SC Adoption Home Studies from Carolina Hope
Carolina Hope is licensed in South Carolina as an adoption home study agency. We also provide two versions of a free online adoption home study education course (open to all): a pre-recorded version that you can take at any time, and a live version that is offered on set days.
This page is organized as a list of answers to many of the common questions that are asked about South Carolina adoption home studies. We have found that the three top questions are these:
In addition to these three questions and the others addressed on this page, we can provide you with a comprehensive print booklet about our adoption homestudy servies. If you would like to request the booklet, please complete our online form or contact us directly by phone or email.
What is involved in an adoption home study?
Once you have requested a home study booklet (you can do that here), you’ll follow these steps:
- Send a home study application to Carolina Hope along with the home study fee and several preliminary forms such as a questionnaire about your background and a consent to a criminal background check (all these forms are provided in the home study booklet).
- Schedule a home visit with one of Carolina Hope’s home study case workers (called “certified adoption investigators” in South Carolina - but it’s not as bad as it sounds!). The type of adoption you are doing will determine how many additional interviews will be required.
- Gather other documents such as a medical letter from your physician and reference letters from people who know you.
- Once it is written, review the report to ensure it accurately portrays your family.
- Now Carolina Hope will submit the report to the appropriate authorities.
- Wait for SC DSS (and for international home studies, US CIS) to review and approve the home study.
You can read about each of these steps in more detail in our home study booklet.
How long is the home study process?
A typical home study will be completed in 4-6 weeks. This is the time from when Carolina Hope receives a family’s initial documents (step 1 above) to the time that Carolina Hope submits the home study to the appropriate authority (step 5). Of course, this timeframe assumes that a family submits all documents according to the schedule provided in the home study booklet, that they are able to schedule the necessary home study visits in a timely manner, and that there are no significant counseling or criminal issues that must be resolved before a recommendation for adoption can be made.
(Because some countries such as China require more than two home study visits, the process for these countries could take a little longer than the 4-6 weeks average.)
Expedited (and occasionally emergency) services are also available. Contact our office for more information about these.
How much does a home study cost?
A schedule of fees and expenses is available as part of the home study booklet (you can request one here). When you compare fees among agencies and independent investigators, be aware of these categories:
- Application
- Criminal clearances
- DSS submission (for international home studies only)
- Postage for submission
- Actual home study report
- Per-hour rate
- Mileage
- Post-placement reports
(Carolina Hope does not charge an hourly rate, but it is listed above for purposes of comparison.) It’s often the case that when you are quoted a fee, that amount covers only the actual home study report and does not include the other expenses which you will be charged or expected to pay on your own. Carolina Hope discloses all foreseeable costs before you apply, and the total cost will cover the DSS submission fee of $225 (for international home studies), as well as all mailing costs.
Carolina Hope’s fee for a domestic adoption home study is $250 for the application (this covers your DSS criminal clearances) and $800 for the actual home study, for a total of $1050. The first post-placement report (a requirement in South Carolina) costs $300. Carolina Hope charges the federal mileage rate for any visit that requires a round trip of more than 60 miles. Contact us to find out how close our nearest case worker is to your home.
Because of varying pre-placement and post-placement home study requirements for other countries, international adoption home studies have their own fee structures. Our standard fee schedules for most country programs are included in our booklet.
Who can Carolina Hope do home studies for?
If you are a South Carolina resident and you are adopting domestically or internationally through Carolina Hope, we will conduct your adoption home study. If you are a South Carolina resident adopting through an out-of-state adoption agency, Carolina Hope can conduct your adoption home study, too. If you live outside South Carolina, you will need the services of an agency in your state of residence. See the bottom of this page for additional information.
What is a home study?
A home study is a document to verify that you qualify to adopt a child. A home study professional meets with you in your home to ask you various questions about your background, your values, the strengths of your marriage (if you are married), your finances, and your reasons for adopting - in addition to other questions. It is not a white-glove inspection. In South Carolina this professional is called a certified adoption investigator. But do not let the name investigator frighten you. This is simply the official title for social workers who are authorized to conduct home studies.
As part of our overall services, Carolina Hope conducts home studies for those adopting here in the United States as well as for families interested in international adoption. Carolina Hope also conducts home studies for those interested in adopting children with special needs.
Why do I need a home study?
First, regardless of whether you adopt domestically or internationally, the home study is the first step for beginning the adoption process. Nearly every other step in the adoption process requires a completed home study.
Second, most agencies and attorneys will not match a couple with a birthmother or child until the prospective adoptive family is home-study approved. No adoption can be completed without the home study.
Third, meeting with a certified investigator will help prepare you for meeting the birthmother. The questions posed in a home study are the ones you can expect a birthmother to ask. Birthmothers tend to be interested in the same character traits a social worker is looking for in a couple: stability, a good marital relationship, love of children, and strong family values. A birthmother will also be reassured to know that you have met certain state requirements by completing your home study.
Fourth, if you are adopting internationally, Citizenship and Immigration Services bases your approval, in part, on a home study. All countries that place children for adoption overseas require a home study, too.
Finally, the home study is not merely an evaluative process; it is also an educational process. Your home study provider will help prepare you for the issues unique to the type of adoption you are pursuing.
Why should I use an agency to conduct my home study?
Although certified adoption investigators in South Carolina do not have to be affiliated with an adoption agency to conduct home studies, some countries (such as China and Russia) require that a home study be completed by a licensed agency. If you adopt domestically across state lines, the birthmother’s state of residence may also require that your home study be conducted by a licensed agency (Florida, for example, has this requirement).
Moreover, using an experienced agency such as Carolina Hope will give you confidence that your certified investigator will be aware of and meet all requirements for the courts and the Department of Social Services, and - if you’re pursuing an international adoption - for CIS and the country from which you are adopting.
If I’m adopting through another agency, will Carolina Hope do my home study?
If you are working with another agency for the adoption placement, Carolina Hope will honor your commitment to that agency and will conduct the home study and sign all agreements between Carolina Hope (the home study agency) and the placing agency.
Carolina Hope will also work with you and a caseworker if you are seeking to adopt a child through the Social Services department of another state. Social service departments require that home studies be conducted by a licensed agency.
What services does Carolina Hope provide to home study clients?
Help with Applying to Immigration. In addition to providing written instructions, we will personally answer any questions you have about Immigration processing, and we will help you if your case is not being approved in a timely manner.
Help with Applying for State Adoption Subsidy. We will provide the necessary form, the instructions, and assistance with completing the form.
Notarization of Documents. If you need documents notarized, most of our staff are notary publics, and we will gladly notarize your documents at no charge. (Naturally, we have to observe you sign the documents.)
Adoption Advice and Advocacy. Carolina Hope can assist you in deciding what type of adoption may be appropriate for you to consider. Carolina Hope also works in conjunction with an experienced attorney to see that paperwork is processed correctly and quickly through the United States’ Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. We serve as more than just a home study agency; we serve as your advocates.
Education. Carolina Hope is very committed to educating families. Everyone who uses Carolina Hope’s home study services will take an educational class on the Internet or through a workshop. We highly recommend that you visit the Web site of Adoption Learning Partners, which offers educational classes online. Carolina Hope regularly provides educational workshops through its affiliations with other professional groups.
Adoption education helps you determine what type of adoption is right for you, and it also prepares you for parenting a child whose background requires special skills. Because not every issue can be addressed while you are going through the home study process, additional education will make you more confident during the adoption process, and it will connect you with resources that you can use as you continue to educate yourself about adoption for the rest of your life.
Post-Adoption Support. After you come home with your child, there are still a few forms to be filled out. We will be in contact with you to help you with the process if you desire. We are also available to talk with you about adjustment issues or parenting issues once you are home with your child. This service is included in your agency fee.
When should I have a home study?
Regardless of what adoption plan you have, it is usually best to have the home study completed as early as possible in the adoption process. If you are certain that you will adopt but are unsure of what type of adoption to pursue, you can still begin the home study process. In most instances, a home study can be easily modified to comply with the requirements associated with the type of adoption you choose to pursue.
How long is my home study current?
A home study for a domestic adoption is current for one year. An international home study (along with its supporting documentation) must be less than six months old when submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Services. When you are ready to have your home study updated, just call Carolina Hope to arrange to have an investigator visit your home. There is a fee for home study updates based on the changes required for the new home study.
What happens to an international home study report once it is completed?
An international home study is first reviewed by the South Carolina Department of Social Services staff before being submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Department of Social Services charges $225 for this service. (This fee is included in the schedule of fees you pay Carolina Hope, so Carolina Hope makes the payment to DSS.)
Can I have the home study visit in the evening or on the weekend?
Yes, the staff is very flexible, and a certified investigator can generally arrange a time for a home visit that is convenient for you.
Is there a lot of paperwork to complete for the home study?
Yes, there is a lot of paperwork. But Carolina Hope provides the forms you need, along with an explanatory booklet. Furthermore, we’re always a phone call or email away to answer your questions.
What if I want to adopt an older child or one with special needs?
If you would consider adopting a child with special needs, a child outside your race, or a sibling group, be sure that your home study addresses (1) your preference for the child’s age, race, and health status, (2) the number of children you are open to adopting, and (3) what medical problems or other concerns you would consider on a case-by-case basis. It is best to be home-study approved for the widest range of options that are potentially acceptable to you. Of course, being approved for special cases does not obligate you to accept such a placement.
If for some reason you decide to pursue an adoption situation outside of what you have been approved for (for example, a sibling group becomes available but you’re approved for only one child), you will have to get an addendum to the home study.
What if I want to adopt a child who is in the custody of Social Services?
If you want to adopt a child who is in foster care through the Department of Social Services (DSS) here in South Carolina, a certified investigator from DSS will conduct your home study. DSS does not charge for this service. However, if you want to adopt a child through another state’s social service department, you will need to have a home study conducted by a licensed adoption agency (such as Carolina Hope) in South Carolina.
Who qualifies to adopt?
Many people worry needlessly that they will not pass the home study. Most people genuinely interested in adopting will meet the requirements. However, it is very important that you be completely honest right up-front with the investigator so that if there are any areas of concern, such as a criminal history, the circumstances can be explained in the home study report. A person is not automatically disqualified as a potential adoptive parent simply because his or her record is not absolutely spotless - but there must be a reasonable explanation and no pattern of recent difficulties.
If you think something in your past may present a problem, talk with us about the matter. Some people worry needlessly about arrests made when they were much younger, such as for shoplifting. However, other problems are more serious, such as repeated divorces, a recent recovery from alcoholism, or a criminal history. Please be up-front in telling us about these potential problems.
Sometimes couples will ask what they should and should not discuss with a social worker. We encourage you to be forthright and let the social worker determine what should be included in your home study and how the information should be presented.
When a caseworker asks you difficult - and even potentially embarrassing - questions, he is not poking around to “get the dirt on you.” His desire is to address issues that could raise red flags later in the adoption process. Carolina Hope will always abide by professional and legal standards of confidentiality.
Can Carolina Hope do a home study for an embryo “adoption”?
Yes, we can conduct a home study for such an “adoption.” (Technically such a process does not fall under the normal definition of adoption.)
The purpose of this home study is to provide a report to the embryo medical providers; the report is not intended to assess the suitability of the child’s placement once born. Therefore, no post-placement reports will be required. Also, because no legal court proceedings takes place, all legal responsibilities of the agency end once the home study is completed.
In the course of the home study process, you will be required to complete education regarding embryo adoption so that as the parent, you can understand the issues involved in giving birth to a child who is not biologically related to you. Such education is available at www.cedaeducation.org.
North Carolina Home Studies
Carolina Hope has referred many NC clients to Nathanson Adoption Services for their home studies. You’ll find a recommendation by Carolina Hope Director Laura Beauvais-Godwin at Nathanson’s home page. Nathanson is experienced in conducting home studies for both domestic and international adoptions.
Home Studies in Other States
You can do a state-specific search for adoption professionals at the Child Welfare Information Gateway’s National Adoption Directory Search (maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
Can I get more information from Carolina Hope?
If you would like print materials about any of Carolina Hope’s adoption programs, you can send us a request using our online form. We would also be happy for you to call or email with questions. (Our phone number and email address are available at our Contact page.)