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Caritas Family Solutions

Your Adoption Home Study

the home study experience

What is a home study?

A home study is required for every adoption. It is a detailed overview of your life, which includes background history, background checks, your financial standing, parenting experiences and viewpoints, information about your home, attitudes regarding adoption, personal relationships, medical history, and more. The home study is used by the courts to ensure a safe and stable environment is available for an adoptive placement. Once written by the social worker, it is reviewed and approved by the pre-adoptive family before finalizing. An original home study is shared with the family and there is not an extra cost for additional copies or pdf files to be sent to the family and/or agency.

What types of adoption do you complete home studies for?

We cover the full range: domestic, private, embryo, kinship/relative, stepparent, co-parent, and international adoptions. Our home study services are for families that live in Illinois. They are accepted across state lines for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC), which ensures safe, legal, and uniform procedures for placing children across state lines for adoption.

How long does it take?

A home study typically takes approximately 90 days to complete; however, the timeline is dependent on how quickly all required documentation is gathered and submitted and when home visits and interviews are scheduled.

How much does a home study cost?

Caritas is fully transparent along with being a local agency that makes adoptions affordable for all. Our application fee is $250 and a comprehensive home study costs $2500.

Who completes a home study?

At Caritas, our adoption staff completes pre-adoptive family home studies. The home study is confidential and only the Caritas adoption team, the lawyer and Judge, and the adoptive family are privy to it. The birth family does not see the home study, but instead views a non-identifying profile album completed by the pre-adoptive family.

Does a home study expire?

Yes. A home study expires after one year. Yearly updates are required if you wish to remain in the adoption process.

Can we use a home study completed by Caritas for an adoption with another agency?

Caritas approves of your using a home study with another agency, but you will need to ensure the agency you intend to work with will also accept Caritas home study for your adoption. Most agencies willingly accept another agency’s home study and the guidelines followed through Caritas are typically accepted without issue.

Can you explain the in-person meetings required for the home study?

Your home study can consist of up to four meetings (meeting requirements consist of the amount of information to gather, the makeup of your family, and the type of adoption you are completing):

Meeting #1:
Individual or couple meeting via Zoom.

Meetings #2 – #4:
Individual interviews with each applicant, which are typically conducted in the home setting, a joint interview if married, a home tour, and one meeting with all household members present.

Does the home need to be child-proof at the time of the home study?

No, we realize the timing for placement can take time so having your home ready for a child is not necessary for an approved home study. There will be a safety check for working fire and Carbon Monoxide detectors, along with a check of safety features related to water hazards near the home.

PREGNANCY OPTIONS COUNSELING

Pregnant or parenting and considering adoption as an option? You’re not alone. We’re here to help.

Learn more about our Pregnancy Options Counseling services.

Or for immediate assistance call or text our on-call number.

Email

Melyssa.Frederick@caritasfamily.org

Call Or Text Anytime

618.744.7297

Thank you so much for everything you have done for us and all the hours you have put in to complete our adoption home study. You have been a blessing to us!
We had a positive and very efficient home study process. We would recommend them for home study services in the Metro East Illinois area!
Colin
I found out I had a brother that was placed for adoption when he was an infant. I reached out to Caritas where he was originally placed and spoke to Melyssa Frederick, completed the necessary paperwork and she explained all the steps to me. She was able to locate and contact my brother, who also wanted to be in contact with me. Melyssa arranged a phone call with permission between the two of us. I can't thank Melyssa and Caritas enough for what they did for me. I will finally am able to meet my brother in person!
Bob Z.
My husband and I have been working with Melyssa at Caritas for just over a year and it has been the time that we have made the most progress in our adoption journey. We are hopeful that it will happen soon and have so much trust in her as we navigate this process. She communicates regularly and is so helpful every step of the way. We are grateful for her support and the care Caritas provides for both adoptive and waiting families.
Melyssa is very personable and efficient. She supported us and encouraged us from start to finish through the adoption process. She was our personal cheerleader and went above and beyond the call of duty.

ADOPTION MANAGER

Melyssa Frederick, MSW, LCSW

618.744.7297 (direct)
Melyssa.Frederick@caritasfamily.org

988 N. Illinois, Rte. 3
Waterloo, IL 62298

Main Office

8601 W. Main St.
Suite 201
Belleville, IL 62223

Contact us for more information about our Private Adoption program. For foster care inquiries, please contact https://www.foster-adopt.org/

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