[GailHB]

We live in CA. and are signed up with a facilitator in CA. It has been our understanding that as long as we match with a CA. birthmother, we don't need to do our homestudy until after a baby is placed with us. Nonetheless, we've decided to proceed with a homestudy in case an out-of-state bmom matches with us.

Now we're confused by the kind of homestudy we need to do, an agency homestudy or an independent homestudy? The former has been described as more expensive, detailed and time consuming, but is valid in cases of out-of-state births. The independent homestudy would not be sufficient for an out-of-state birth. Is this correct?

Who does the post-placement meetings if we have our homestudy done prior to a match?

Our facilitator hasn't yet answered my voicemail message with all these questions, but I thought this would be the best place to find out what's really needed.

Thanks!
Gail HB in CA.

[puppiesmom]

Hi-
We're just starting the adoption process. We've located a birthmother, and are going to pursue an open, independent adoption. We have our first official meeting with the attorney this week, and have a lot of questions about the home study. Has anyone else done an independent home study? I've heard horror stories of people who were disqualified based on trivial things, such as the type of dog they own, or that they had a pool without a fence around it. I'm hoping these are just stories, and the home study goes smoothly. Also, since the baby isn't due until October, would all the paperwork be completed and "approved" now, or after the birth?

[mrbeansmom]

We have adopted a number of times and I have never ever heard of a homestudy being done ~after~ the child is placed. I don't believe that's legal so it's good that you are pursuing it now, Gail. You are also wise to get a homestudy that covers both CA and out-of-state if you think there's a chnace you'll adopt from out-of-state.

puppiesmom,
If the baby you're adopting is due in October, you'd be wise to get a jump on things and start your homestudy now. There are a multitude of things that can get in the way and hinder the process and you'd be better off finished with the homestudy ahead of time than waiting.

>>I've heard horror stories of people who were disqualified based on trivial things, such as the type of dog they own, or that they had a pool without a fence around it. I'm hoping these are just stories, and the home study goes smoothly.<<

These aren't really horror stories so much as they are the law. There are laws that apply to adopting, and they are put into place to make sure they are placing a child in the safest environment possible. I'm not really clear about the dog issue (we have 3 dogs and have never had a problem, but they are sweet dogs), but I'm sure there are places that probably rule against dogs with known reputations such as Pit Bulls and such. We do have a swimming pool and we were made to put a fence around it. That is written into the state building code. They check for any and ALL bodies of water (pools, ponds, creeks etc.) and they ALL have to be fenced. These are not "trivial" things and the real horror story is the child that drowns in one of them because they aren't fenced.

Good luck to both of you!

[puppiesmom]

As always, advice is always greatly accepted!

We met with our attorney, and he told us that there is nothing that can be done until after the baby is born. At birth, the birthmother signs the petition for adoption, and the attorneys file it with the courts. The court will appoint a social worker to do our homestudy at that time. I thought that was kind of weird, since there is so much at stake with an adoption. Our attorney has been doing private adoptions in our area for almost 30 years, so I'm trusting his judgement. Our birthmother will be living in CA for the birth & recovery, so it will be treated as an "in-state" adoption. The attorney didn't think our pool would be a problem, and said we probably wouldn't need to put up a fence. Our dogs are very sweet old mutts (7 & 10), but the pound thought they might be part pit-bull. I'm just worried that the social worker will focus on that, rather than how sweet they are. (Another reason why I wanted to do the homestudy before the baby was born).
And before anyone replies to this post about their opinions about pit-bulls, take a deep breath and think about it. If you have personal experience with the breed, that's one thing... if you're going on media hype, keep it to yourself. My neice was bitten by a cocker spaniel and almost lost an eye, so please don't tell me one breed is worse than another, ok? Sorry to come across so pissy, but I get really tired of people's first reaction (before they even see the dogs) being that I should shoot them both since they could become dangerous. If they haven't been a problem in 10 years, I don't think they'll start now.

Thanks for letting me vent! I'm trying to focus on the happy event, rather than the stress of waiting and wondering!

[mrbeansmom]

Wow! I will be really surprised if they don't have you put a fence around the pool! Let us know what happens.

>>And before anyone replies to this post about their opinions about pit-bulls, take a deep breath and think about it. If you have personal experience with the breed, that's one thing... if you're going on media hype, keep it to yourself. My neice was bitten by a cocker spaniel and almost lost an eye, so please don't tell me one breed is worse than another, ok? Sorry to come across so pissy, but I get really tired of people's first reaction (before they even see the dogs) being that I should shoot them both since they could become dangerous. If they haven't been a problem in 10 years, I don't think they'll start now.<<

I suspect that if your dogs are seven and ten years old and haven't bitten anyone, they won't give you any static. I had two of my dogs locked in the van when our worker came just because they are so hyper. She just wanted to know what they were and if they were up to date on vaccines.

Sadly, much of the "media hype" regarding Pit Bulls is true. I worked as a veterinary assistant and kennel worker for many years before becoming a zookeeper and I saw first hand the damage Pits can do. Yours may indeed have Pit in them and be mellow dogs, but many of the pure bred Pit Bulls can turn on a dime with no warning and they can be and are very unpredicatable around children and small pets. I would never own a Pit if I had a child, but your dogs sound fine. As long as they aren't standing there snarling and drooling at the worker who does your study I doubt you'll have any trouble.

[lisa in venice]

In independent adoption the homestudy is done after placement at the same time as the post placement study so they charge only one fee. I si signifigantly cheaper than an agency study with fewer restrictions. A gated or covered pool IS a resriction. You are also requireed to have a current TB test and criminal records andfinger print clearance but besides that it is pretty straight forward.

In independent adoption you ASP does an initial interview with you and shares all fo that information with the birth parents. Often they get WAY more info this way than they would get from a traditional agency where your homestudy is not shared with them either. I guess the therory is that the state is just legalizing an agreement that is already made betwen two families.

As to geting the state/county to do a preplacment study I am still trying to figure that out. They told me that they would do one if we wre matched with an expectant family and I have talked to a couple of out of state agencies that said they would take that study but I have not gotten details on the price and how they would handle post placement visits.

[lisa in venice]

P.S.
about dogs. There is no restriction aout them but I know for a fact that some agencies give SW wide latitude and our last agency sent a worker who was terrrified of dogs and did not believe ANY dog could ever be safe around chidlren. At the time we were living in an apartment but I was planning to get a dog. She told me that she could not approve us if we had a dog especiall a big one (I was thing giant breed, Great dane, Newfie, wolf hound etc) That was not an agency policy it was one stupid women. It isone of the reasons dh and I are trying to avoid using an agency this time around.

lisa

[GailHB]

Lisa,

The information you shared about independent homestudies confirms everything the adoption attorney I spoke with today told me. Thanks!

Gail

[puppiesmom]

Well, we had our homestudy last week. The SW thought the dogs were adorable and sweet, and didn't say anything about what breed they might be. I bribed them ahead of time, so they were angels (except for the female, who crawled under the SW's chair and fell asleep. She was snoring so loud that we had to wake her up!)

The SW did not say that we had to put a fence around our pool right away, but that she strongly advises us to do so when the baby is mobile (right now, he's just discovered his feet). We had planned to do that anyway, so it was a relief not to have to do it right now.

We're just waiting on TB test results and the birth father's consent forms. Once those are in to the SW, she'll do her report. I'm not worried, but we are looking forward to the day this is all over!!