Step 4: Home Study

The home study phase is the last major step towards becoming licensed to accept a foster or adoptive placement – which is just a very technical way of saying it’s the last major step towards opening your heart and home to a child or children in need of a family!

During your home study, a social worker will evaluate your greater Houston or South Texas home and household members to be certain that the needs of a child who has been abused or neglected in the past can be safely met.

The following are some of the things to consider in preparation for your home study:

  • What is the makeup of your family?
  • What is your motivation for bringing a child or children into your home?
  • Do you have any health concerns or issues we need to know about?
  • What is your marital status?
  • Are there other children in your home?
  • Are you open to making connections with the child’s birth family?
  • What are your expectations of your birth children?
  • Are there child history and/or family history backgrounds that are unacceptable to your family? Can you state this positively?
  • Will you have support from extended family?
  • How do you/will you discipline your child(ren)?
  • Do you have stable financial resources?

We know some of these questions may seem invasive, but they are essential to ensuring the right match between a child and their potential new family.

If you have questions about the home study process, please do not hesitate to ask your Arms Wide Coordinator for more information.