Home Study: What it is and Why Adoptive Families Need it
By Jessica Exstrom
You may be conflicted about whether or not private adoption in Colorado is right for you. An unplanned pregnancy is never easy, but it is important to remain educated on the steps that need to be taken to have a smooth adoption process. The reality is you have influence in the adoption process for your baby, and you have the power to make big decisions. Fortunately, this article entails one of the most important components of adoption.
Adoption entails a lot of tasks that are often difficult to understand fully. There are several steps involved in placing your baby for adoption, including the process of a home study, the focus of this blog. Although it is directly meant for adoptive families, it is important to understand this process for the adoption of your child and that you are knowledgeable of it. If you are considering adoption for your child in Colorado, including Colorado Springs, read on to learn what a home study is and why your adoptive family needs it.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
Defining what a Home Study is
Adoption Choices of Colorado provides the information you need to make informed decisions and learn about the adoption process. Adoption is serious and involves a lot of emotion, and we understand that. However, by being educated on the steps of how to give your child up for adoption, you can help contribute to an easier adoption, create an adoption plan, and, very importantly, know the benefits of a home study.
So, what is a home study? To break it down, a home study is a service done by a social worker to ensure the quality of a potential home your child may be adopted into. This process entails ensuring that a home is quality enough and provides the necessities to adopt a child. It is a way to guarantee the safety of a home, and it is even required before an adoptive family can be registered with an adoption agency. A home study is also a good way to help you feel in control of the adoption process. Knowing your child’s potential future home has been examined and deemed as quality enough to care for a newborn infant can help you feel more at ease with your adoption plans and know that your baby is going into a safe environment.
Home Studies are Necessary for Adoptive Parents
A home study can seem intimidating, but it is absolutely necessary, and we at Adoption Choices of Colorado are here to provide information on the requirements for one and why it is important.
First, a home study is nothing to stress about as long the potential home is a safe environment that can cater to the needs of a child. This home doesn’t need to be the nicest in a neighborhood or be particularly fancy. It just needs to be safe and well-equipped. Documents from families are required, like a marriage license or medical records, but it isn’t anything for an adoptive family to worry about. Providing personal information is what helps social workers deem you as fit for raising a child. Adoption Choices of Colorado strives to have all families possess these requirements, making sure each child is placed in a loving and safe environment.
Again, home studies are not things to be intimidated by but something to appreciate and prepare for if you are a member of an adoptive family. There are also potential services offered through other institutions that can help a family prepare for a home study to create a smooth and simpler process. We have locations in Denver, Colorado Springs, and more here to provide you with vital information about home studies.
Other Info about Home Studies and Adoption in Colorado
All information about home studies and adoption with Adoption Choices of Colorado can be found on our website, but there are a few more things to mention about home studies. Most importantly, it is key to keep in mind that home studies are not meant to scare potential families, and they are not evaluations of how “perfect” your home is. These studies are meant to guarantee a child’s safety and ensure the best environment possible for that child.
Whether you are considering adoption at the beginning of your pregnancy or want to place your child for adoption at birth, you always have a choice. Part of the beauty of being a birth mother is getting to help plan your baby’s life, create an adoption plan, look at prospective families, and investigate what a home study ensures. You are already a huge part of the adoption process, but these extra steps you can take can help you get some closure with your baby’s adoption and help your baby get placed in the best family for it.
Adoption Choices of Colorado is here for you. We empathize with you and happily provide you with any information and resources you need before and after the birth of your baby.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about your adoption options, contact Adoption Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!