Adoption Process There is no set format that agencies follow for adoption. Although each agency has their own policies and procedures, which they are required to follow, there are some common elements that each agency is required to incorporate into the home study. AdoptTLC incorporates the following elements into the adoption process: Training AdoptTLC requires that the adoptive family complete some on-line training during the home study process. These trainings help prospective parents better understand the needs of children waiting for families and helps families decide what type of child or children they can parent most successfully. These Internet classes are convenient for families to access and are available 24 hours a day. In addition, these Internet classes will satisfy most adoption agency requirements as well as the Hague requirements for pre-adoptive training. Interviews As part of the home study process, a social worker will conduct several interviews with you and your family. The interviews will consist of at least one interview in the home with all of the members of the family present. These interviews will help you to develop a relationship with your social worker that will enable him or her to better understand your family and assist you with an appropriate placement. If your family has adult children or children over the age of 6 living outside the home, the social worker will also need to speak with them. Home Visit Home visits primarily serve to ensure that your home meets the State of Texas Minimum Standards for environmental/fire safety (e.g., working smoke alarms, location of fire extinguishers, safe storage of firearms, water safety, adequate space for each child, etc.). The social worker will also complete a Fire Safety Checklist and an Environmental Health Checklist during a home visit. The social worker will tour your home and backyard. He or she will be looking for how you plan to accommodate a new family member (or members, if you are planning to adopt a sibling group). Social workers are typically are NOT inspecting your home for housekeeping standards. A certain level of order is necessary, but some family clutter is expected. Some social workers worry that people living in a “picture perfect” home would have a difficult time adjusting to the clutter a child brings to the home.
AdoptTLC requires that all family members have a physical examination dated within the twelve months of the date of the home visit. The physician will have to sign a statement stating that each adopting parent in the household is essentially healthy, has a normal life expectancy, and is physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of providing care for a child or children. If you have a medical condition that is controlled by diet and/or medication (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes), you may still be approved as a prospective adoptive family. If anyone in your family has sought counseling or treatment for a mental health condition in the past, you will be asked to provide reports from those visits. You may also be asked to have a psychological evaluation. AdoptTLC views seeking counseling and/or treatment help as a sign of strength. The fact that your family obtained such help should not, in and of itself, preclude you from adopting. However, each family’s situation is different and each family will receive individualized services. Income Statements Although you do not have to be financially wealthy to adopt, you will have to show that you can manage your finances responsibly and adequately. (If you are adopting internationally, some countries may have specific income requirements you will be required to meet.) You will be asked to verify your income by providing copies of recent paycheck stubs, IRS 1040, and a letter from your current employer. You will also be required to provide proof of adequate life insurance, health coverage, savings, and other investments. Background Checks AdoptTLC will submit the names of all persons in the household over the age of 13 to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for a Central Registry Check. The Central Registry Check is a statewide database that checks for any history of child abuse or neglect and any criminal history. While this procedure may be considered invasive, it is a necessary step to ensure the safety of any child/children placed. It is very important that you be honest with your social worker and agency about any and all past arrest history including even things that you think have been expunged. Your social worker is not only looking at your past experiences, but also what you have learned from them and how you will use that knowledge when parenting a child or children. AdoptTLC may be able to work with families with a criminal history, however this is dependent on the exact charge and its resolution. However, if the social worker feels that you are being deceptive or dishonest or if the documents collected during the home study process expose inconsistencies, the social worker may have difficulty trusting you. Applicant Background and Preparation for Adoption You will be asked to complete an Applicant Background and Preparation for Adoption form during your home study process. The first part of this form consists of questions regarding you; it is a guide to help provide insight into your upbringing by providing your social worker a short autobiography. While writing about yourself can be intimidating, this exercise is intended to provide information about you to your social worker and the agency, as well as to help you explore issues related to the adoption. The second part of this form is to help you explore some adoption related issues that you may encounter before or after placement. It also serves as a guide for your social worker to understand how to best work with you and guide you on your adoption journey. References References help the social worker form a more complete picture of your family and support system. AdoptTLC will ask you to provide the names of at least three people or couples who have known you for a minimum of three years and who are NOT related to you. Good choices might include close friends, employer, a former teacher, a co-worker, neighbor, a pastor, rabbi, or leader of your faith community. The Home Study Report In general, the home study report includes the above-mentioned health and income statements, background checks, and references as well as the following information: Family Background, Education, Employment History, Financial, Neighborhood, Religion, Feeling about and readiness for adoption, Marital Relationship, Family Relationship, Parenting Experiences, and Views on Discipline. The first step in the process is the submission of the Application along with the non-refundable application fee. The Director of Placement Services will review your application and contact you within 48 hours to let you know if we at AdoptTLC feel that we can work effectively with you to complete your home study. Once the decision has been made to proceed forward with the home study, you will receive an invoice for the $1,500 home study fee. This home study fee includes the home study and all travel costs for the social worker to visit with you in your home.
After the final home visit is completed, it will take your social worker approximately two weeks to have a rough draft of your home study ready for you to proofread. After you have completed proofreading the home study and have returned it along with any suggestions to your social worker, the Director of Director of Placement Services will review it to be sure it meets the Minimum Standards for the State of Texas. If you are seeking to adopt internationally, your home study will then be sent to the adoption agency you have chosen to adopt through. After their review and approval, the home study will then be completed, notarized, and mailed to you for you to submit to your agency and to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services along with the I-600A application, if applicable. Remember AdoptTLC is not looking for “perfect” families. The home study process is a way for a social worker to learn more about your real family, as a potential family for real children. The guidelines of who is allowed to adopt varies from state to state and is dependent on the adoption rules governing the child’s country of origin. State law and regulations govern adoptions in the United States. Flexibility and a sense of humor are vital characteristics when parenting children, and can be very useful during the home study process as well. With perseverance and a positive outlook, you will be able to team up with your social worker to make this a valuable learning experience – one that will help you do the best possible job in parenting the child who will eventually join your family.
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