Home Study Process

The home study is a written biography of your family. A foster care home study is less in-depth than an adoption home study. A home study describes your family dynamics and communication style; openness to change, family stability; family history; exploration of marriage and/or relationship history; lifestyle; expectations of children's needs and development, motivation in undertaking parenting and former parenting experience.
TLC will conduct the home study process in a way that will allow the prospective foster and adoptive parents to go through a phase of self-discovery and self-study rather than simply an investigative process on the part of the agency. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the children available, the child welfare system, and the process of matching. A TLC Social Worker will review questionnaires and/or adoption autobiographies you filled out previously and conduct interviews individually and as a couple if applicable.
Our staff review many factors before determining if a family can be approved for foster care or adoption. Areas reviewed include:

      • Family background and social history
      • Criminal record review
      • Family dynamics & communication skills
      • Experience with parenting
      • Relationship and employment history
      • Motivation for becoming foster or adoptive parents
      • Religious preferences
      • Physical environment of home and safety features
      • Physical/psychological health of prospective parents
      • School, childcare, enrichment resources available to the foster child
      • Support system of individual/family
      • Significant others likely to have foster/adoptive child contact
      • TLC policies and California State requirements

TLC can also provide a domestic adoption home study for an individual/family who is working with another adoption agency or attorney and wishes to adopt a newborn (non-foster child). There are higher fees for this type of adoption home study, as well as fees for the post-adoptive placement supervision and reports, and assistance with finalization paperwork.