What is a home study/assessment?

A home study/pre-placement assessment is an opportunity to investigate if adoption is the best option for you, your family and a child. I like to describe it as a learning experience. You get to learn about the adoption issues and the agency gets to learn about your ideas about parenting, your family life and your abilities to provide for the needs of a child.

A domestic adoption is completed through an agency, attorney or direct placement in the United States. If your child is born outside of NC, an interstate compact must be completed. An international adoption is when the child in born outside of the United States. The finalization of the adoption occurs in many of the foreign countries while for other countries the adoption must be finalized in the NC courts. There are pros and cons to each option.

The social worker has certain criteria that must be included in the home study/ assessment as set out in the State Statutes and if you are hoping to adopt internationally, each international country has its own requirements. Some of the documents that are required to be part of the study/assessment include the following:

• Application
• Marriage license
• Divorce certificates (if applicable)
• Income verification
• Monthly breakdown of income and expenses
• Medicals
• Reference letters
• Background checks
• Autobiography