Home Study Meeting

Yesterday, we had our first meeting with our Social Worker for our Home Study Process.  We were actually introduced to her during our 2 day orientation back in October when many of the staff members of the agency came that Saturday and defined their roles within the agency. My husband and I met at the agency because we were both coming from our jobs. 

I am not for sure of how the agency determines which SW is going to conduct the home study, however, I do believe they try to match a situation where they consider your personalities after they meet you and have a feel of the couples comfort level with the adoption and time frame.  I was expecting someone older to do the home study. We have a SW that I would say is my age (fairly young) mid thirties, very chic, loves dogs, caucasian and is very sociable. 

We discussed some new documents that are now required and we also discussed our time frame that we preferred to have the home study completed. Some couples take several months and others have theirs completed within a month. It is entirely up to the couple and their desired speed. We set up dates for our individual interviews beginning with my interview I believe two weeks later will be his interview and the visit in our home.  

She also discussed interstate adoptions as well.  Several of the new documents were due to new interstate adoption requirements. This basically means if they have an infant in another state, that it can be placed in our state with us. She asked us if were were open to it and we said yes. She stated in most cases it is very limited contact by the birth parents when this happens and they decide not to actually meet the adoptive parents, and there may not be any contact desired after the placement in this situation. It all depends. 

She advised us that we should not be nervous about anything in regards to her coming into our home and she told us her purpose. I advised her that I have several friends that have gone through it recently and I have several friends who are SW and conduct (or used to conduct) these types of visits for foster care or adoption. I named out a few things that she would be looking for and she agreed.

We were excited to get the show on the road and to complete this process.  She seemed very excited to have us and told us that they (the agency) was pleased and excited to have us as a resource because there were very few African American parents adopting. 

Here are a few pictures at the agency yesterday and in the building where the agency is located.