Top 10 Adoption Myths

2. You have to be perfect to pass the home study.
At some point a social worker will visit your home as part of the process called the “home study.” The home study is both an opportunity for prospective parents to ask questions and get information, and a chance for a social worker to assess the family situation. The social workers aren’t looking for perfection; they’re looking for a reasonably comfortable and stable home in which to raise a child. A few dirty dishes in the sink or a small extra bedroom are unlikely to disqualify anyone from becoming parents. While it’s simplifying things a bit to say so, for the most part as long as nothing worrisome (such as a criminal record) comes up in a background check, there’s unlikely to be a problem.

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