[mel7802]

I'm asking this because our agency's process seems really long. And I understand the reasoning as to why it is, because they're really heavy on education, which I want. But they said the whole process takes 5-7 months on average to complete between the classes and 4 meetings we have with the counselor. It actually has already been six weeks since we first sent in our registration, and we've had our first meeting, but we weren't able to get into the initial class until tomorrow. And we weren't allowed to meet with our counselor for the second time until after that class, so we could kind of go over everything.

I'm glad they're thorough, and they're very reliable...we've heard nothing but good things, but of course I am impatient to be able to be placed on a list and let the "real" wait begin!

How long was your home study process? (Especially if you used an agency...)

[Magic_Hat]

Our agency said it would take 3-6 months. That included 4 visits with the social worker. We did have to take a couple classes but I think that was just before placement. I thought we could get ours done closer to 3 months cause we jumped right on the paperwork and were very organized and really ready. We had our paperwork and the sw visits done by about 2.5 months...and our social worker took the rest of the time, totaling 6 mos, to write up the stupid report!
We really like our social worker and she did our post placement visits, then our hs update for baby #2 and is now doing our post placement visits again so she is almost like an old friend now. But it was ridiculous for the original HS to take 6 months. I could've written it in a couple hours!

Hope your HS is quick!

[Bnoll]

Our took about 2 months. Our agency required no classes - only 3 meetings with the SW. They did have an "expidited" option which could be completed in as little as 2 weeks! How that's possible, I have no idea!

Good luck on your journey!!

[jcm]

We are nearing the finish line (I hope) for our HS. When I initially contacted our agency, it took two weeks to hear anything back, and I started to panic. (mid-June 2009) Once they sent me the packet, I was okay. (July 1st) They said it would take 3 - 6 months to complete the HS.

First home visit on the 4th of July (I love our SW...she is on the ball, and works all the time...even holidays, obviously). I had all the paper work done in less than two weeks, but had to wait a month to get a doctors appt for my husband. I even got the FBI clearances back before that **** appt. Grrr. Anyway, we too had to take a class, and it had to be done before the fourth and final visit. I was surprised, and lucky to get into the very next class.

We had our fourth and final visit last Tuesday. She had the rough draft of our HS done, but said it would probably be the end of October before it was completed (she still had two of our reference checks pending), and we could read it. So, I would gather that if we get it by November 1st, hopefully it would be reviewed by the committee and approved by December 1st.

I am hopeful that it could be done sooner than that, but I am not getting my hopes up.

As for the class we had to take, I was skeptical. I have done tons of research, and didn't think they had anything they could teach me. I was WRONG. It gave me a lot to talk about during that third visit.

I really like our SW. She is very professional, intelligent, non-judgmental about some things we had done in our past that we are not proud of, and easy to talk to. The nest part is, she seems to know that the agency can drag it's feet on paper work, and is constantly calling to keep them up to speed on her cases.

Good luck to you....and may you have a speedy HS!

[soonersfan]

From the time we began our orientation class until we were officially waiting was almost 3 months.

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by mel7802

I'm asking this because our agency's process seems really long. And I understand the reasoning as to why it is, because they're really heavy on education, which I want. But they said the whole process takes 5-7 months on average to complete between the classes and 4 meetings we have with the counselor. It actually has already been six weeks since we first sent in our registration, and we've had our first meeting, but we weren't able to get into the initial class until tomorrow. And we weren't allowed to meet with our counselor for the second time until after that class, so we could kind of go over everything.

I'm glad they're thorough, and they're very reliable...we've heard nothing but good things, but of course I am impatient to be able to be placed on a list and let the "real" wait begin!

How long was your home study process? (Especially if you used an agency...)

From app to being approved, it was five months both times.