[dowlik]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this forum. I kept googling questions and ended up here, so I figured it would be a great place to join. My husband and I are doing foster/adopt through Texas CPS. We're actually working through a private organization (Lutheran Social Services) but the children available will be from CPS. We filled out a lengthy application. I've read some other threads about the homestudies, but it seems like we've already done all of the paperwork. We answered questions about our marriage, plans for our children, discipline, on and on. We also had to send references, etc. My caseworker told us the only thing we had left was to create a Lifebook for CPS, get the fire marshall to inspect the house, and have a homestudy. My question is: how long does the homestudy take to finish? Some people have told us that they're supposed to come out for three separate visits, but that they really just show up once because they're so overworked. I would just like to have a timeline in mind. We're really excited and trying to be patient.

Thanks!

[amom4life]

Hi Dowlik~
Welcome and Congratulations!
Judy

[riley6]

We've had three hs's done. One for foster/adopt with DCFS and two for agency adoptions. Our first one took two months. Our second was still not done after five months (one of the reasons for changing agencies. We had been told it would take no longer than 60 days and it turned out to be the first of many lies they told us.). The third one was finished in three weeks.

[tomandcate]

Hi dowlik, and welcome...

We are in Ohio and adopting through an agency, so take this for what it's worth...

We started our paperwork/homestudy the first week of August. Along with all the state/agency paperwork, seminars, etc. we had to get physicals, child care class, infant CPR, local/state criminal checks, fingerprints, driver abstracts, fire inspection, 10 copies of a written autobiography, read two books and answer 18 questions, and put together a website. Three interviews (one written, two in person) are required as part of our home study.

Our first visit was 9/15 and our final visit is scheduled for 9/27. Our social worker (who is the one doing the home study) told us that if we're done with everything (the only things outstanding as of the first visit were the doctor's final report on me, fire inspection re-visit [we failed the first inspection], CPR class, and making 10 copies of the approved autobiography) by the 27th, we will be approved within a week...so that means that the entire process will have taken 2 months.

This is probably on the quicker side of the average that I hear of...2-4 months depending on how quickly you can pull everything together. The other factor is whether you're using a public or private entity to complete the homestudy...I hear that state agencies can take a lot longer because of their case loads.

Each case is different because of both personal and location variables...for instance I had to write and request a certified copy of my divorce decree from my first marriage. It can also depend on how quickly your state responds to things like criminal record checks. Also if one has through a homestudy before it usually takes less time on subsequent homestudies. And then there are the basic differences in what each state requires you to do for the homestudy. The good news is, in most cases, you can make it go as fast as you are willing/able to go, as long as your homestudy agency is not dragging their feet with the visits.

One thing I have learned that may help you...no matter what you hear from other people (such as "They are supposed to come 3 times, but they only come once because they are so busy") be prepared for anything to happen! I was told that our fire inspector would only check our extinguishers and for fire ladders and evacuation plans - instead he spent 45 minutes here and checked my house from top to bottom! Turns out the person who told me that has a brand new house, whereas mine is 78 years old...so that's the reason for the disparity. Bottom line is no two situations are ever exactly the same so you have to re prepared for yours to go differently, while keeping the 'averages' in mind.

Good luck!

Cate

[dowlik]

Thanks for the information. One of the things that people don't understand about adoption is how frustrating the timeline is. At least when you're pregnant you have a good idea when that baby is going to arrive, give or take a few weeks!!! I actually have been harrassing my case worker, which he said was ok. Our first home study visit is going to be next Wednesday and the final visit 10/18. We've already done most of the paperwork. We also scheduled our fire inspection. I'm really excited though. He's already matched us with two little boys, 3 & 5, but I haven't seen their file so I don't know too much. It's starting to get exciting!