Adoption: One Powerful Word, One Life-Changing Journey
Adoption. It’s a powerful word—one that can change your life and the life of a child forever. It carries anticipation and excitement, along with moments of worry, joy, sorrow, faith, and trust.
No matter how you choose to adopt—through social services, an international program, or a domestic adoption (via an agency, attorney, or an identified placement)—there are two required reports before your adoption can be finalized and legally made permanent.
The Two Required Reports
At first, this process may sound daunting. It isn’t—but it is important. These reports serve three essential purposes:
This final report is often used by adoption agencies or attorneys to help match a child with the right family.
The Home Study Process
The Home Study typically takes 4–6 weeks to complete and includes at least one visit to your home that lasts approximately 2 hours. Everyone living in the household will be interviewed. As part of the process, required background checks include criminal history, sexual offender registries, and child abuse registries.
If you have a prior arrest, this does not automatically disqualify you from adopting. Each situation is reviewed individually, taking into account the charges and circumstances before a determination is made.
You will be asked to provide several documents:
- Birth certificates for all household members
- Naturalization papers (if applicable)
- Military discharge papers (if applicable)
- Marriage license
- Divorce decrees (if applicable)
- Health statements from a physician for all household members
- Recent tax return and/or W-2 statements
- Financial disclosure form
- Employment verification letters
- Three signed letters of reference from non-relatives
Post-Placement and Finalization
Once your child has been placed in your home—and before your court hearing to finalize the adoption—your home study provider will conduct a follow-up visit. This visit focuses on how everyone is adjusting and thriving together:
- Are you bonding and attaching as a family?
- Are the child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs being met?
- How have family and friends responded to your new addition?
- Is the child receiving appropriate medical care and support?
The information gathered is used to prepare the Post-Placement Report, which is submitted to the court along with your Pre-Placement Report. Together, these documents provide the judge with a complete and thoughtful picture of your adoption journey.
And then… the adoption is finalized—and a new chapter begins. 💛
Combined Pre/Post Placement Report
In some situations, a child has already been placed in an adoptive home and the prospective adoptive parents have been parenting the child for a period of time but the child does not have permanency through adoption. When this occurs, a Combined Pre/Post Placement Report may be completed.
This combined report includes all of the same information required in both a Pre-Placement (Home Study) Report and a Post-Placement Report, consolidated into one comprehensive document. It meets all legal and court requirements while reflecting the unique circumstances of a child who is already living in the adoptive home.
The combined process requires one in-home visit, which typically lasts approximately three hours. During this visit, the home study provider will:
Because the family has already been parenting the child, the report also addresses how the child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs are being met, the family’s adjustment, and the support system in place.
The completed Combined Pre/Post Placement Report is submitted to the court and provides a thorough, unified picture of the family and the child, supporting the finalization of the adoption in a timely and efficient manner.
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