A Home study is….

A home study is an essential part of your preparation for adoption. It’s not just a simple visit – it’s a comprehensive evaluation that showcases your parenting abilities and provides valuable education to create a family profile. During the home study process, a social worker will meet with you and your partner individually and together, getting to know you on a personal level while providing counseling and training for adoption. The services and support will involve at least three meetings to take place with the Social Worker. If there are others living with you, they will also be interviewed and become part of the family profile evaluated as well.

The home study is more than just a report on your physical environment. It’s an opportunity for you to share your unique history, values, and personality. The social worker will interview you about your desire to adopt, learn about your childhood, education, finances, work history and childcare experiences. The report will highlight the training you have undergone to prepare for the adoption, and most importantly, it describes resources available to support you during the process.

Think of the home study as a snapshot of your life – a documented journey that outlines the events and experiences that have shaped you and your family. While it may seem intimidating at first, it can be a wonderful chance for you and your partner to learn even more about each other and educate yourselves about the path of an adoption process.

So, embrace the home study! It is your gateway to offering a loving home being wonderful parents you have always dreamed of being.

What does it include?

The home study focuses on various aspects, such as the person, the family background, the significant people in your life, your marriage, family relationships, your motivation to adopt and the environment around you. It also includes your expectations for the child, and how you plan to integrate the child into your family.
Additionally, the home study examines your family environment, the physical and health history of the applicants, and important details about your education, employment, and finances. This includes information about insurance coverage and any childcare plans you may have. A statement describing the counseling and training provided to the prospective adoptive parents is also included. References and criminal background clearances are an important inclusion in the process.
Finally, a summary with Social Worker’s recommendation that includes the characteristics of the children for whom the prospective adoptive parent(s) would be qualified to care (specifically whether they are willing and able to care for a child with special needs.)
While this process may initially feel overwhelming, it is important to know that your social worker will be there to guide you every step of the way, making it a simplified and supportive experience and getting to know the potential adoptive parents better.

How long does it take?

On average, the home study process takes around 4 to 6 months to complete. The length of the home study process can depend on a few factors and are greatly influenced by your motivation as prospective adoptive parents. The quicker you are able to complete training, paperwork and obtain copies of important documents for your social worker, the quicker the turnaround time.

Rest assured, our team is here to support and guide you through the process. You can trust that we will work diligently to ensure a smooth and timely home study experience for you and your family.

Why is it important?

Not only does a home study determine if your family meets the adoption requirements, it will also help assess the type of child you are best suited to parent. This comprehensive evaluation plays a vital role in immigration, verifying that you meet the necessary criteria to adopt a child. The home study also gives the Foreign Country a picture of your family for the referral matching process.

Keep in mind, the importance of a home study doesn’t end there. Once the child finds their place in your loving home and adapts to a new life, a home study is essential for completing the re-adoption process.

Frequently asked questions:

How do I get started?

If you reside in Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Texas, Utah, or Washington, one of our professional social workers can help complete your home study. Contact our main office and one of our staff members would be able to guide you to the right Social Worker to get started. CHI can provide home studies to families living in these states that are adopting from another agency.

What does a home study cost?

Typically, a home study can range from $1,000 to $3,500, depending on the state. It’s important to carefully review what this fee covers. Keep in mind that some agencies may not include post-adoption reports in the home study fee, meaning there could be an extra cost for this. CHI’s policy is to collect a deposit for all post adoption report fees. Should you not go through with the adoption, you may receive a refund for the post-adoption report fee. However, please note that the home study fee itself is non-refundable.

How long is the home study good for?

The validity depends on the State the family resides in but typically will need to be updated annually. Additionally, as part of your adoption process your approved home study is sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. If approved to adopt abroad, your immigration approval will be valid for up to 18 months before an updated home study needs to be submitted again for a renewed approval.

What would keep me from having an approved home study?

The simple answer is – dishonesty in any form. Throughout the process, we thoroughly review references, conduct background checks for criminal and child abuse history. While our social workers are diligent in their component of fact-checking, we rely on the trust between your family and our home study social workers. If there are inconsistencies between what you’ve shared and other sources, we take it seriously and it raises red flags. We prioritize the safety and well-being of children above all else.

At CHI, we understand the significance of this process. With our exceptional domestic and international home study and post-adoption/placement services, our dedicated staff is here to guide and support you every step of the way.

Reach out to us today for more information and let us help you bring your forever family together.

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Adopting a child with special needs can be one of the most rewarding and loving experiences of your life. Providing a child with a warm and supportive home, filled with love and care, can make all the difference in the world to their development and well-being. Perfectly healthy children are not the reality of international adoption. There are so many children with special needs that need a loving family to call their own. Research shows that developmental delays are inevitable with international adoption. Developmental delays can manifest in various ways and can impact a child’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Developmental delays may be due to trauma, institutionalization, and lack of access to early intervention services. We will explore some of the ways in which you can provide the support and love that a child with special needs  and look at just how much joy there can be in raising a child with a disability.

What is Considered A Special Need in International Adoption?

Older children (8 years and older), sibling groups, and any kind of medical, physical or developmental condition may be labeled as a special need. All these factors lead to children waiting for a very long time to be adopted domestically, and even internationally. As mentioned earlier, the definition of special needs children in international adoption varies from country to country. In some cases, it may include children that are over 8 years old or sibling groups. Sometimes special needs labels  pertain to certain medical, physical, or developmental conditions. The following are some of the medical and physical conditions that are usually categorized as special needs in international adoption:
– Correctable or treatable medical conditions like cleft palate, heart defects, hearing or vision impairments, or any other conditions that require surgery or long-term medical treatment.
– Genetic or chromosomal conditions such as Down’s Syndrome.
– Physical disabilities like limb differences, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or muscular dystrophy.
– Developmental delays like autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, or learning disabilities

Educate Yourself

At CHI, we prioritize your education and provide valuable resources to empower you throughout your adoption journey. We work with Creating A Family to provide online training designed to satisfy pre-adoption home study requirements and educate families on different aspects of adoption. Rainbowkids.com also has articles to educate parents on different special needs. One of the greatest things you can do to support your child is to educate yourself on their specific needs through researching their specific diagnosis as well as learning about any treatments or interventions that may be required. Seeking advice and guidance from support groups, social workers, or therapists who have worked with special needs children previously can also be a great resource. Connecting with other families who have adopted children with special needs may also help to gain additional insight and support. It is also important to research the country-specific requirements for adopting special needs children and the medical, emotional, and financial implications.

We highly recommend that families seeking international adoptions have their referral information reviewed by doctors experienced with international adoptions. Some doctors even also offer pre-adoption consultations and are available for assistance while the prospective adoptive parent is in the child’s country. These doctors have extensive experience in interpreting medical reports and asking follow-up questions to fully understand the child’s medical situation and provide the adoptive parents with accurate information regarding the care the child will need once they arrive home. It’s important to note that these reports may not always be completely accurate and can sometimes be proven wrong once the child is seen by a doctor in the United States. Many times, the child’s special needs can improve with proper care, nutrition, medical attention, and the love of consistent caregivers.

Grants and Financials

CHI partners with a few third-party grant agencies that have assisted many CHI families to overcome the financial barrier. One of those being Brittany’s Hope, a non-profit that provides adoption grants for parents adopting a child with special needs. Adoption costs can seem intimidating, and CHI and Brittany’s Hope never want finances to stand in the way of uniting a child with their forever family. Brittany’s Hope also helps to provide education and training to assure you are well informed. We also work with Lifesong for Orphans, Gift of Adoption, and Show Hope to best assist families through their adoption process. In order to be eligible you must be adopting a child with special needs.

Create a Supportive Environment

Creating a supportive environment is key to providing your child with the love and care they need. This includes providing them with a warm and nurturing home, and a stable routine that helps them to feel secure. Depending on the child you are adopting, you may also need to make some adaptations to your home to ensure that it is safe and accessible for your child. This can include installing wheelchair ramps, grab bars in the bathroom, and other modifications that can make a big difference to your child’s quality of life. Adopting a child with special needs can be challenging, and it is important to build a support network around you. This can include family and friends, as well as professionals such as therapists, doctors, and educators. By building a strong support network, you can ensure that you have the resources and support you need to handle any challenges that come your way.

Encourage Independence

As a parent of a child with special needs, it’s essential to provide them with the necessary care they require. However, it is equally important to allow them to become independent as much as possible. By providing opportunities for them to learn new skills, such as cooking or personal hygiene, you are helping them build confidence and self-esteem. Encouraging their independence may seem daunting at first, but it is a vital step towards their growth and development. Remember, providing them with independence, your child will become more self-sufficient over time, granting them an overall sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. That being said, it is also vital to celebrate your child’s achievements, no matter how big or small. Everyday victories such as making a friend or trying new food can be celebrated! Celebrating their achievements can help build their self-esteem and confidence and encourage them to continue to strive for their goals.

Adopting a child can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
Our staff is eager to assist you and answer any questions you might have. Please contact us at info@chiadopt.org or call 360-383-0623.

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Giving A Child A Home

By providing a loving home and a stable environment, you are giving the child a chance at a new life. Stability is crucial to a child’s well-being and is essential for a child’s physical, mental, and emotional development. According to studies, children who are placed in permanent families through adoption experience better health, education, and overall well-being compared to children who remain in institutional care. As an adoptive parent, you have the power to provide a safe and secure environment for a child, and in turn, give them the stability they need to thrive.

Cultural Connection

Many families consider international adoption because they may have a personal cultural connection with a specific foreign country. For some families, the decision to adopt a child from a specific foreign country is rooted in personal experiences and ties to that culture. Perhaps they have visited the country multiple times on mission trips, have close friends from that area or grew up in that culture. The desire to welcome a child into their home from that country is a beautiful way to honor and celebrate the unique culture and customs that they hold dear. Whatever the reason, loving a child, and growing your family should not be limited by borders.

Our page on testimonials coming from previous adoption families helps to reiterate that CHI is highly recommended, supported, responsive, timely, and dedicated to ethically helping children find their permanent family.

Why CHI?

Adopting a child may not always be an easy process but choosing to adopt is a compassionate act that makes a positive impact in the life of a child and your own life. If you’re considering adoption, it’s important to take the time to research and prepare for the process, but don’t let fear or uncertainty hold you back. CHI is fully Hague accredited since 2009, and approaching 50 years of dedicated service to children and families. In that time we worked in over 35 countries and helped place well over 2,000 children worldwide.

Our staff comprises of adoptive parents, adoptees or individuals who have been touched by adoption either domestically or internationally. We are passionate about helping children find their permanent, loving homes and are ready to walk this journey with you. Our page of testimonials coming from previous adoption families helps to reiterate that CHI is highly recommended, supported, responsive, timely, and dedicated to ethically helping children find their permanent family.

Every child deserves a forever home, and if your heart is pulling you abroad, CHI can help. Please contact us at info@chiadopt.org or 360-383-0623 we have staff that are anxious to speak with you about your adoption journey.

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Adopting a child is a life changing action that is often a joyful event for both the adopter and the adoptee. Yet, it is also the case that many children who are adopted have had a traumatic past through being physically, emotionally, or sexually abused. The Child Welfare Information Gateway highlights how adoptive parents may not even be certain that abuse has occurred if the child has not explicitly said so. Sometimes it is only through certain signs that they can determine that trauma has occurred. This is why today’s social workers and professionals are being trained to spot such signs as early as possible. With this, they are changing their approach to teaching child welfare and social service workers by also focusing on building a strong foundation in criminology. This will help child welfare specialists help to address abuse cases against children and be able to better inform their future parents of any such trauma and how to move forward.

If you are an adoptive parent who has discovered or been told that your child has had an abusive past, there are steps you can take to ease their transition to a safer and happier life. Here are three ways you can help your child overcome their trauma:

Encourage Your Child to Express Their Feelings

Encouraging abused children to express their feelings will not only indicate that you are willing to listen to them, but it will also make them feel that their feelings are valid, whether they are happy or sad. When you feel like they are showing signs of emotional distress like increased irritability, sit down with them and calmly ask them what’s wrong. If they’re having difficulties identifying their emotions, help your child name their feelings by giving them a label. It’s also necessary to not overreact or discredit their emotions once they’ve finished explaining. Since abused children will most likely repress their feelings to avoid confrontations, practicing this habit will allow them to develop and reinforce healthy behaviors when it comes to coping with stressful emotions.

Create a Consistent and Predictable Schedule

Studies show that familiar activities can provide comfort for children, especially during challenging and uncertain times. This is because abused children will feel more comfortable and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar. If they have a consistent daily routine, they can feel a sense of control over their environment, which will also guide them on what to do next after accomplishing a task. When starting this practice, remember to keep it simple. List down only the basic tasks they have to do every day before introducing new activities in their schedule. It’s also important to let your children know when a routine is different for the day. It will help them anticipate this change and not feel left out when it occurs, which can trigger anxiety.

Be Patient with Your Child and With Yourself

Heather Matthews shared how adopting has changed their lives. He recalls the memorable moments they shared, such as celebrating their daughter’s first words and seeing their son ride a bike for the first time. Although these moments have been blissful, Matthews acknowledged the struggle of adopting children. When you adopt a child, you may feel like your love and efforts are wasted because they are unable to reciprocate these feelings, especially if they have a difficult past. However, remember that children may take time to recover from emotional trauma. If they are still unable to express their feelings, always remain available and responsive to their needs and emotions. Since children experience different circumstances, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to raising children from abusive households. This is the time when you need to be patient with yourself and your children since exhibiting patience can also help them learn the importance of emotional stability.

It is never easy to adopt a child and adopting one that has suffered abuse is even more challenging. If you are in this position, we hope the above tips help you as you transition your child to a happier household.

Article written by Ricci Juno and is exclusively submitted to the Children’s House International Adoptions

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Our hosting program is a wonderful option for families who are considering adopting an older child or are interested in advocating for older children who are waiting for their permanent, loving families. Host families open their homes and hearts to an older child or sibling group during our summer and winter programs. The 3 to 5 weeks gives they are in the host family’s home gives them a chance to experience life in the U.S. with a family. This is a life changing experience for the child, as well as for the host family! This experience will affect you, your family and circle of friends in many ways. You all will learn valuable lessons in compassion, exposure to the orphan crisis; and hopefully this experience will dispel fears about adopting an older child. For more information, please contact Pamela at pamela@chiadopt.org

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Our adoption story started nine years ago when my husband and I decided to create our family through adoption.  After a lot of research we decided that China was the right country for us, and later moved to China’s Waiting Child Program.  Seven years ago we brought home a beautiful two year old daughter.

A few months later we were ready to begin the paperwork for our next child when I was diagnosed with cancer.  After treatment and hitting the all-important five year survival mark we began to consider adoption again.  After several starts and stops, we were introduced to Children’s House International (CHI).  Through our first email exchanges and calls, we knew we had found our agency.  I am very grateful for CHI’s encouragement and support.

Early on we learned of the current state of adoption in China.  Everyone thinks that only little girls are available for adoption, but in reality 75% of the kids on the shared list (adoption-ready but not assigned to an agency) are boys.  Many have conditions that are easily manageable here in the U.S, many more have had their health issues addressed and are completely healthy – their biggest challenge is being an older boy.  The fact that an older boy has nearly no chance of ever having a family is sobering.

Fairly quickly we learned about the 9 year old boy that would become our son.  The China team at our agency answered countless questions, and shared his medical file as well as photos and videos.  They gave us the time we needed to make our decision to move forward with adoption.  We felt that our agency prepared us for the steps ahead, answered questions, reviewed paperwork, quickly got each document submitted and offered encouragement.

We’ve been home for a short time and already I cannot remember what life was like without our son.  I encourage everyone reading our story to consider the joy a son can bring to your family!

Having been through the adoption and adjustment process two times, I can honestly say that for us one was not harder than the other – just different.  The challenges are different when you bring a child with his own life experiences and expectations into your family, but it was also hard to have a crying toddler in my arms and guessing what she needed!

We bonded with our son through games on an iPad instead of play dough.  When our daughter came home, we were excited about small milestones like sleeping through the night and her first words. I cried the first time our son rode a bike – it was amazing to see that smile on his face.  My heart melted when he said “I love you” for the first time.  I was so proud of this incredibly brave little boy on his first day of school.

Our home is definitely full of noise and activity these days.  Boys bring that – and that’s a good thing!  I am constantly amazed by my son.  I cannot imagine what it would be like at age 10 to leave behind the life and language you knew to come to the U.S. with a family you just met.  Our son, like every child wanted and needed a family and he stepped forward in faith.  And we did the same.

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What makes Georgia unique compared to other European programs and why should someone adopt from the country?

Georgia is a Hague country with a central authority that is very thorough in their approach to making sure the children are available for adoption legally. It is a small country so there is not a long wait, and the children do have special needs, but it can vary from minor to more severe, and the central authority does its best to send a referral within your criteria.

What are your favorite things about Georgia?

Georgia is a beautiful country, at first impression it reminds you of an old world kingdom that you would read about in a fairy tale. It feels so far away from what people would consider ‘Europe’ and feels very old world yet it still provides comfortable settings and amenities for travelers. There is a lot to do and see there such as a large beautiful mall and outdoor street vendors with special cultural items to purchase. The food is very excellent and you will not be disappointed with what you can find!

If you were looking to adopt from Georgia what would you want to know?

One thing I think is important is how many placements have been made in that program and in 2013 and 2014 there were 7 children total adopted from Georgia and we helped place 3 of those. In 2018 alone, we have placed 5 children. We also visit Georgia every year and have a wonderful relationship with our representative over there who works hard advocating for our families.

What does Georgia look like, feel like, sound like, and smell like?

Georgia has a very strong orthodox influence. It is mountainous with beautiful scenery, and it is clean and well-kept in Tbilisi (the capital). In Tbilisi there are many historic statues with influences from different surrounding places (Russia, Azerbaijan…Etc.) which shows they have the cultural influences from these surrounding countries as well.

How much English is spoken? Does it feel like a Westernized country?

A large majority of people in the city (Tbilisi) know English or try very hard to communicate with you in English. They are very welcoming to try and speak English even if it is broken. They enjoy when US citizens are visiting!

Is it safe?

It is very safe and I have never felt any apprehension walking through the streets or from the locals at all. You are very welcomed by those around you which makes you feel comfortable during your stay there!

What are things that are potential risks when traveling specifically to Georgia?

There is nothing out of the ordinary in regards to potential risks for travel to Georgia

What does in country “help” look like?

Our local representative is very experienced and helpful. While in country, she assists with court and embassy, and makes sure you have what you need for your stay in country.

What are your thoughts on the future of the program?

I have a very positive perspective on future of the program! The Georgian Ministry (Ministry of Health, Labour, and Social Affairs of Georgia) is truly wanting to help children who cannot stay in country and find a family, and they act on this by approving and sending children. They are also continuously looking to review and improve the process which is a great sign.

Relationship with government

We have an excellent relationship with the Ministry in Georgia. With going over there at least once a year we keep in contact about what is going on and up to date on any process changes. The Ministry has also come over to US and we have met with them in the states. They are very friendly and they have asked us for suggestions on how to make things better, they are interested in improving.

Overall Georgia is a wonderful program and we hope to find many more forever families for the amazing children there!

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