HOME STUDY GUIDELINES The home study is a necessary part of any adoption process. It is a 6-7 page document for sharing information about your family and home life. It should reflect your personality as well as your history. We believe the home study should be a positive experience for all involved. One of the positive aspects of the home study process is that it gives you time to reflect on the issues of adoption and parenting. We do not expect families to have all of the answers. Some topics that will be covered in the home study are:

a. Biographical description of adoptive parents

b. Health history

c. Criminal and child abuse clearances

d. Marital history

e. Infertility and adoption issues

f. Neighborhood and home

g. Finances

h. References

For families using ACW social workers in Virginia and Washington, DC

1. You will be given guidelines to write an autobiography. This will be helpful to the social worker and should be completed by each adoptive parent and sent to the social worker before the individual meeting is conducted.

2. Please provide the following documents to your social worker

a. Birth Certificate for each member of the family

b. Marriage Certificate

c. Divorce Decree(s) or Death Certificate of spouse

d. Employment Letter (on company letterhead) stating your position, salary, and length of employment. This must be notarized.

e. Four references using the guidelines given. These references must be notarized and only one can be from a relative.

f. Police clearance: FBI for both Virginia and District of Columbia

g. Medical Reports verifying that you are in good heath. You will use a form provided by the agency for all household members. Children also must have a statement of health status from their doctor verify absence of communicable diseases. It should say that your child is in general good health, free of communicable diseases, and is up to date on all immunizations. This statement must be signed by the pediatrician, on their letterhead, and notarized.

h. Monthly Budget and Financial Statement.

i. Child Abuse Central Registry Check – ACW will do this through state registry. In Washington DC there is no charge In Virginia there is a $7.00 fee

j. Fire Escape Plan

k. Copies of most recent W-2

l. Photograph of family

m. DMV records – you can do this online at www.dmv.state or go to your local DMV office and request a copy of your DMV record.

If the information is well organized and given to the social worker in a timely manner, it could be possible to complete a home study within a few weeks. The home study is composed of four interviews. The first interview takes place in the office (both spouses must be present). Each spouse meets with their social worker individually for their second interview in the office. The last visit is a home visit in which both spouses and all other members of the household must be present. If the adoptive parent is single, there are three visits total.

HOME STUDY FEE SCHEDULE

(Updated 7/01/10)

1. Application fee $300 ****Please note that this fee is non-refundable ****

a. This fee is due upon submission of your application & photo of your family. Please send to: 100 Daingerfield Road, Suite 101 Alexandria, VA 22314

b. This fee covers the processing of your application.

2. Home study fee $1,800 plus clearance fees (non refundable*)

a. To be paid at or before the first home study meeting with your social worker.

b. Clearances are for VA residents only and include: i. VA Child Protective Clearance $7/person ii. FBI Fingerprint Clearance $24/person iii. Additional VA Police Clearance $20/person (if needed for dossier) iv. Each of the above clearances is necessary for all household members over the age of 18.

3. Post-adoption services fee $1,000 and Post-adoption deposit $500

a. To be paid before the completion of the home study.

b. This money will be escrowed until you return home with your child.

c. This fee covers the cost of 3 visits; 2 at ACW’s Alexandria office and 1 at your home. Any additional visits deemed necessary by the foreign country or ACW will cost $250/report. Refundable if you do not adopt.

d. Post-Adoption deposit is $500 and will be returned once all country requirements have been completed.

e. All post-adoption fees will be refunded if adoption is not completed*.

4. Post-adoption and Consulate Registration deposits (for Russia only)

a. Consulate Registration deposit $500; is escrowed & less the cost of registration, will be returned once Consulate Registration is completed and proof is provided to ACW within 30 days from your court date

b. Post Adoption deposit $1,500; $500 per required report for Russia. This money is escrowed to ensure that your child’s post-adoption reports are provided to ACW in a timely manner. Upon completion of each report, you will be refunded $500.

c. All Post-adoption and Consulate Registration deposits will be refunded once requirements are met by the client or will be refunded entirely if an adoption is not completed.*