Understanding the Adoption Home Study Report

The home study report is a big part of the adoption process. Adoptive parents need to be prepared for undergoing this process where they are examined by adoption agency. Therefore, understanding the adoption home study report is a must for the parents considering adoption. Read on to learn more about it. When a couple decides to adopt a child, it needs to register with an adoption agency. The agency will then determine if the couple is capable of being good parents. To do this, the agency prepares a home study report. Preparation of the report involves a social worker visiting the family and assessing their credentials. Here are some of the components of the home study report. In this articleFacts about the Applicants considered during Adoption Home Study ProcessPsychological Assessment done during Adoption Home Study Process Facts about the Applicants considered during Adoption Home Study Process The home study follows some basic guidelines. Its report must contain the following factual information about the applicants: Age: Adoptive parents must not have a combined age of more than 90 years and each parent can be a maximum of 45 years older than the child. The age gap must not be too great, or the parents will not be able to properly meet the physical needs of the growing child. Years of marriage: A couple should be married for at least 5 years before deciding to adopt a child. In this time, the couple would have had the opportunity to have biological children. In addition, the marriage is also likely to be stable. In some cases, a marriage of shorter duration is also acceptable - for example, a marriage where the couple knew each other for many years before actually getting married. Educational background: The parents educational qualifications are important to help determine the kind of education they would plan for their child. Their educational qualifications could also partially affect the couples finances relating to their current and future employment. Finances: A couple must have a monthly income of at least three thousand rupees to be eligible to adopt. The social worker decides whether the applicants long-term financial situation is good enough to meet the childs basic needs like food, education, etc. The financial information also includes whether the couple owns a house. Religion: The religious background of the couple often influences the selection of the child. The official must find out if the couple is open to adopting a child who is of a different religion or whose religion is unknown. Health: A doctors report, not older than two months, is also necessary. The couple, and their children if any, should not be suffering from any communicable diseases. They should also be physically and mentally fit to be able to care properly for the child. Family members: If the couple lives in a joint family setting, the age, educational background, and health status of all the home members must be recorded. Psychological Assessment done during Adoption Home Study Process The social worker spends time with the applicants, both as a couple and individually. She forms an impression of the couple and observes their attitude towards the adoption process. She records her assessment of the couple based on the following criteria: General thoughts: This part includes a physical description of the applicants as well as a general note on their interaction with other people. Emotional behaviour: The social worker analyses the behaviour of the couple including acceptance of faults, type of relationship between the individuals, and level of satisfaction about current lifestyle. Morality: The value system of the parents has a direct effect on the upbringing of a child. The social worker examines each individuals basic attitude towards life, concern for others, respect for people, and belief in the worth of human life. Social standing: The social status of the couple will determine that of the adopted child as well. Information is required about both partners family backgrounds, work setting, general position in society, etc. Marital relationship: It is important to assess the relationship between the couple. Both partners should be emotionally satisfied in the marriage, be involved in decision-making, and generally perform their required roles in the relationship. The social worker examines their individual and joint attitude towards their childlessness. In addition, she also enquires about their motivation to adopt a child. The home study report determines the suitability of the couple regarding the adoption. It also takes into account their commitment to providing the child a loving home.

The home study report is a big part of the adoption process. Adoptive parents need to be prepared for undergoing this process where they are examined by adoption agency. Therefore, understanding the adoption home study report is a must for the parents considering adoption. Read on to learn more about it.

When a couple decides to adopt a child, it needs to register with an adoption agency. The agency will then determine if the couple is capable of being good parents. To do this, the agency prepares a home study report. Preparation of the report involves a social worker visiting the family and assessing their credentials. Here are some of the components of the home study report.

Facts about the Applicants considered during Adoption Home Study Process

The home study follows some basic guidelines. Its report must contain the following factual information about the applicants:

• Age: Adoptive parents must not have a combined age of more than 90 years and each parent can be a maximum of 45 years older than the child. The age gap must not be too great, or the parents will not be able to properly meet the physical needs of the growing child.
• Years of marriage: A couple should be married for at least 5 years before deciding to adopt a child. In this time, the couple would have had the opportunity to have biological children. In addition, the marriage is also likely to be stable. In some cases, a marriage of shorter duration is also acceptable - for example, a marriage where the couple knew each other for many years before actually getting married.
• Educational background: The parents' educational qualifications are important to help determine the kind of education they would plan for their child. Their educational qualifications could also partially affect the couple's finances relating to their current and future employment.
• Finances: A couple must have a monthly income of at least three thousand rupees to be eligible to adopt. The social worker decides whether the applicant's long-term financial situation is good enough to meet the child's basic needs like food, education, etc. The financial information also includes whether the couple owns a house.
• Religion: The religious background of the couple often influences the selection of the child. The official must find out if the couple is open to adopting a child who is of a different religion or whose religion is unknown.
• Health: A doctor's report, not older than two months, is also necessary. The couple, and their children if any, should not be suffering from any communicable diseases. They should also be physically and mentally fit to be able to care properly for the child.
• Family members: If the couple lives in a joint family setting, the age, educational background, and health status of all the home members must be recorded.

Psychological Assessment done during Adoption Home Study Process

The social worker spends time with the applicants, both as a couple and individually. She forms an impression of the couple and observes their attitude towards the adoption process. She records her assessment of the couple based on the following criteria:

• General thoughts: This part includes a physical description of the applicants as well as a general note on their interaction with other people.
• Emotional behaviour: The social worker analyses the behaviour of the couple including acceptance of faults, type of relationship between the individuals, and level of satisfaction about current lifestyle.
• Morality: The value system of the parents has a direct effect on the upbringing of a child. The social worker examines each individual's basic attitude towards life, concern for others, respect for people, and belief in the worth of human life.
• Social standing: The social status of the couple will determine that of the adopted child as well. Information is required about both partners' family backgrounds, work setting, general position in society, etc.
• Marital relationship: It is important to assess the relationship between the couple. Both partners should be emotionally satisfied in the marriage, be involved in decision-making, and generally perform their required roles in the relationship. The social worker examines their individual and joint attitude towards their childlessness. In addition, she also enquires about their motivation to adopt a child.

The home study report determines the suitability of the couple regarding the adoption. It also takes into account their commitment to providing the child a loving home.