[LRA]

What was the time in between meetings for your homestudy? What I mean is, we have had our first meeting and did alot of questions then. Our caseworker said that we will need the home visit and then 2 more meetings with her. She said it usually takes 4-6 weeks. Our meeting was on 4-27-04 and she has not called to schedule our next one. Am I being too impatient? I don't want to make a pest of myself.

Thanks

TISH

[tobeafamily]

It usually takes 6-8 weeks for everything to be completed even on the most aggressive timeines. In addition to your interviews & writing assignments (if any), background checks must also be completed.

If you're concerned, though, please call your SW and schedule - they'll probably appreciate your taking the initiative.

Regina

[Sweettea]

Hello Tish, my name is Kathy and I am also in the Homestudy process, we have our home visit next Thursday. If I were you I would call your SW and setup your next meeting. When we go to our mettings, at the end of our session we make to appt. for the next right then, it works out well. That way there your not woundering when the next one will be and waiting for a call. Your SW might be thinking you will call when you know when it's best for you. I would just give her a call. I hope this helps you. Good luck to you.


Kathy

[Xanny]

In NJ we have two meetings. There was some time in between ours, because we were moving and she wanted to see the new house, of course, so we had to wait to complete our move. In between, she sent us a draft of her report so that we could make corrections and discuss anything she didn't get at the first meeting when she came for the second meeting.

I agree that you should call and make your next appointment.

Best wishes,

Xanny

[katieb31323]

Hi

I have been through 3 now with 3 different agencies, each took about 3 months from start to finish. A lot depends on how busy social worker is...a busy one is a good thing in my opinion as it means the agency is active! this time we could probably have been done a couple weeks earlier but our worker is taking well deserved vacation for 10 days.

Katie

[orphanagemom]

Wow,
We didn't experience anything like that. From our first phone visit to the next was a few days, and then the home visit was the next week. She was completely done with everything including sending us a rough draft for corrections and us sending it back, and then sending us the completed homestudy all within 4 weeks! This also is including her having to get extra info from our adoption agency because the Philippines requires extra info. We also only paid $500. We are extremely happy with our homestudy, and it was done very well. We had a neighbor who went with a different agency, they paid more and took longer, and had a horribly written homestudy, so check them all out. I wouldn't say that an agency that takes longer is busy and therefore is good, but one that has done homestudies for the country you are going to would be more likely the question I would ask!! Also, they have more time to concentrate on you!!! Good luck
Jen

[katieb31323]

Wow! 4 weeks! I have never heard anything that fast! or that cheap (I think my husband called everyplace we could think of in New Mexico and in Minnesota) we have been very pleased with the end results with all three of our HS's though.

It is so amazing how things vary from state to state.

Katie

[Anne5]

We have been waiting almost a year for ours to be done. There were obstacles to getting done quickly. First off we used a person who contracted with the state. Then we had two people who were handling the homestudy quit mid process (basically they changed jobs and it had nothing to do with us at all). Then our paperwork was being sent all to the wrong places (part of the problem when you don't work with the same person throughout the process. Moreso changing people a few times, which was not our choice). Then we had to resubmit prints 3 or 4 times... twice because they went in smeared for some reason and a third time was when records got sent to the wrong place. We also have had a person who was on maternity leave so we had to wait until she came back. We also have live in an area outside the main city so the paperwork has had to be done differently than most of the work they have done before (if you live outside city limits there are different things that are required by the state).

We had one visit to our home and the basic homestudy has been done for quite awhile but getting all the anncillary paperwork and checks back has been a complete bear!

We called our SW a bazillion times to check on things... they have been really nice but we have also had 4 since we started.

I say call your contact person but patience is the name of the game.

[ellia3]

Our homestudy involved 3 meetings and it took about 3 months to complete. I think it vary from state to state, and it also depends on your agency. However, it should not take a year to complete our 1st and 2nd meeting were two weeks apart. I would call SW to schedule next meeeting. We scheduled 2nd meeting at the 1st meeting.

[jewelewis]

Is the reason everyone has more then one meeting because you are going through and agency. We only have 1 meeting. We had it this past Thursday at our home. She will bring over the the printed homestudy for our review when she is finished. We are going private. Is that different?
Julie

[redhedded]

Our homestudy was performed by a busy overworked state DCFS worker for a private agency adoption; we were in a state that places a cap on agency fees and the four agencies charge $7000-$10,000 for homestudies. We had two individual interviews, two interviews together and one lengthy home visit. While the clearance of the criminal background check took 3 months due to high volume of casino employees, she completed the 18 page report in 6 weeks.

I just wanted to mention, because I have often read here that some were displeased or disappointed with their homestudy; her final report had not one inaccuracy, not one spelling or grammar error, and she had an amazing writing style. We were so pleased!

[Support2Adopt]

Originally posted by redhedded
Our homestudy was performed by a busy overworked state DCFS worker for a private agency adoption; we were in a state that places a cap on agency fees and the four agencies charge $7000-$10,000 for homestudies.

$7,000-$10,000 just for the homestudy????? Good grief! What are the total agency fees? I've never heard of such a high fee for a home study!
JJ

[redhedded]

There were only four private agencies in the area; three of them had religious affiliation. Because Nevada caps agency fees at $8,000 (I think it was) each agency charges this fee for initial homestudy and two post placement visits. All four agencies gave us the identical explanation as did the state DCFS supervisor; DCFS does many homestudies (probably not that many, as I do not think many Nevadans adopt) for private agencies for this reason but requires an agency affiliation and a letter from them stating that you are working with them and listing the agency requirements that need to be covered.

[idania]

Hi my name is Idania, and I would have to agree with Jen,,,

we started our homestudy and had our 3meetings, one at the

office, and two at our home, and it took 4 weeks from start to

finish... she was very fast, but it also helps if you help the process

by having everything you need taken care of right away ( fingerprinsts) ( medicals exct.........)

And the cost was about $2000.00, but she will also handle the

post placement visits...

Good luck, I think it depends on your particular agency, and your

state requirements.............

Chao.........Idania

[orphanagemom]

Hi,
Our agency also will do 3 post placement visits (for the six month post placement period), and that is included in the $500. I do know, however, that the agency we went through is most certainly not out to make money on peoples adoptions. She has done this for many years, and just charges enough to cover her time that it takes to put it all together, and any phone calls, mailings,etc. Agencies know you have to have a homestudy, so many of them will bleed you for everything they can. It makes me sick when people do that. Good luck to all, and if anyone is in my area please pm me for the name of the agency, I gladly share any and all information I have!!
Jen