- Parenting and integration of the child into the
family
- Family environment
- Physical and health history of the applicants
- Mental health history
- Education, employment and finances-including
insurance coverage and child care plans if needed
- Views on discipline
- Plans for childcare
- Personal goals and goals as a parent
- References and criminal background clearances
- Summary and social worker's recommendation.
It is very common for the social
worker to meet with you and your partner together, then separately and together
again.
The home inspection often generates
a lot of anxiety. However, the social worker is just trying to determine
whether your home is generally safe (You do not have to have safety locks on
everything yet but you may want to point out safety features you will add.),
you have enough room for a child (The room does not need to be ready but be
prepared to show which room will be used.), and that your home is a healthy
environment for a child. (If you find your home comfortable and pleasant, so
will your social worker.)
If you have a well, you will
probably need to have it tested to demonstrate that you have a safe water
supply. You will need to install smoke detectors if you do not already have
them.
You will have to make a great deal
of information available during the adoption home study. You will need to produce birth
certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, financial records,
medical history, mental health records and more. It’s wise to keep a notebook
with all the requirements and a record of all your efforts to get each
document. As documents arrive, place them in plastic sheet holders and keep all
the sheet holders in a three ring binder so that you always know where to find
them.
