Cradle of Hope provides home study services to Maryland, Virginia, and DC families for both domestic and international adoptions for families adopting through our placement programs as well as families adopting through other agencies and attorneys. If you need a homestudy, we can help.
What is a homestudy?
A home study is a collaborative process designed to teach you about adoption and assess your suitability to become adoptive parents. Through a series of meetings with one of our skilled social workers, you will share information about your childhood, education, employment, health, housing, religion, criminal history if any, attitude about adoption and raising adopted children, finances, etc. You will be required to submit documents as required by state regulation which demonstrate that you are strong candidates for adoption and to take online classes to prepare for adoptive parenting. The process culminates in a written homestudy report, which hopefully recommends you to become adoptive parents. This document is critical for both domestic and international adoption.
What is the homestudy process?
Your first step to begin a homestudy is to contact our Homestudy Coordinator in our Silver Spring office (ext. 205). She will send you an application form and instructions about collecting the required documents. You will then submit the completed application form with the initial deposit. After we receive all the necessary paperwork and the balance of the homestudy fee a social worker will call to schedule three meetings with you, including one in your home. She will also contact your personal references by phone or in person. After the meetings are completed, the social worker will prepare the written homestudy report, which will we ask you to review for any factual accuracy.