If you’re considering adoption in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to complete an adoptive home study, with the exception of stepparent adoptions. Typically, a licensed adoption agency will help guide you through this essential step. While completing the home study before a child enters your home is preferred, it is crucial to finish this process before legally petitioning to adopt a child, especially if the child is placed with you through a private arrangement.

The home study, also known as the family profile, involves paperwork, training, interviews, and a home tour. Once completed, it becomes a comprehensive document detailing background information, interviews, training, and the professional assessment of the home study agent. The agent will then make a decision to ‘Approve’ or ‘Not Approve’ the applicant family as an adoptive resource, based on their thorough assessment.

This process is largely defined by state adoption laws and regulations. It serves not only to complete a comprehensive background check of the prospective adoptive family but also to provide valuable social history information to placing agents and the courts. This information helps determine if a family can provide a safe and stable environment for a child(ren) and may also aid in matching a prospective adoptive family with waiting children in need of a loving and permanent home.

In our experience, most families are approved for adoption, even when faced with challenging backgrounds. It’s important to know that our goal is to see you succeed, and we are not looking for reasons to reject anyone. If you have concerns about anything that you think might be an issue, please talk to us. While there are a few reasons we cannot approve a family for adoption, we believe that lived experiences, even those with difficulties, can make families stronger. We aren’t seeking ‘perfect’ parents, but real people who can provide love, stability, and safety for children.

The home study process can take as little as 6 to 8 weeks for highly motivated families. To begin, simply reach out to us to set up an initial meeting. We can then assist you in starting the paperwork right away, and once completed, we can usually wrap up the training and interviews within a few weeks. Your journey to becoming an adoptive family starts with a simple step—contact us today to get started. Remember, we’re here to support and guide you every step of the way.