Koinonia Adoptions FAQ

1. Tell us a little about the founding and development of your organization?
   Founded in 1982, Miriam Golden converted a small room in her home into the first office of Koinonia Family Services in an effort to help vulnerable children. For 25 years Miriam faithfully served as the Executive Director and led Koinonia with faith, initiative, motivation, and optimism. Previous to founding the agency, Miriam and her husband Sam supported the placement of 37 foster children and youth. Their local county valued their work and requested that Miriam train other foster parents which led to the birth of the agency in 1982. Koinonia expanded throughout the state of California and into Reno, Nevada. Koinonia currently has 13 offices and oversees a variety of programs that support foster and adoptive youth. In 2005, Koinonia received a statewide adoption license and has since supported adoptive children, youth and families. Koinonia has over 17 years of experience as an adoption home study agency.
2. How are your adoption home study and your organization unique?
   Koinonia uses a structured home study methodology called S.A.F.E to conduct the adoption home study assessment. SAFE is designed to provide a uniform and comprehensive home study process. It is also designed to help eliminate social worker bias and protect everyone involved. Koinonia prioritizes training for both social workers and supervisors and ensures that each family receives services based on their individualized needs. Koinonia is one of the few Adoption Agencies in California approved to operate in all 58 counties. With offices througho
3. Why are you passionate about adoption and the home study process?
   The adoption home study process is an opportunity to get to know a family in a meaningful way. Families often share with us how valuable and therapeutic they experienced the home study process. Our home study process is not only an opportunity to gain insight into the family’s history and life experiences, but also to draw out a family’s unique strengths. Additionally, our home study process includes the opportunity to educate families on topics specific to adoption which ensures permanent loving families for children by creating informed, appropriate matches.
4. How long is an adoption home study valid?
   A Home Study is good for two years if being used in a California adoption, unless there are significant life changes that would require an update such as a residence move, change of health
5. Approximately how much time is necessary to complete an adoption home study by your organization?
   Once the application paperwork, tasks, and educational training have been completed by the applicant(s), it normally takes 60 to 90 days for the Social Worker to complete interviews, in-home visits and the writing of the Home Study and 30 to 45 days for an expedited Home Study. Expedited home studies must be approved in advance and are accepted on a case-by-case basis and incur additional costs.
6. Can adoptive parents use a home study completed by your organization to adopt a child born in another state?
   Yes, Koinonia home studies are ICPC compliant and our agency can assist with ICPC services if the applicants are matched out of state.
7. If you complete my home study, do you also have to complete my post-placement visits?
   Yes, we prefer to complete the post placement visits on the homes where Koinonia provides the home study. We are also open to complete these visits for other agencies if there is a need. If for any reason Koinonia is not available to complete post-placement visits we will collaborate with another agency to have post-placement visits completed.
8. How many post-placement visits does your organization require?
   California Adoption Regulations require 4 visits in a 6 month period before adoption finalization. If an adoption is finalized in another state we would follow that state's requirements in regards to how many post-placement visits will occur. Koinonia uses discretion regarding other states post-placement requirements, if as an agency we feel the family or placed child may benefit from additional visits we will continue to conduct post-placement supervision
9. What is some advice you can give to potential adoptive families about the home study process? What should they be prepared for?
   The home study is an opportunity to be transparent with the social worker and their supervisor who desire to support you in the adoption process. The assessment portion includes 3-5 interviews. Every resident will be interviewed and a walk-thru of the home will be completed.
10. What do your home study social workers look for in a home and a family when they visit potential adoptive families' homes?
    Our social workers are looking for families who are honest, flexible, teachable, and transparent. We recognize that many families come to us with deep wounds from their past. We do not expect “perfect” applicants, we expect families to be open to our training and feedback. Our home inspection consists of very basic safety requirements
11. Are you Hague accredited, and if not, does your international home study comply with Hague International Standards?
    No, we are not accredited and our home studies are not used for international adoptions
12. Do you have experience in completing the home study and working with international placement companies?
    No, we do not facilitate international adoptions.
13. Are there other services and benefits you would like to share about your company?
    Koinonia has a variety of services including foster care, adoption, short term residential treatment programs, day treatment clinic, mental health services, and crisis resolution centers. We have over 300 employees. Koinonia is currently developing a program for AAP Wraparound services for families who have adopted children. The wraparound services will be available for families who receive AAP funds as well as for private pay.