If you have decided to adopt a child from abroad, there are some things you'll need to do. You will need to submit a home study with any application you make, which shows what your home environment is like. The home study reviews you personally along with your family. This helps the foreign country's adoption services and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services determine if your home is a good, suitable place for a child.
What is included in a home study for international adoptions?
Every state has its own rules that dictate how a home study has to be performed. However, the majority follow simple requirements. For example, you must have an in-person interview with the adoptive parents and any adult members of the household. There has to be an accurate evaluation of the potential parents' mental and physical state. They will also have their emotional capabilities evaluated.
A description of the family's finances and living conditions is included in the study documents along with several other things, like the ability of the family to care for a child with special needs and a background check into child abuse records, substance abuse or domestic violence.
A home study is vital to your international adoption
Overall, a home study is an important step in the adoption process. Everyone involved in the program wants to make sure that children go to good homes where they are loved and supported. With an approved home study, you'll be able to move forward with your international adoption and soon bring home a child.
Source: U.S. Department of State, "Home Study Requirements," accessed May 11, 2018