5 Tips To Get Through Your Utah Home Study

Utah Home Study

​The very first thing you should know about an adoption home study – they are there to help you adopt, never to try to keep you from adopting.
 
All families must complete the home study process before a baby can be placed with you. The real home study helps to ensure a good match is manufactured between children and families.
 
It’s also to ensure the homes of hopeful adoptive families are safe and comply with state adoption laws.
 
Not all home studies are created equal. Every state has its own adoption laws and different requirements. Most states require that either an adoption agency or social worker must complete your home study.
 
A Utah Home Study does not require an agency to do the home study. Which means you’re able to find a more affordable option such as Bridgestone Home Study.
 
It’s helpful to know that agencies and social workers want you to adopt and become parents. They aren't looking for the perfect parents - because everybody knows there are no perfect parents. 

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5 Techniques For Getting Through Your Utah Adoption Home Study

1. Find out about and understand home studies in Utah.
It helps to learn what you're getting into, right? Below are a few helpful places to learn about home studies:
The adoption home study process
Surviving the dreaded adoption home study
 
Once you start your home study, your social worker shall let you know what information they want. To offer some knowledge of what they shall require, here’s an average home study checklist to review.
 
The checklist outlines many of the common items required in a home study, but should be used as an example only. Always contact your social worker or agency to get exactly what you need for your home study so you comply with your state’s adoption laws.
 
2. Prepare for your home visit - but don’t go crazy.
Your home will be checked to make sure it is a safe place for a child to live. So, yes you need to clean your house - but it doesn’t have to be 100% clutter-free. The social worker will not get out a white glove to make sure your home is dust free.
 
"Our social worker looked at every room including garage and bathrooms. It took him all of 5 mins to go through the whole house, so it is not that big of a deal.”
 
Here are some important items to check before your home visit:
Your home has smoke alarms in bedrooms and in living areas.
If you have guns, they are properly locked away.
Pools are protected/fenced.
Home and poisons cleaners are in cupboards with childproof locks.
Home window drape cords ought never to hang up at your fingertips.
 
3. Treat your social worker as if you would any special guest in your house.
Try thinking of the social worker as a good friend who wants to hear your story and about how excited you are to be a parent.
 
You simply want them to feel welcome. You should think about the best & most comfortable place for you all to sit and talk. A dining room table works great because there’s a lot of room for the social worker to construct documents and write, but it might not be the most comfortable.
 
Choose a place to sit and visit that has these two elements: 1. Comfortable. 2. Place to write and spread out paperwork.
 
4. Prepare for your interviews with the interpersonal worker.
The social worker will likely interview you to find out what kind of family you are. They will ask you personal questions about:
Why you want to adopt
Your marriage & relationship
Your finances
Your health history
How you handle stress
Your parenting style (how you plan on disciplining)
It helps to think about these topics before you have to answer them. Usually, the shorter the answers the better. Don’t leave out important details, but know that the social worker shall ask more if they wish to know more.
 
Honesty is important. Don’t try to do what you know the social worker wants to listen to ever. Don’t hide anything. It is far better to be up honest.
 
5. Don’t be stunned by the top paperwork pile.
You'll get a collection of paperwork to complete including:
Criminal record checks - including FBI fingerprinting.
References (3-4 people who know you well should answer questions about you)
Home Study Questionnaire
Employer reference questionnaire - verifying your current employment.
Financial statement - including assets and liabilities as well as copies of your most recent tax documents.
Health declaration - requiring you to obtain a medical physical check by your doctor.
Provide copies of vital records such as marriage license, birth certificates, divorce decrees.
 
Gathering information and completing all of this paperwork is what calls for the most time because you are at the mercy of other people. For some of this, you are going to have to wait for others to do the work for you - background checks from the government, your 3 or 4 personal references, your medical doctor availability for your physical, etc.
 
While all of this may seem daunting and overwhelming, adoptive families find the process through Bridgestone Home Study has been easy.

Adoption Home Study In Utah

Private Adoption In Utah

Nathan Peterson LCSW