What is a home study in the adoption process? Every adoption starts with a home study. Adoption laws in every state require prospective adoptive parents to complete a pre-adoption assessment called a home study. The home study and adoption education thoroughly prepares prospective couples for parenting an adopted child. It is important for both Adoptive Families and Birth Parents understand the process of a Home Study and realize its importance.
Being required by law isn’t the only reason for a home study. A home study is also conducted to evaluate the prospective adopter’s desire and commitment to adopt. The home study is a process that includes interviewing prospective parents, talking to them in their homes, checking their references and reviewing medical, financial, and other relevant information. Criminal records checks and child abuse clearances are also usually performed.
The home study process at Adoption Choices of Arizona is non-judgmental and cooperative. Our caseworkers are trained professionals who are compassionate and understanding, with many years of experience in working with prospective adoptive parents. The interviews allow our caseworkers to gather information about the adoptive family and assess if a stable environment exists for the family to receive an adoptive placement. It is a time when the prospective adoptive parents and the caseworker mutually assess the qualities and behaviors of each family member parent(s) and previously adopted children and children by birth. The home study is an opportunity to identify potential areas of difficulty and develop a plan prior to the placement of a child. Adverse experiences can be viewed as having contributed to the strengths the family has developed, rather than as deficiencies that make them less than “perfect”.
Is a Home Study Required to Adopt a Child in Arizona?
A home study or certification study is required for all individuals seeking to adopt in the state of Arizona. Arizona requires that all household members five years and older are interviewed and interviews shall occur on at least two separate occasions with no less than a total of four hours of face-to-face contact. If you have regular or seasonal visitors, they may also need to be interviewed and/or complete some of the paperwork.
The home study, along with the agency’s recommendation, is submitted to the Superior Court in the county in which you reside. The Court has up to sixty days to review and certify the applicant as being acceptable or not acceptable to adopt children based on the report and recommendations. If the court finds that the prospective adoptive parents are acceptable to adopt children, an adoption certification is issued and it will remain in effect for eighteen months from the date of its issuance. If no adoption petition has been filed within that time, certification can be extended for one year periods if the court determines that there have been no material changes in circumstances that would adversely affect the acceptability of the prospective parents to adopt.
Our office strives to make the certification process informative, seamless, and positive, while helping you discover the unique attributes you bring to parenting an adopted child. Our specialists are trained professionals who are compassionate and understanding with many years of experience in working with prospective adoptive parents. We will provide you with all the documents required to complete your home study, including the contract for services, application, financial statement, physician statements, and other agency paperwork.
Once you receive your adoption certification and have provided copies of your profile books to our agency, you are ready to be presented with adoption opportunities!
5. The physical and mental health condition of the applicant.
6. Any court action for or adjudication of child abuse, abandonment of children, dependency or termination of parent-child relationship in which the applicant had control, care, or custody of the child who was the subject of the action.
8. All other facts bearing on the issue of the fitness of the prospective adoptive parents that the court, agency, or division may deem relevant.
We will also need copies of the documents below (if applicable).
Need a Home Study? Have a Home Study?
The first step for all applicants (needing a home study or wanting to apply with our agency) is to complete an orientation to provide you with the necessary information about private adoption in Arizona, as well as Adoption Choices of Arizona. It is strictly for informational purposes and it is at no-cost to you. If you are married or in a relationship, it is best to have both of you available for the presentation. A copy of the presentation as well as the orientation paperwork will be provided to you at that time.
Once the paperwork has been submitted, our staff will contact your home study agency to obtain the necessary documents to create your file and will obtain additional information after you have been matched.