[smmars]

I am noticing big differences in everybody's homestudy experiences. Some seem to have had long interviews, multiple visits, etc. Others have had one short visit and that is it. It seems that ours will be a quick one-time visit and that's it (in addition to the big stack of paperwork that we had to fill out, etc.) What would account for the big differences? Is it a state by state thing or what?

[leeinmemphis]

Hi Stacy-

I thought ours went pretty fast... we had our first visit on a Wednesday night where she kind of went thru our house and saw where the kids' rooms would be, walked outside and looked around some and talked to us briefly. I bet she was there about an hour or so. Then, one week later she met my DH at home at 4pm and me at 4:30... she then talked to us together until about 5:30 and that was it.

It took less than a month from the first visit until she sent the document to the state... now we are waiting for that to clear and get sent to INS.

That's our experience...

Alli and Lee

[sickmeig]

i believe ours is indiana standard - 4 or 5 two hour visits at the office, one 2-hour home visit, 3 or 4 follow-up visits after you bring child home (these can be done at the office)

[Tracy922]

Im not sure what the difference is. Our social worker came to our house at 100pm and left at 4pm. She talked with us all together. She looked around and that was it. Tracy

[tdm0260]

Our homestudy was sooooo long. My husband and I first met with the social worker on Valentines Day for about 2 hours. During that visit she interviewed us and toured our home. About a week later, I met with her at a coffee house and was interviewed for about 3 hours. The following week, my husband was interviewed by her as well!!!!

To say the least, I am glad that it is over.

[jmt]

Dear Stacey.

Our homestudy went really quick and painless. We finished all three meetings within a month. Our social worker said it could take 4 meetings if she didn't get enough info. Basically, they discuss the emotional side of adopting. We had to read and write a summary on 12 different lessons that educated us on adopting.

Her questions were pretty frank, asking about infertility, how far we went etc. Be prepared and make sure you and your husband are on the same page with answers to important questions. It'll go smoother that way. We had to write an autobiography and then we were interviewed by her separately. She basically looked through the bio and asked questions about our childhood, etc. and family experiences.

Hope this helps! God Bless.
JMT

[shellyah]

definately make sure your husband and you are on the same page re: everything.
They want to know EVERYTHING.

We met several times with our SW.

We were really nervous but everything was really positive. I was suprised.

My homestudy took a long time to be written. Try and stay on top of that. I didn't get mine until 3 mos after our last interview. She sent the report to INS even later.

Good Luck.

Shelly

[bratgirl]

Our homestudy wa one visit, for about four hours. She interviewed us together, then separately, and took a tour of the ENTIRE house. It took her about a month to get out homestudy paperwork completed. She was computer illiterate and had tried to e-mail the questionaires to our references. She had A LOT of trouble sending the stuff to people. She ended up mailing to some of them. Once she got the info, she went pretty quick.

[Maybesomeday]

Ours was about 4 hours long just one visit to our home. Quick and painless once we got to that point.
We also had to take an adoption parenting class, through EAC in FL. It was better than the actual seminar.

[PamelaC]

We had our homestudy yesterday. She was there for 3 1/2 hours. Talked to both of us, then each of us alone, and then looked at the house. She just counted the rooms. All that cleaning and she never even open a closet. LOL

I am still glad that part is over.

[suburbanmomgw]

Requirements do vary by state. and also with agency.

Ours was a visit in our home with entire household. An a talk with us. Then separate short talks me and husband. That's it.

Just did first post-placement mtg. In office. 1.5 hr. Just me and son.

[PixieDust]

Our's was surprisingly pleasant and easy. We met with our social worker (who was herself a client of our agency) for about 2 hours at our home, at which time she toured the house...inside only....didn't look outside...but it was dark and raining.

Second visit was about 3 weeks later at her home. We were there for about 45 minutes. That was it. She emailed us our report about a week later so we could check for accuracy in dates, spelling of names, etc.... Then she did the final version....It was all done in about a month.

I think it was actually a nice experience...it was great to spend so much one on one time with someone who had gone through everything we were going through...and has two happy kids to show for it. We enjoyed it.

Therese

[kryslm]

Stacey:
We had a fairly typical home study experience. It took about two months from start to finish. Our social worker paid us one quick visit to our home. Otherwise, we met with her twice at her office. We had quite a bit of "homework" to do, however. In addition to rounding up the required documents, we were assigned a book and other materials to read. We also wrote an autobiography that we were told should be a good 8-10 pages in length. All things considered, however, the homework was a good, educational experience for us.

Best advice: Don't get too anxious about the home study. It is a bit daunting before you begin. Once you begin the process, however, you'll find that it's not so bad.

Good luck...
Mike

[DaniJ]

I am suspecting that it varies state-to-state, agency to agency (both adopting and home-studying!), and even up to the discrecion of the individual Social Worker. We seem to have gotten a particularly exacting one, and it's got me frantic! We did our 3 hour meeting together at the house, including a tour, we each did our 2-3 hour individual mettings with her, and now she wants clearance from our councelor from last year, as well as another possible meeting with me over my dx. of depression last year (BAD summer in the Jarvis household last year! ) She wants us to read a book about toddler adoption and discuss it with her, as well as go to some seminar coming up. I can't go to the seminar because I just started a new job and work every Sat. and can't take the time off, but she seems to be rather insistant that I find a way! Huulllooooo! Next month I won't be working two full-time jobs, and will have a little more leisure for studying, reading, and attending seminars! I think this little-miss-priss is going to hold up our whole process by a month or so. Can't she look at our 3 year old son and see that he is bright, happy, healthy, and social, and realize we are ok parents!??????

[Cathlena]

The first meeting we had was with DH and I and our Social Worker, she basically introduced herself and told us how the Homestudy works...

DH's one-on-one lasted about 1.5 hours and mine lasted about 2 hours. We have one more appointment for the home visit. Our home is small (1400 sq. ft) and I don't think she is really interested in asking us more information about ourselves so it shouldn't last too long.

We are waiting to pay her until after she has written it and sent it off so that it will keep her on the ball, or after "services are rendered." She puts her agency first and clients like us who are using a different agency on the back burner.

I have to admit...I don't like the homestudy process. I understand why it is necessary, I just don't like having to prove myself to strangers....

Good Luck!