The Process: Application and home-study

Adam and I knew it would a challenge to adopt considering our ages (40ish) and my health but I never dreamed the paperwork would wear me down, take so long and be so personal.

Here is a partial list of what our agency required to process our application.

• Applications Forms: (Please keep a computer copy of all your forms)
• Intake Form (one per applicant)
• General Release of Information (one per applicant)
• Health History Form (one per applicant)
• Grievance Policy

What this does not cover is the time that it takes to pull this stuff together and the reading that was required. I understand that this is all done to keep the best interests of the child in mind but it gets overwhelming sometimes. This does not cover the cost of the application process and the interviews that we did before we were accepted by the agency.

After our application was accepted then we entered the home-study phase. That is the phase were your adoption counselor looks at every area of your life to make sure that you would make a good adoptive parent. In fairness the agency needs to make sure that you are adopting for the right reasons and that you will have the money to complete the adoption.  The amount and length of paperwork just amazed me.  Below is a partial list of forms that Adam and I had to complete in order to begin our home-study

• Acknowledgment of Adoption Assistance Availability
• Authorization for Credit Background Check
• A signed copy of current Contract for Adoption Services
• Five Reference Letters (four of which need to be non-relative)
• Doctor’s Report Forms(s)
• Financial Form
• Adoptive Family Information Form
• Autobiography
• Copy of most recent Federal Income Tax Return (1040)
• Copy of Government Issued Photo Identification
• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Copy of Marriage Certificate (if applicable)

Once the forms were turned in and the reference letters sent to the agency. We have no idea what anyone said but I assume that it was good since we were allowed to keep on the home-study path. 

The point of listing all of the forms that are required before the application and home-study can even begin is not to bore you but show what adoptive parents have to do. I remember complaining to a friend: look at the forms I have to fill out and the information I have to provide. Her response back was pretty quick: of-course you do someone is giving you their child to raise. Which was true.