If you already have your home study you can skip this article; congrats you are one step closer to growing your family. However, if you are newly considering adoption as a path to grow your family, you’ve likely heard this phrase thrown around.

So what is a home study? A home study is a required comprehensive evaluation of anyone considering becoming adoptive parents, that’s you. This evaluation includes assessing your home, background, finances, life, health, relationship, and home inspection. We will be honest, the process is somewhat invasive, but necessary to assess for fitness of moving forward as prospective adoptive parents.

While you are permitted to obtain your home study from any agency, when possible we love having you complete this service with us. It provides us an opportunity to get to know you better and provide the best possible match opportunities to you. If you already have your home study or live in a state that we do not offer home study services yet, we will take the time to meet with you and get to know you so that you are also provided the highest level of services.

Starr Adoptions is listed as one of the Adoption Agencies in Tucson, but are happy to travel throughout Arizona to complete your home study.

What is the home study process like at Starr Adoption Services?

Step 1 - Connect with one of our Starr Family Services Staff for an orientations.

Step 2 - Pre-registration - submit preliminary paperwork for review

Step 3 - Finish & submit remaining documentation (yes, there is a lot of documentation required for home studies).

Step 4 - Make a pot of coffee - we are meeting you at your home for the home visit/interview part of the process. You don’t really need to brew us a pot, but be prepared to have us there for a couple of hours. And yes, we are going to check your house for safety….pool fences, medications stored away, cleaning supplies not accessible to the baby, and more. Don’t worry we will give you a checklist ahead of time so you can take care of any concerns before we arrive.

Step 5 - We will create a written home study report to submit to the courts for approval (this is an Arizona specific requirement, if your home study is from out of state you will need to follow your state’s specific law on obtaining an approved home study).

Step 6 - Once your home study is approved you are ready to join our adoptive family list!!!