Ask AF: Are Homestudies Transferable?

A prospective parent who is considering changing agencies wonders why his homestudy is not transferable.

Q: It’s been well over a year since I signed on with an agency and completed a homestudy, and I’ve been thinking of switching agencies. The few I have contacted told me that I’ll need a new homestudy completed by their staff. Do I really have to pay this fee and go through the process again?

 

A: Aside from paperwork that may have expired, many changes can take place in someone’s life in one or two years. Different agencies have different requirements for parent preparation and other steps in the process. There have also been many changes in adoption in recent years. Agencies may no longer be able to meet your requests for the child’s gender and/or age. In short, it is up to each agency to decide whether it will accept a homestudy written by another agency.

If you have not already spoken with your current agency to see if they have any suggestions, you should do so before considering starting over. Your social worker should help you think through how flexible you can be with your requests. The more flexible you are, the more opportunity there will be for a placement to be made.

Adoption Agencies

City
Evanston
IL
Adoption Routes/Programs
U.S. Newborn, International, Special Needs/Waiting Child
ADOPTIONS FROM THE HEART
City
Wynnewood
PA
Adoption Routes/Programs
U.S. Newborn
City
La Crosse
WI
Adoption Routes/Programs
U.S. Newborn, International
Agape Adoptions
City
Sumner
WA
Adoption Routes/Programs
International, Special Needs/Waiting Child
Adoption Choice Inc.
City
Green Bay
WI
Adoption Routes/Programs
U.S. Newborn, U.S. Foster, International
Family & Children’s Agency
City
Norwalk
CT
Adoption Routes/Programs
U.S. Newborn, International

See all adoption agencies >

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