The adoption application looks like a very simple document, but you will spend time looking for information to add to your application, and documents to attach to it.

Following is a list of some of the things you will need for your application.

Employment history for the last five (at least) years

A reference request will be sent to your current employer, and possibly past employers, depending on the length of employment in your current job. They are looking for things like:

Dependability- do you show up to work, are you on time, do your supervisors feel that you are a good, and reliable employee?

Length of employment- how long have you been at your job? Do you change jobs often?

Stable income-Will you be able to financially provide for the child?

Addresses for the past five (at least) years

Insurance

Do you have health insurance, life insurance, auto and home insurance? You will need to provide copies of all of these policies or cards. It should show your carrier, policy number, effective dates and coverage amounts.

References

You will be asked to provide references for the case worker to contact. These need to be people you have known for a while, and have insight into your personalities and/or parenting style. Ask them for permission first, and tell them when you have an idea it will be coming. These are lengthy forms, and will take them some time to fill out. All answers are confidential, unless your reference chooses to share them with you.

If you have older children who are out of the home, the social worker will contact them as well. They will ask about your parenting, how your child views your parenting skills, what methods of discipline you use, etc.

Financial disclosure

You will be asked to provide a fairly detailed financial disclosure. You will be asked to list debts, assets, and other questions you might expect on a loan application. This is to determine if you can financially provide for the child. By adopting a child from foster care, you qualify for an adoption subsidy to help offset costs, but the application is to determine if you have the financial means to support the child without the subsidy. This step is to prevent people from taking in children simply to gain the subsidy.

Pets

If you have pets in your home, you will be required to show proof of current vaccinations.

Documents

You will need to provide copies of birth certificates, your marriage license if you are married, and your divorce decree if you are divorced as well as adoption certificates if you have other adopted children.

Having your entire documentation ready ahead of time, will make your process go much more smoothly.


Written narrative

Some states have you submit this along with the application, others ask for it at the start of your home study.

If you are asked to complete a written narrative, it will involve some very personal questions. Be honest, even if you feel it may hurt your chances to adopt. These questions, and your honest answers, help the worker to match you with a child. If you are an active and on the go family, adding a severely handicapped child who needs around the clock care, will not be the best match for you.

The narrative may also ask questions about your childhood, and your marriage. Again, be honest in these answers. This is not meant to learn every intimate detail about your life, but rather to learn about your personalities.

Family history

The worker will ask questions about your family and relationships within your family. Special needs children can be very hard on family relationships. We all have baggage, some more than others. How you were parented, and what you learned from that is key to how you will handle your child. If your child hood was less than stellar, be honest, but also include what you are doing, or have done to handle any “issues” from your childhood.

Expect your completed application (if it includes a narrative) to be 25 – 30 pages long. Be sure to keep a copy of your application before you mail it.

As with all other applications, just because you fill it out does not mean you are committing yourself to an adoption.

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