Home studies provide child welfare agencies and the courts with the necessary comprehensive information for determining the most appropriate home for a child. They can also be an opportunity for potential foster families to assess their readiness. Many foster parents are also dually licensed, which allows the agency to recruit and prepare families simultaneously as foster and adoptive families through common home study training, background checks, and other procedures. Find resources and information on the home study process, including State and local examples.
5 Tips to Prepare for a Foster Care or Adoption Home Study
Covenant Kids Family Services (2016)
Lists tips for foster parents on how to prepare for a home study and includes a 6-minute video on how to prepare for the home study process.
Casey Foster Family Assessments
Casey Family Programs (2017)
Provides access to foster family assessments developed by Casey Family Programs and the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, which include the Casey Home Assessment Protocol (CHAP). The CHAP tool assesses a broad range of characteristics of foster parents and is designed to be used during the foster family application and selection process.
Completing a Home Study
AdoptUSKids (2017)
Shares information about completing a home study for foster care and includes a basic overview of the process and what is required.
LGBT Prospective Foster and Adoptive Families: The Homestudy Assessment Process (PDF - 501 KB)
National Resource for Permanency and Family Connections (2012)
Presents an overview of the home study process for foster families and the unique challenges faced by prospective parents of foster lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender youth when undergoing this process.
Types of Home Studies
Binti (2016)
Describes several purposes of home studies in the child welfare system, such as obtaining approval to adopt, to become a foster parent, and to regain custody of a child.
What Happens During a Home Study Visit?
Covenant Kids Family Services (2016)
Describes the home study process, including the purpose of the visit, what will be talked about, the walkthrough, and more. The website also includes an 8-minute long video on the topic.
State and local examples
A Homestudy – What Is It?
Texas Foster Care and Adoption Services (2012)
Discusses the process of a home study in Texas and gives prospective foster or adoptive parents an idea of what to expect when preparing for a home study.
Completing the Home Study
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (2017)
Explains the home study process in Washington state for foster parents or other caregivers. Provides state policies and procedures and includes descriptions of reasons for the home study and next steps for parents.
Foster Care and Adoptive Home Study
Texas Adoption Resource Exchange
Describes how the home study is used in Texas adoptions and foster care cases and provides information on what the home study will examine.
Standards of Approval for Foster and Adoptive Homes
Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services (2013)
Reviews approval of foster homes, including standards of approval and physical requirements of the home examined in the home study in Arkansas.
What to Expect in the Foster Home Inspection Process
Nelson (2014)
Foster and Adoptive Family Services Blog
Explains the foster home inspection process in New Jersey and what prospective foster parents should expect and do to prepare for their home study.