A home study is a comprehensive assessment conducted by a licensed social worker to evaluate your readiness to adopt. It involves interviews, a home inspection, background checks, and a review of your financial, medical, and personal history. The goal is to ensure that you can provide a safe, stable, and loving environment for a child.

All families adopting—whether through Tapestry Adoption, another agency, or an attorney—are required to complete a Home Study. This is a mandatory step in every state for any adult adopting a child, regardless of the adoption pathway chosen.

The home study process typically takes Tapestry Adoption between 6-8 weeks to complete. This timeline can vary depending on how quickly you can gather the necessary documentation, complete required training, and schedule visits with the social worker.

At Tapestry Adoption, we believe in making the Home Study process as accessible and stress-free as possible. Here’s why families across Indiana choose us: Low-Cost Services, No Wait List, Quick Turnaround (6-8 Weeks), Social Workers Across Indiana, Credit for Foster Care Education Hours

To complete a home study in Indiana, you must meet several requirements, including:

• Completing pre-adoption training.
• Passing criminal background checks for all adults in the household.
• Providing proof of financial stability.
• Submitting medical reports to confirm that you are physically and mentally capable of parenting.

During the home visit, a social worker will inspect your home to ensure it meets safety standards. They will look for working smoke detectors, safe storage of medications and firearms, and adequate space for the child. The visit also provides an opportunity for the social worker to observe family interactions and assess the overall home environment.

Many topics will be covered including why you are pursuing adoption, who supports you and your family, and your personal, medical and employment history. You might be wondering, why does it matter how I was raised? How we were parented can influence how we raise our children. More than anything, it’s an opportunity for us to get to know you and your family and help you feel prepared for your journey as an adoptive family.

The number and location of visits will vary by state and if you are adopting internationally, this will vary as well by country. In all cases, there will be at least one visit in your home. Families living in Indiana will need to complete at least two interviews, typically one in the office and one in the home.

The home study process is not only about collecting information about you; it is also a process of preparing you to be an adoptive parent. During your home study process you will be required to complete trainings that are relevant to the type of adoption you are pursuing. For example, families may complete trainings related to promoting healthy attachment, parenting a child of a different race, or older child adoption, among others.

During the home study process, you will be asked to submit a wide range of documents that are required by the state you live in. For families pursuing international adoption, additional documents are required by USCIS and the country you plan to adopt from. The information from the documents submitted is then included in your home study.

Domestic: Domestic home studies in Indiana must be updated annually.

While you wait for a child to be placed with your family, many things can change – you may get a new job, move to a new home or receive a new medical diagnosis. When a significant change occurs, you will need to inform Tapestry Adoption and have an addendum made to your home study. This may require additional paperwork and another meeting with your social worker. The addendum focuses on the area or areas of your life that have changed and is not as encompassing as the original home study.

You can download our Home Study Services Application any time from our website. The Home Study Application is an opportunity for our team to get to know your family better and to learn more about the nuances of the adoption you’re hoping to pursue. After we receive your family’s application, our staff will follow up with you to schedule a convenient time to speak, to further discuss the adoption you’re looking to pursue and next steps in the process!