Sec. 07.05.03.11. Home Study

A. The home study is an educational and evaluative process which takes place between the applicant and the agency and is designed to assess the applicant's ability to:

(1) Understand the unique issues and challenges of adoptive parenting; and

(2) Meet the needs of an adopted child.

B. The agency child placement worker shall initiate a home study after:

(1) Receipt of the completed application; and

(2) Approval by the agency's chief administrator or designee.

C. Home Study Process.

(1) The agency's child placement worker, in consultation with the child placement worker's supervisor, shall conduct, write, sign, and date the home study.

(2) The home study shall consist of:

(a) At least two interviews with the applicant, both individually and together when two individuals apply together, with at least one of the interviews conducted in the applicant's home; and

(b) Additional individually conducted interviews with each:

(i) Child 10 years old or older who lives in the home; and

(ii) Adult member of the household.

(3) The agency may use informational or orientation meetings or training sessions to complete the home study process.

(4) The agency shall complete the home study within 90 days of receipt of the completed, signed application unless the applicant consented in writing for the agency to extend the completion date no longer than 150 days.

(5) If the agency is unable to complete the home study before the agreed-upon time limit, the agency shall inform the Administration and the applicant in writing of the:

(a) Reason the agency is unable to complete the home study;

(b) Opportunity for the applicant to reapply;

(c) Explanation of any additional required fees from the applicant; and

(d) Fee reimbursement to the applicant, if applicable.

D. The home study record shall:

(1) Be written by the child placement worker;

(2) Include the child placement worker's professional judgments based on:

(a) Observed behavior of the applicant;

(b) Statements of the applicant; and

(c) Data gathered from application material;

(3) Include documentation of the following:

(a) All items described in Regulation .09B of this chapter;

(b) The following completed documentation:

(i) Verified State and federal criminal background check;

(ii) Verified report of sanitation inspection by the local health department or a State-licensed sanitarian; and

(iii) Verified local fire department report or statement;

(c) Mental health reports and clearances if indicated; and

(d) Dates and location of contacts by the agency child placement worker with the applicant;

(4) Include the following topics which the child placement worker discussed with the applicant:

(a) The applicant's motivation to adopt;

(b) The applicant's feelings about:

(i) Childhood years;

(ii) Parental relationships;

(iii) Sibling relationships;

(iv) Social relationships; and

(v) If applicable, marital and in-law relationships, former marriages, children, and child support obligations;

(c) The applicant's reaction to life-changing experiences, and ability to cope with change;

(d) The applicant's reaction to emotional stress;

(e) The impact of infertility on the applicant, if appropriate;

(f) The applicant's special interests and activities, including domesticated pets and use of firearms for sporting purposes;

(g) The impact of the applicant's religion or life philosophy on the applicant and adopted children;

(h) The applicant's employment and financial circumstances;

(i) The applicant's formal educational experiences;

(j) The applicant's knowledge of and experience in parenting;

(k) The applicant's attitudes toward:

(i) Children;

(ii) Discipline;

(iii) Child rearing; and

(iv) Changed interpersonal dynamics resulting from the adoption;

(l) The applicant's attitudes toward adoption, including:

(i) Expectations of a child;

(ii) Dealing with a child already in the household regarding adoption;

(iii) The search for a child;

(iv) The possibility of the adoptee's future need to search for the birth parents;

(v) The possibility of dealing with the adopted child's parent;

(vi) The potential impact of adoption search services; and

(vii) The impact on the child's physical and mental health if the child was deprived, abused, or neglected before adoption;

(m) The legal designation of an identified adult to assume responsibility for the care and custody of the child in case of the death or incapacitation of the adoptive parent;

(n) The type of child the applicant could adopt, including a child's:

(i) Age range;

(ii) Special needs;

(iii) General background; and

(iv) Race, national origin, or both;

(o) The potential availability of financial resources, including:

(i) State subsidy;

(ii) State reimbursement for nonrecurring adoption expenses; and

(iii) Any agency or other private funding; and

(p) The home and community, including:

(i) Physical environment of the home;

(ii) Child care plans if needed; and

(iii) Attitudes of relatives, friends, and neighbors toward adoption.