What is a Home Study?

A home study is a written document introducing your family to your adoption agency/potential birth parents. Although it is considered an assessment of the pre-adoptive family, it is not a "test". It is a document that outlines your history, your motivation, your interests, and what you envision for your future. Furthermore, it contains proof of your adoption training, and whether you are properly "cleared" legally to be a pre-adoptive parent. A good home study will be a sort of "road map" for the agency to accurately match you to a child that best fits in with your family.

You will be asked a variety of questions, and many of them may feel very personal. Typical questions may include; "Why do you want to adopt?", "What have you done to prepare your family for adoption?", or even, "Why would you be a good adoptive parent?"

It is normal to feel some sort of anxiety about your home study, however, it's a very straight forward process, and over 90% of families are approved to be pre-adoptive parents. The best advice is just to be yourself. Be open and honest, and you may even have some fun!