In Pennsylvania, nearly all adoptions, whether through a public adoption agency, a private agency, or an adoption attorney, require a pre-adoption home investigation, known simply as a home study. Under certain circumstances, however, a court may waive this requirement, such as in step-parent adoptions, intra-family adoptions, and where the adoptee is over the age of 18.
Each county has its own requirements and procedures for home studies. Many courts require that home studies be performed by a locally recognized licensed adoption agency, public child care agency, or social worker designated by the court prior to placement of the child with the adopting family. An exception may be made where a home study is under way and the intermediary has no reason to believe that the family would not receive a favorable recommendation. If the agency or social worker consents, and the intermediary immediately notifies the court, an interim placement may be made.
Most home studies are quite comprehensive because the goal is to determine whether it would be in the best interests of the child to be placed with the adopting family. While there is no specific format uniformly used by agencies and social workers, they must follow state regulations. Certain information will be requested of the adopting parents. For example, each prospective parent will be asked to give an autobiographical statement. These statements typically include information about their parents, siblings, and their relationships with them, discipline styles, education, employment, marriages, divorces, hobbies, reasons for wanting to adopt, etc. Other information may also be requested, such as medical histories, the family’s finances, and character references.
In addition to the home study, Pennsylvania requires that each adopting parent obtain a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check and a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance before they will be approved to adopt. Both the criminal checks and child abuse clearances are valid for one year. If the adopting parents are not residents of Pennsylvania, FBI clearance reports may also be needed.
If the agency or social worker determines that there are reasons why it would not be in the best interests of a child to be placed with the prospective adopting parents, such as an unstable family life or serious health problems, the approval may be denied.
A favorable pre-placement home study is valid for three years, although it will need to be updated each year. If an adoption is not finalized by the third year after the date of the study, a new study may be required.
Once the child is placed with the adopting parents, the home study process is not necessarily over. In some counties, such as Montgomery, Chester, and Philadelphia, post-placement visitations are required before the adoption will be finalized. These visits, which vary in number depending on the county, generally are to determine how the child is adapting to the new home. The social worker will observe whether the child is safe, happy, and healthy and determine if there are any issues that need to be addressed.
Pre-placement and post-placement home studies can be a stressful time for prospective parents, particularly those who are unaware of the studies’ purposes and goals. Knowing what to expect in these interviews should help the adopting parents to be prepared and to alleviate some of the anxiety they may feel.
— Denise Ciampitti