SERVICES

Step 2: Adoptive Home Study

All prospective adoptive parents must undergo an adoptive home study. The purpose of the adoptive home study is to evaluate whether parents are qualified to adopt. The process involves education and preparation as well as the gathering of information about the prospective parents.

• Application. Provided by the agency.
• Preparation classes. You are required to take 30 hours of Pre-service Training (and a First Aid/CPR and Blood Born Pathogens course to become a licensed foster parent). Class schedule information can be found on the Foster Parent Training site.
• Criminal history background check. Organized through your social worker, an instate criminal history check must be completed on every person over the age of 16 residing in the home. A national fingerprint check must be completed on all adults in the home (age 18 and above).

Private Adoption

Get information on fingerprint based criminal background checks for private adoptions.
• Child abuse and neglect inquiries. This is part of the background check. Washington State records will be checked for everyone in the home ages 16 and older. If anyone in your home, age 18 and above, has lived in another state during the past 5 years, a check will be made of records in other states. This will be organized through your social worker.
• Personal information. There is a DSHS form used to provide your social worker with information about you. There are no right or wrong answers; this is just a way for the social worker to get to know you.

Following is a general outline of what to expect, but your social worker will provide you with more detailed questions:

• Background
• Family Facts (birth place, parents, siblings, childhood, personality)
• Education
• Employment history/military service
• Values, goals, interests, and activities
• Cultural background
• Relationships
• Spouse/partner
• Children
• Others living with you
• Parenting and experience with children
• Discipline
• Experience and training
• Family rules/activities
• Religious/spiritual affiliation and practices
• Medical/psychosocial
• General medical
• Abuse history
• Domestic violence
• Drug/alcohol
• Home and neighborhood
• Support systems
• Medical statements on persons adopting. This is a confidential form that your physician will fill out regarding current and historic medical conditions. Your social worker will provide you with the form.
• Income/financial statements. A worksheet is provided to you by your social worker that will ask for information on the following topics:
• Employment
• Income
• Home
• Vehicle
• Bank accounts
• Assets
• Credit card debt
• Child support
• Loans
• Insurance
• Paid leave
• References. 4 references (only 1 can be a relative). References are generally used to get a picture of a family from an outsider. A questionnaire asking specific questions must be filled out by your references. Your social worker will send the questionnaire directly to your references.
• Contacts with social worker. At least 4 contacts will be made with your social worker and one must be in the family home to better understand your lifestyle and family dynamics. Issues discussed (per RCW 26.33.190) at these visits will include:
• The concept of adoption as a lifelong developmental process and commitment
• The potential for the child to have feelings of identity confusion and loss regarding separation from the birth parents
• Disclosure of the fact of adoption to the child
• The child's possible questions about birth parents and relatives
• The relevance of the child's racial, ethnic, and cultural heritage
• Documentation of marriages and divorces (copy of decrees). For information on obtaining marriage and divorce certificates, contact the Washington State Department of Health.

Home Study Approval
The home study has to be approved to continue with the adoption process. The length of time from the last contact with the social worker to approving the home study varies, but the agency goal is to have it completed within 90 days.

Washington Adoption Resource Exchange (WARE)
Once the home study is approved, have your social worker register you with the Washington Adoption Resource Exchange (WARE). If you don't already have a child in your home, this service will enable other social workers to see that there is a family with an approved home study waiting for a child.

 Step 3: Child Selection