Adoption Home Studies in South Carolina

SC Adoption Home Study Provider

A Chosen Child Adoption Services is a SC home study provider and licensed to conduct international and domestic adoption home studies for residents of the state of South Carolina. Home studies are required for adoptions under the laws of the state where the child or orphan will reside by an individual or agency that is licensed or authorized to prepare a home study. If you are a South Carolina resident and are adopting through an out-of-state or international adoptive placement agency, A Chosen Child can conduct your international or domestic adoption home study.

What is an Adoption Home Study?

No matter what type of adoption you choose to pursue, all prospective parents must be approved to adopt by completing a pre-placement home study. The home study involves education, preparation, and information gathering about the prospective adoptive parents and generally takes from 2 to 4 months to complete.

The home study process may be a source of anxiety for some prospective parents, who may fear they will not be "approved." The objective of the home study is to help families realize their dream of adopting a child. We are not looking for perfect parents. Rather, they are looking for real parents that can provide real children with a nurturing and loving home environment.

Home study reports are written to include all specifications required by South Carolina adoption laws and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In general, home study reports include health and income statements, background checks, and references, as well as the following information:

Family background. Descriptions of the prospective parents' childhoods, how they were raised, past and present relationships with parents and siblings, key events and losses, and what was learned from them.

Education/employment. Prospective parents' education level, goals for future education, if any, as well as their present employment status, history, plans, and satisfaction with their current jobs.

Relationships. If the prospective parents are married, the report may cover their history together as well as their relationship (e.g., how they make decisions together, problems solving techniques, communication skills, etc.). If the prospective parent is single, there will be information about their network of relatives and friends that are supportive of the adoption plan and can serve as role models for the child.

Daily life. Routines and schedules during a typical work week and time off, day care plans for the child if parents work, hobbies, interests and talents. Parenting. Applicants' past experiences with children (e.g., their own, relatives' children, neighbors, volunteer work, babysitting, teaching, or coaching), in addition to their plans regarding discipline and other parenting issues.

Neighborhood/Community. Descriptions of the prospective parents' home and neighborhood, including safety and proximity to medical and community resources.

Religion. Information about the prospective parents' religion and practice, the type of religious upbringing (if any) they plan to provide for the child. Feelings about/readiness for adoption. Why the prospective parents want to adopt, infertility issues, what kind of child they might best parent and why, and how they plan to talk to their child about adoption-related issues. Feelings about birth families and degree of openness are also covered.

Approval/recommendation. The home study report will end with a summary about the adoptive applicants and the social worker's recommendation for adoption. This includes the age range, ethnicity and number of children that the family is approved to adopt.

Prospective parents will also be asked to provide the following documentation:

• Copies of birth certificates
• Marriage certificates, and divorce decrees (if applicable)
• Tax statements and financial information
• Completed medical forms, and a
• List of references

The home study report should be an accurate reflection of the prospective adoptive family. ACCAS allows home study applicants to read and offer suggested changes before the final draft of the report is completed. Parents should be aware that home studies are shared with other agencies and/or attorneys to help in matching the most appropriate child with their family. In domestic adoptions, sanitized home studies are often shared with birth parents or others.

Adoption Home Studies for International Adoptions

The SC Department of Social Services state office must first approve a South Carolina family’s international adoption home study before the process can continue. U.S. immigration law requires the approved home study for international adoption be submitted in support of an advance processing application of an orphan petition (I-600A or I-600). USCIS then reviews all documentation and makes a determination. If approval is given, the I-171H is issued and the family receives notification via US mail.

Home Studies for Another State

If you adopt from another state, many placing agencies require that the home study be conducted by a licensed adoption agency. If the child to be adopted resides outside of South Carolina, the interstate compact offices of both states must approve the adoption plan. Post placement supervision will also be mandated in order to finalize the child’s adoption.

A Chosen Child Adoption Services can assist your family whether you adopt within South Carolina, from another state or from another country. All services are provided in a timely and cost effective manner.

Typical Services for Home Study Clients include:

• Adoption home study and post placement supervision
• USCIS filling assistance and dossier preparation
• Domestic adoption services and placement
• Adoption workshops and training (Parent Education)
• Birth parent counseling and adoptive placement services
• On-going family support
• Confidential telephone and online communication
• Adoption seminars
• Readopting services
• Humanitarian aid projects