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You’re ADOPTING THROUGH AN ATTORNEY and he/she says you need a home study, and fast!
You’re ADOPTING but YOUR AGENCY IS FAR AWAY and/or doesn’t write home studies!
HERITAGE ADOPTION SERVICES
HOME STUDIES AND POST PLACEMENT REPORTS
Heritage Adoption Services has been completing home studies and post placement reports for families adopting through agencies or attorneys not affiliated with Heritage for almost fifteen years! We are happy to help you with any range of services to SWIFTLY and PROFESSIONALLY move you through the home study and post placement process.
First of all, what are these things anyway?
THE HOME STUDY IS A DOCUMENT REQUIRED BY THE STATE AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS FOR EVERY ADOPTION, DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL. It includes documentation such as birth and marriage certificates, tax and income records, police and child protective services record checks. You will fill out a questionnaire about your background, parenting practices and reasons for adopting. A caseworker will come to your home to interview you and all members of your household, and to be sure your home has no safety hazards for a child. She or he will write a report based on all the information received. Home studies for international adoptions will be reviewed by the USCIS (United States Citizenship & Immigration Services) and the government of the country involved. Home studies for domestic adoptions will be reviewed by the court where the adoption is filed.
AFTER PLACEMENT, ONE OR MORE FURTHER REPORTS ARE REQUIRED TO INSURE THAT ALL IS GOING WELL. These are called post placement reports and are also filed with the court and/or may be sent to the country involved for an international adoption. Post placement requirements vary greatly depending on state or country of origin and agency used for the adoption. Most states or countries require between one and five post placement reports to be written.
WHAT SERVICES WILL HERITAGE PROVIDE?
Heritage Adoption Services is able to write home study reports for families living anywhere in Oregon and Washington.
- Once all required paperwork is in our office, you will receive a call from the worker assigned, who will schedule one or more home visits, as required for your adoption.
- The caseworker will interview all family members who live in the home, assess your home for safety standards, and write the report.
- If you need a report finished very quickly, please contact us – we are very flexible and understand special adoption circumstances that require quick action.
Heritage is also able to provide education, mediation, and counseling services for independent adoptions as well – please contact Sue or Deborah for details.
Heritage Adoption Services writes home study reports for all international countries. Each country has its own regulations regarding home study & post placement requirements, which means that the amount of work required to complete each type of report varies. These costs are listed below.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF HOME STUDIES AND POST PLACEMENT REPORTS?
This list does not cover all possibilities – if you do not see a category that matches your adoption plan, please call 503-233-1099, or email us at [email protected].
DOMESTIC ADOPTIONS
INDEPENDENT HOME STUDIES: to be filed in OREGONNote: this amount is set by the state of Oregon | $794 |
HOME STUDIES: All other independent or inter-agency | $1,500 |
INDEPENDENT POST PLACEMENT: filed in OREGON- if your adoption is filed in Oregon court this is paid through your attorney | ($550) |
POST PLACEMENT: All other independent or inter-agency | $350 |
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS | |
HOME STUDIES: | $1,500 |
POST PLACEMENT: CHINA (2 required), AFRICA, NEPAL | $350 |
At this time we are unable to complete Home Studies and Post Placement reports for families adopting from Russia or the Ukraine due to country paperwork requirements.
IMPORTANT: Families that live outside the Portland Metro area should be prepared to cover social workers’ travel costs at $.38/mile and $20/hr for their travel time. This helps our social workers defray wear and tear to their cars (estimated at about $1.50 per mile!). We do have social workers located in the Columbia Gorge, Seattle, Spokane and Vancouver areas to help defray these costs.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
A packet with an application, required forms, and instructions for gathering paperwork is available through our office. Give us a call at 503-233-1099 or email us at [email protected].