[adoptionhelp]

Hi,
My husband and I are in the process of setting up our MAPP course. We're a little confused however as to when to schedule the home study. We intend to have the place rennovated within the next six months. Can you let me know what they are looking for when they come through? I'd like to get in the system so that if a child comes up we can be more quickly matched, but I don't want to "fail" the homestudy.

We just purchased the home. Right now, it's very early 80's (wood paneling etc.,). The kitchen really needs to be upgraded and we have the bed pulled into the living room while we work on the bedroom. It's coming along, but is a work in progress. Any tips for what we should focus on for the homestudy? Thanks!

[Sharonkay]

I am wanting to know also ?? What condition does the house need to be in? as for dusting? et? does everything need to be put away? Do we have to have child things in place such as bars on windows, safetly latches etc? We are in the middle of organizing and trying to get extra stuff in the basement. Do they look at every room?

What will they be asking us? Do we need to have certain amount of friends/family talk with them? We really have just one friend each and my friend is actually a cousin by marriage. Do we choose the friends/family they talk to? How much do they look into previous employers? Do they care if one of us isn't working?

The homestudy is making me nervous and we havn't even scheduled one yet.

[Sharonkay]

wow, not many people in the forum these days?

Would like to find out what paperwork and other things we can get ready before we have a home study done in a few months? Do I just need copies of marriage certificate and birth certificate? copies we can make ourselves or does it have to be "official copies" ??? What else do we need? How soon can we have health check done? Can we do this ourselves and have something written up?

I found an adoption agency in IL, and I am in Iowa. Will this work well? Also they are asking $11,000 for just advertising etc, but turn around is within 2 years. Home study and lawyer you have to get yourself. Is that reasonable?

[sparkle1908]

Originally Posted by Sharonkay

wow, not many people in the forum these days?

Would like to find out what paperwork and other things we can get ready before we have a home study done in a few months? Do I just need copies of marriage certificate and birth certificate? copies we can make ourselves or does it have to be "official copies" ??? What else do we need? How soon can we have health check done? Can we do this ourselves and have something written up?

I found an adoption agency in IL, and I am in Iowa. Will this work well? Also they are asking $11,000 for just advertising etc, but turn around is within 2 years. Home study and lawyer you have to get yourself. Is that reasonable?

You may want to cross post this under the "general adoptive parents" forum where there is more traffic...or you could do a search on this forum for "homestudy" to pull up old threads on this topic...hope that helps!!

(I'm new to this process but have noticed that some forums on here are "busier" than others)...