Section #3: What to Expect with the Paperwork and Training
At Adoption & Beyond, we honestly believe that information is power and having all the information about adoption, the process, and life after adoption is important to the successful placement of a child into a forever home. Before adoptive families adopt, there is a series of training needs to cover including an educational workshop, taking online courses, reading a list of helpful books, and completing an adoptive home study.
Application
Once a family has decided to begin the adoption process, one of the first tasks is filling out an application to begin the adoptive home study process. Next, a series of time-sensitive supporting documents must be gathered for the home study agency.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage Certificate (If applicable)
- Educational Training
- Medical and Life Insurance Verification
- Tax Forms
- Photos of Home and Family
- Income Verification
- Background Checks
- References
- Medicals
The paper gathering process can feel overwhelming for a prospective family. An organized agency like Adoption & Beyond is there to help them navigate the process and ensure all the correct information is gathered and submitted.
Adoptive Home Study
A home study is a written report required by law. In addition, it is an educational tool to prepare hopeful adoptive parents to adopt a child. It is also an assessment process to determine whether families have the ability to care for a child in a safe, nurturing and healthy environment. An approved home study is required to adopt a child.
Adoption & Beyond is available to perform domestic, international, private and embryo adoptive home study assessments. A home study report is created using both the supporting materials and information from a home visit. A professional prepared home study it is usually 15-20 pages in length.
Once approved, a home study is valid for twelve months. If the adoption process takes more than twelve months, an updated home study would need to be performed in order to continue in the adoption process.