Adoption Homestudy: Fingerprints and Paperwork
It has been an exciting few weeks around here. In my last post, we had just attended an adoption class and were preparing for the next steps. Now, not even a month later, we are in full-blown homestudy mode!
The first step was to meet with our adoption specialist from Adoption Home Study Services of Arizona. We had already met Calli during our adoption training but we hadn’t spent any alone time with her. For this meeting, she came to our home, the three of us sat on the couch, and it felt very personalized and comfortable. Jk and I were so glad that we had already been to the educational class because it gave us a great foundation for the things Calli discussed with us. She went through the paperwork and steps needed in order for us to get certified to adopt. That part was pretty simple!
Next, we started our interviews. Calli asked us all kinds of questions about the progression of our relationship and our marriage. We were asked how we met, what attracted us to each other, and what adjustments we had to make when we got married. While Calli took notes, Jk and I discussed what challenges we’ve been through, how we overcome disagreements, and what hopes we have for our future family. This part of the meeting required a lot of contemplation and self-reflection.
After that, we were left with a large stack of paperwork! We were given all kinds of forms to fill out: an application for certification to adopt, affidavits, CPS clearance, a health insurance questionnaire, and a financial statement. More forms that would require signatures: employment verification and medical reports. And copies of several important documents including health insurance cards, pay stubs, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, last year’s tax return, and our marriage license. Lastly, we would need to complete an adoptive home study template, giving additional information about ourselves, our families, and our adoption preferences. Woo! I was overwhelmed but determined.
Initially we thought that we would go to a fingerprinting location, but it proved to be more difficult than we imaged. Everyone in the household, including my in-laws needed to have their fingerprints taken and submitted to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). About a week after our meeting with Calli, we asked her to come back and help us get our fingerprint cards. She was so kind and cooperative and came back to take our prints. Finger by finger, she helped us complete the necessary forms.
The first step was to meet with our adoption specialist from Adoption Home Study Services of Arizona. We had already met Calli during our adoption training but we hadn’t spent any alone time with her. For this meeting, she came to our home, the three of us sat on the couch, and it felt very personalized and comfortable. Jk and I were so glad that we had already been to the educational class because it gave us a great foundation for the things Calli discussed with us. She went through the paperwork and steps needed in order for us to get certified to adopt. That part was pretty simple!
Next, we started our interviews. Calli asked us all kinds of questions about the progression of our relationship and our marriage. We were asked how we met, what attracted us to each other, and what adjustments we had to make when we got married. While Calli took notes, Jk and I discussed what challenges we’ve been through, how we overcome disagreements, and what hopes we have for our future family. This part of the meeting required a lot of contemplation and self-reflection.
After that, we were left with a large stack of paperwork! We were given all kinds of forms to fill out: an application for certification to adopt, affidavits, CPS clearance, a health insurance questionnaire, and a financial statement. More forms that would require signatures: employment verification and medical reports. And copies of several important documents including health insurance cards, pay stubs, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, last year’s tax return, and our marriage license. Lastly, we would need to complete an adoptive home study template, giving additional information about ourselves, our families, and our adoption preferences. Woo! I was overwhelmed but determined.
Initially we thought that we would go to a fingerprinting location, but it proved to be more difficult than we imaged. Everyone in the household, including my in-laws needed to have their fingerprints taken and submitted to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). About a week after our meeting with Calli, we asked her to come back and help us get our fingerprint cards. She was so kind and cooperative and came back to take our prints. Finger by finger, she helped us complete the necessary forms.
Today, just two and a half weeks after our first appointment, Jk and I are proud to say that we’ve completed our end of the paperwork! We’ve already scheduled our next appointment with Calli to complete our “home visit” and continue our individual and couple interviews. I am just so so excited and happy for how far we’ve come and where we are headed!
Life is moving so fast and there are a million things that happen every day. I’m finding it more and more difficult to find the time to write about our experiences, but I know how important it is to document our journey. If it’s a blur from week to week, I know it will only get worse as time goes on. But I want to remember everything! Someday all of these discussions and paperwork will lead to something. Someday this won’t just be our infertility journey or our adoption journey--it will be the story of how we got our baby!
Life is moving so fast and there are a million things that happen every day. I’m finding it more and more difficult to find the time to write about our experiences, but I know how important it is to document our journey. If it’s a blur from week to week, I know it will only get worse as time goes on. But I want to remember everything! Someday all of these discussions and paperwork will lead to something. Someday this won’t just be our infertility journey or our adoption journey--it will be the story of how we got our baby!
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