements for home studies for Hague Convention and non-Hague Convention countries.

Intercountry Adoption From Hague Convention and Non-Hague Convention Countries
Series Title Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability View
Download (PDF - 358KB)
Order (Free)
Year Published 2014
Provides basic comparative information about the two types of intercountry adoption: from countries that are party to the Hague Convention and from countries that are not. The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) went into effect in the United States in 2008. The Convention is designed to promote the best interests of children, biological families, and adoptive families and to prevent the abduction, sale, and trafficking of children. As of August 2013, approximately 89 nations are parties to the Convention. When a U.S. citizen wants to adopt a child from any of these nations, Convention rules apply. When adopting a child from a country that is not a party to the Convention (a non-Convention country), the rules of the orphan visa process apply.

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State and local examples

Foster Care Children Licensing Standards (PDF - 361 KB)
North Dakota Department of Human Services (2014)
Provides guidance to child welfare professionals on the development and implementation of home study requirements for prospective foster parents.

Standard for the Recruitment and Licensing of Resource Parents (PDF - 130 KB)
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (2017)
Discusses the training, assessment, and licensing requirements for prospective resource families, including guidelines for the first contact with the family and the application process.

State Legislation to Expedite and Streamline the Adoption Process 2008–2013
Williams-Mbengue (2014)
National Conference of State Legislatures
Offers a chart of State legislation to expedite and streamline the adoption process.

Unified Home Study Training: The Interim Process: What’s Coming in FSFN Release 2 (PDF - 754 KB)
Florida Department of Children and Families (2013)
Outlines Florida’s licensing standards for prospective resource families.

Virginia’s Adoption Home Study Process (PDF - 735 KB)
Egen (2016)
Commonwealth of Virginia Commission on Youth
Describes the findings of a State-mandated study of the adoption home study process. This resource includes recommendations for future legislation.

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