The homestudy, Page 2

The Paperwork

You’ll be asked to provide documents … lots of documents: birth certificates, marriage licenses, financial statements, tax returns, etc., as well as references.

You’ll have some requirement for proof of good health, including a current TB test, with a doctor’s verification that you’re fit to parent, physically and emotionally, and that medical problems you may have are being treated.

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In addition to pay stubs and income tax forms, you will need to produce records of savings, mortgage or rent payments, debts owed on cars and credit cards, and so on. You don’t need to be Bill and Melinda, but you will need to prove that you manage your money well.

You will also need proof that you are clear of any history of child abuse or other crimes, and may possibly have to be fingerprinted. Your adoption professional can lead you in the right direction for accomplishing this.

Once again, perfection is not demanded. Stupid things you did as a kid and got caught for are usually forgiven. Felony convictions and crimes against children, however, will not be.

References

If you have a choice between the dog walker who’s been your best friend since high school and the Senator you’ve met at a couple of conferences, choose the pooch pal.

References are all about the real you, and people who come to your home, play on your softball team, give you their mom’s best apple pie recipe, and ask you to baby sit so they can catch a movie are the people who can give a social worker the picture of you and your life they’re looking for.

It’s the true you, the no-make-up-left-the toupee-on-the-nightstand-occasionally-has-bad-breath you the social worker is looking for. Don’t make that you hard to find, and make sure your references are comfortable sharing that you, too.

Your Autobiography

For families lacking a loquacious egotist, one difficult paper to produce is the autobiographical statement. Sitting down and writing about your life, your family, and yourself is even harder than it sounds for most people, but your agency should be able to provide some guidelines you can follow.

Don’t even attempt to put this together in one sitting. It’s actually supposed to take time, to prompt thought and discussion, and give you a structure around which to delve into your motivations, plans, and history. Couples should work on this document together, as it can be a great communication tool and help clarify and solidify your family’s position on many aspects your adoption. You may be surprised at how much discussion can be prompted by the topic of age-appropriate discipline!

For a more detailed look at the autobiographical statement, see that segment of the Homestudy guide at Adoption.Com.

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Credits: Sandra Hanks Benoiton