Your Adoptive Family FAQ

1. Tell us a little about the founding and development of your organization?
   I have been working in the field of adoption for over 11 years. I began by working with Joyce Schwensen at Adoption Assistance and Homestudy Services as a home study provider. When AAHS closed, I was contacted by numerous previous and current clients as well as attorneys and agencies asking where they could refer others for a home study. Consequently, I began providing home study services as an independent social worker and quickly realized many families needed a home study done by a licensed agency. Therefore, I decided to become a licensed agency and have been so since August 2012.
2. How are your adoption home study and your organization unique?
   I am a small agency and believe in providing clients with high quality, individualized services. I also provide consultation and therapy services in addition to home study services.
3. Why are you passionate about adoption and the home study process?
   Not only am I an adoption professional but I am also an adoptive parent and have a personal connection to adoption. I am also certified in Therapy with Adoptive and Foster Families as well as in Attachment and Trauma-focused therapy and feel passionately about educating adoptive families about adoption as well as providing home study services. I hope the families I work with are well educated and well prepared to parent any child they are fortunate enough to adopt.
4. How long is an adoption home study valid?
   A home study is valid for a year but may need to be updated before the end of a year, depending on the date of the background checks, etc.
5. Approximately how much time is necessary to complete an adoption home study by your organization?
   I generally tell people 6-12 weeks but it is dependent upon the clients and how long it takes them to provide me with the necessary paperwork. Once I have the paperwork and have met with the clients, I can, usually, have the report written in a couple of weeks.
6. Can adoptive parents use a home study completed by your organization to adopt a child born in another state?
   Yes.
7. If you complete my home study, do you also have to complete my post-placement visits?
   Generally, yes.
8. How many post-placement visits does your organization require?
   I don’t have a set requirement. I follow the requirements of the state in which the baby is born, the placing agency and/or attorney, and the State of Washington.
9. What is some advice you can give to potential adoptive families about the home study process? What should they be prepared for?
   The best advice I can give is to not be nervous about the process and to get the paperwork done as quickly as possible. They should be prepared for 2-3 visits, at least one of which will be in the home and to complete a bunch of paperwork.
10. What do your home study social workers look for in a home and a family when they visit potential adoptive families' homes?
    I look for homes that are safe and can accommodate the needs of a child(ren) and a family who is well prepared to adopt. I also look for families who understand what it means to parent an adopted child.
11. Are you Hague accredited, and if not, does your international home study comply with Hague International Standards?
    I do not do international homestudies.
12. Do you have experience in completing the home study and working with international placement companies?
    None.
13. Are there other services and benefits you would like to share about your company?
    Your Adoptive Family also provides therapy and consulting services. Clients who work with Your Adoptive Family will receive personal and individualized service with a knowledgeable social worker who is also an adoptive parent.