St. Joseph Children’s Home provides a continuum of care to children and families in the state of Kentucky. In addition to the services we provide to children in our residential care program, the SJCH Therapeutic Foster Care and Adoption Program has been providing referral, training and ongoing support services to families interested in becoming foster or adoptive families in the state of Kentucky since 1996.
SJCH staff members have many years experience completing home studies and are eager to assist families seeking a home study to complete an independent or international adoption. Please call us for more information. Supplemental services like adoption training, post-‐placement home visits and reports, birth parent interviews and even just updated home studies are also available from SJCH.
Except in a few specific situations, the state of Kentucky requires that all individuals interested in pursuing adoption have a home study completed by a state licensed adoption agency. The purpose of the home study is to allow the case worker to get to know the applicants and assess the family’s appropriateness for adoption. When a family inquires about a home study through St. Joseph Children’s Home, they will receive an application packet. This packet will include a detailed explanation of the home study process and a list of state required documentation such as:
• Birth Certificates
• Marriage License
• Physical Health Forms
• Background Checks
• References
After reviewing the completed application paperwork, the adoptive family should then contact SJCH for delivery and scheduling of a home visit with a case manager. The home study consists of one face to face visit in the prospective adoptive family home. The goal is to ensure and document safety in physical environment as well as getting to know the family better. During the interview process, topics of discussion will include things such as:
• Motivation to Adopt
• Personal and Family Interests
• Childhood and Educational Experiences
• Significant People in the Life of the Family
• Support Systems/Child Care Plan
• Health
• Finances/Employment
• Marital Stability
• Discipline Techniques/Philosophy
• Spiritual Views