FRC conducts Domestic and International Home Studies for families enrolled in our programs, as well as for families engaged in independent adoptions and those using other placement agencies. The process is identical for domestic and international adoptions. All international home studies conform to USCIS guidelines, and include any and all information required by the host country.

The Home Study process involves the following steps:

1. Family Resource Center assigns you a home study worker. This adoption specialist will be your primary contact at FRC.
2. You and the home study worker arrange a convenient day and time to meet in your home. This face-to-face interview is usually scheduled during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
3. Your social worker will interview you about your background, family life, adoption expectations and parenting philosophy. A brief safety inspection of your home will also be conducted during this meeting. Typically this first interview lasts from four to five hours. Relevant licensing and USCIS procedures are reviewed as needed.
4. In some instances, follow-up visits are scheduled in order to collect and finalize information.
5. Within a month of completing your home study visit(s), your social worker will prepare a written Home Study document. This can be expedited if necessary under extenuating circumstances.
6. For International Home Studies, an edited draft is provided to families to review for factual accuracy and to placing agencies to review for country specific information. Documents are then finalized and forwarded to the USCIS. FRC also prepares all collateral documents required by Illinois DCFS and placing agencies.

Information contained in a Home Study:

• Your adoption expectations, including preferences regarding the number, gender, ages, health status, and backgrounds of potential adopted children.
• A brief summary of the reasons why you decided to adopt.
• How you plan to address the issue of adoption with your child.
• Your attitudes and experience with child rearing, which includes your experience with children and how you plan to raise your adopted child.
• A section that describes various personal characteristics including your physical description, physical and mental health, and personality.
• Each parent provides a synopsis of their upbringing, family relationships, and the composition of their family of origin.
• If you are married, your courtship and marriage history will be covered.
• A history of your education and employment will be discussed.
• A description of the physical aspects of your home and a brief description of your community and its resources are included.
• Your finances are reviewed only to verify that you have the means to adopt and provide for a child. FRC does not use a means test for clients. FRC provides opportunities for qualified families to apply for financial assistance for domestic adoptions.
• Criminal and child abuse andneglect background clearances are obtained from the IDCFS (Illinois Department of Children and Family Services), the Illinois state Police and other sources. You will need to arrange for fingerprints to be checked and cleared by DCFS.
• The final section of the home study document contains FRC’s recommendations for adoption based on all the above information.

FRC releases Home Studies to third parties only with your written permission.