[quote]
Originally posted by Sienna3
[b]Maire,
It sounds like your homestudy agency is separate from your placing agency. That is how my situation is too. I am surprised that the placing agency did not ask in their application if you have any arrests too. My agency wanted to know arrests, convictions or criminal records, and the date and circumstances if so. My homestudy agency application also asked whether we had been arrested ever or had a history of domestic violence.
Those questions will be covered during the homestudy even if not on the application. Agencies also are concerned in general about domestic violence because of the emotional issues that follow and they do want clients to have current, stable emotional health and have worked through any past issues.Keep in mind that the homestudy will require a few character references too. Some agencies have references complete questionnaires or phone them, etc. Your past issues may surface from this as well as from fingerprinting.You do not want to be caught in a lie.
I have numerous excellent refrences, none of whom are aware of what happened in my past (that I was involved with someone very briefly who I left immediately after he became abusive and that the man retaliated by telling lies about me-primarily so he could try to stay in our apartment) I really have no "history" of domestic violence. In fact I have not been in a "relationship" with anyone for over 4 years nor do I have any plans to be unless God sent the right one along. Do you think this is the kind of situation that could be explained to a home-study worker? What about the INS. Can they turn down my application even if my home study is approved? I have filled out the INS petition for Advance Processing of an Orphan but no where on it was there a question about past arrest's. I have previously been cleared to work at a daycare center after the incident-nothing turned up on my record. Is there any way to find out ahead of time what my fingerprints will turn up, if anything? Are there any attorney's I can consult to get this unfair "record" expunged ?(cost is a consideration but not completely prohibitive.) I hate to think that the lies of one disturnbed person years ago could prevent me from adopting when I have so much to offer a child or children.
