The home study for adoption is typically the longest stage of the Colorado adoption process. Starting now can help you get a jump-start on some of the more time-consuming parts of the home study. All hopeful adoptive parents in Colorado must be approved by a Colorado-licensed home study provider, regardless of the type of adoption you’re pursuing or the adoption professional you’re working with.

As a national domestic adoption agency with over 30 years of experience, American Adoptions ensures you do not face unnecessary delays while you receive the personal attention, support, and expertise you deserve. American Adoptions is a licensed full-service adoption agency that provides SAFE home study services for families throughout the entire state of Colorado.

Follow this link to begin your home study and to learn more about the services we offer. Until then, continue reading to learn more about your Colorado home study.

What is a Home Study?

The purpose of a Colorado adoption home study is to confirm that you’re emotionally, financially, and physically ready to adopt and raise a child. This is an important method of ensuring that children are going to a safe and stable home.

A Colorado home study for adoption consists of two parts:

• Submitting documents

• An in-home visit from your home study worker

What Documents You’ll Need for a Colorado Home Study

It can take days, weeks, or even months for some home study documents to be processed and reviewed by all the necessary departments. So, getting documentation in order as soon as possible is generally advised. Those documents typically include:

• Several personal references, which act as a reference letter for adoption

• Background checks

• Recent health and financial records

• Autobiographical statements from both prospective parents about your motivations to adopt

• And more

What You Need for Your In-Home Visits

The in-home visits consist of your Colorado home study adoption professional coming to your home for an inspection and interview. All family members will participate in the home study process, including the in-home visits.

The home inspection isn’t to see if you and your house are “perfect.” It’s to verify that you and your home are ready to provide a child with a safe, healthy, and stable environment and that you’re ready to adopt a child. Your home study professional will check for child safety features such as:

• Gates on stairs

• Electric outlet coverings

• Screened windows

• Toxic materials (cleaning supplies, chemicals and medicines) stored out of reach

• Guns locked in safes

• Working fire and carbon dioxide detectors

• And more

The purpose of these visits is to help you prepare for a child before placement.

The family interviews will help your social worker get to know you better. You’ll examine your feelings about adoption and parenting, and you’ll discuss topics such as parenting techniques, your relationship, your childhoods, your hobbies and interests, and more.

Staying Ahead of Post-Placement Visits and Home Study Updates

After you’ve completed your Colorado home study, it’ll remain valid for up to one year. If you haven’t been placed with a child in that time, you’ll need to renew the home study prior to the annual expiration date.

You’ll also need to update your home study if there are any major changes in your life, as well as update certain documents within your home study based on Colorado law.

Once you’ve been placed with a child, your home study provider or child-placing agency will complete post-placement visits to ensure that your child is adjusting well. Your adoption can be finalized several months later in court. Ask your CO adoption home study provider to learn more about post-placement requirements.

Colorado Adoption Home Study Checklist

In addition to social, financial, and medical records that you’ll need to submit, safety features installed in your home, background checks, and training courses, there are a number of things you’ll need to do to complete your home study for adoption in Colorado.

To review the full Colorado adoption home study checklist and to learn more about the home study for adoption process, follow this link to contact a SAFE home study specialist.

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