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International Adoption Home Study

Anytime a family pursues an adoption, with the exception of certain family adoptions, a home study is required by law.  The home study agency must be licensed in the state in which the prospective adoptive parents reside. Kentucky Adoption Services, Inc. is a licensed, non-profit child-placing agency, providing home study services to Kentucky and Missouri families. A home study basically consists of a series of appointments with an adoption professional.  Your case worker will come to know your family well and will be able to provide assistance throughout the adoption process by offering education on your various options for adoption and help you to decide which program will work best for your family.  In addition, your adoption caseworker will assess your family's appropriateness for adoption and counsel you on various issues unique to adoption.  This agency will help each family explore their strengths, resources, and limitations to ensure that an adoptive placement is in both the child's and the family's best interest.  Although the home study process can seem intimidating, it is a valuable experience and enables families to work closely with a trained professional who will provide encouragement, preparation, assistance and support throughout the exciting months to follow. 

Written Home Study

If your caseworker recommends your family for an adoptive placement, a Written Home Study is completed.  The study is sent to whatever entities necessary to complete the adoption, which may include the Kentucky Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, formerly INS (for families pursuing an international adoption), you (if it is necessary), and your chosen agency (for families not utilizing the child-placing services of Kentucky Adoption Services).  Please note that we, as your agency providing home study services, can only recommend your family for an adoptive placement.  It will be up to USCIS and the placing agency to approve your family for adoption.

Post Placement Visits 

Once a child has been placed in your home, Post Placement Visits are required. Usually three meetings are conducted (although some countries, states, and/or agencies require more visits), and at least one visit should occur in your home. Both parents should be present for at least one post placement meeting.  A report of each visit is written and forwarded to the placing agency and/or placing country or sending state.  Time frame for post placements visits is usually one to twelve months.

Finalization and Court Report

Depending on how an adoption was processed in a foreign country, re-adoption may be required here in the United States.  This office will thoroughly explain this process during your first home study interview, as it varies between countries and can be confusing.  Once a petition for adoption is received, our agency prepares the required court report.  It is the family's responsibility to obtain proper legal assistance in petitioning for the legal adoption of the child, although we can usually refer a good attorney in your area.  After we have received a copy of the Final Judgment of Adoption and all post placement obligations have been met, our file is then closed.