The Home Study is a mandatory part of the adoption process and we want this to be an educational, positive experience for you.

Before beginning your Home Study, we welcome the opportunity to have you speak with one of our Social Workers to give you an overview of the entire process. It is most beneficial to meet in person for the consultation, so that you can meet our staff. After we receive your application, a social worker will be assigned to you and will call to make an appointment to begin the Home Study process. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Generally, clients come to our offices in San Francisco, or Honolulu for all but the final visit, which is conducted in your home.

The first meeting will be with both applicants (if applicable), and we will discuss your interest and motivation in adoption, your marriage/relationship (if applicable), and your philosophy of child raising. This is a time for you to learn more about adoption, ask those hard questions, and benefit from our experience with 6,000 adoptions in the past thirty years.

For couples, there will be individual meetings, usually held in the office. At this meeting, information will be gathered about your family, education, interests and profession. This is also a good time to discuss issues, concerns, and fears with your Social Worker. Between the first and final visit, you will be attending a class about the attachment and developmental stages of adopted children, the psychological issues involved in becoming an adoptive family, and information related to the placement of your child. We also are happy to share our policy about using positive methods of discipline.

The final visit will be at your residence, during which time the Social Worker will gather information to describe your home and its appropriateness for children. It is not necessary to have your child’s room decorated. If you have other children or adults who live in your home, they must be present during this visit. Please use these visits to focus on questions and concerns about adoption and parenting. Our agency supports the placement of one child at a time, for the child’s most optimal attachment (siblings are always an exception).

Should your Social Worker have concerns during the Home Study process, these issues will be openly discussed with you. Our role is to be your advocate and help you in making the best decisions for your family. Upon completion of the Home Study, the Social Worker will write a report, which you will review for accuracy and clarification. When all supporting documents, criminal clearance, and fees are received, your Home Study approval will be issued. Your report is valid for one year from the approval (signature) date, or until your immigration expires (for international cases). Please keep track of this important date and contact us at least 3 months before the expiration to update your study, avoiding any lapse in your approval. The Home Study can then be sent to any cooperating agency, your attorney, and in an international adoption, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You also will receive an original Home Study for your records. Your Social Worker or our office staff will be happy to address concerns you may have throughout this process.