Home Study Process

The home study is a written biography of your family. It 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 parents to go through a phase of self-discovery and self-study rather than an investigative process on the part of the agency. A Social Worker will review questionnaires you filled out from the application packet and conduct interviews individually and as a couple if applicable.

Our staff review many aspects before making a determination for an appropriate match with a foster child. Areas reviewed include:

• Family background and social history
• Family dynamics & communication skills
• Experience in parenting
• Relationship history
• Significant others likely to have foster/adoptive child contact
• 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
• TLC policies
• California state requirements