A home study is a report about prospective adoptive parents who wish to adopt domestically or internationally. The home study process is used to protect a child by screening a prospective adoptive family. Many families consider the home study process to be educational because it addresses many parenting and adoption issues. In addition, the home study approval provides reassurance to biological parents by confirming that the family can provide a stable, secure, loving home to a child.
In Georgia, there are different types of home studies, depending on the kind of adoption being pursued.
Private adoption agency placement: Before a private licensed adoption agency can place a child with an adoptive family, the family must complete the home study process and be approved as prospective adoptive parents. Georgia families working with a licensed adoption agency in any state must obtain home study services from a Georgia licensed adoption agency. The home study process consists of three visits, generally two in the agency's office and one in the home. There is no set format that all adoption agencies use. Since the home study must comply with the applicable state regulations, there is uniformity in the issues covered and the required documents. In general, the following information is included in the home study:
- Personal autobiographical information, including family relationships, education, previous marriages, and family values
- Marital status and evaluation of family life
- Previous experience with children
- Motivation to adopt
- Feelings about infertility (if applicable)
- Discussing adoption with children
- Expectations for the child
- Parenting attitudes (discipline, religion, education)
- Health history
- Financial information
- References
- Background checks
- Type of child desired
- Recommendation
The home study, therefore, consists of in-person meetings and the submission of required documents. For families pursuing international adoptions, there are some additional requirements because the home study must satisfy state regulations as well as federal immigration regulations. Most families can complete the home study process in one to two months, as long as all documents have been received by the agency.
A subsequent home study is completed if a major change in the family has occurred or if a family moves from another state. Because a home study is only valid for one year from the date of approval, families may have to obtain an update to the home study to keep it current.
Public adoption agency placement: Families seeking to adopt children in state custody, either 
through foster/adopt or adoption programs, generally need to complete a home study that is more comprehensive than the home study required for a private agency placement. Currently, this type of home study is called IMPACT. Families can contact their county Department of Family and Children Services offices for information about the adoption process and request information about adopting through the state system. In addition, many private agencies have received training and have caseworkers certified to complete the IMPACT study. IMPACT is completed through the submission of documents and by attending group classes to cover a set list of topics. If required, a family can make arrangements to complete the IMPACT study by working individually with an agency caseworker approved to complete such a study.
Independent (private) adoption: If a prospective adoptive family identifies a birth mother from another state, a home evaluation must be completed before the child can return home with the family. A lawyer with expertise in interstate adoption will understand the home study options. All adoptive families will need to complete the home evaluation/investigation requirement after the petition for adoption is filed. The Judge assigned to the adoption will appoint an individual or agency to complete this investigation. The fee is significantly lower than that charged by licensed adoption agencies. Although the documents required are almost identical to those required by private licensed adoption agencies, the scope of the evaluation is not as broad and only one visit is required. Even if a family completed a pre-placement home evaluation in an interstate adoption, the family will need to complete the investigation process after the petition for adoption is filed.
Embryo adoption: Many clinics and agencies providing embryo adoption services require that the prospective adoptive parents complete an embryo adoption home study through which they are approved to adopt. Although some medical providers do not require such a home study with embryo donation/adoption, most agencies do have such a requirement and many placing/donating parents will want this reassurance. The home study process for embryo adoption is virtually identical to that required for a private agency adoption. The home study will educate families about how to discuss general adoption issues in parenting a child not genetically related to them and how to discuss any issues related to embryo adoption and how the child was conceived. Contact Rhonda Fishbein.
Rhonda Fishbein
Attorney at Law
2849 Paces Ferry Road SE
Suite 215
Atlanta, GA 30339-3769
Phone: 770-437-8582 | Facsimile: 770-437-1197
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