Would You be Allowed to Adopt?

The first step in any adoption, whether domestic or international, is the homestudy.  This part can be a bit intimidating as it requires you to answer question about yourself and your otherwise private life all the way back to the age of 18 years old.    In the next few weeks we're going to discuss 16 basic questions you would be asked if you were applying for a homestudy here in Georgia.  Then we'll talk about why they are important for us, as an agency, to know. 

Stay tuned to see if the answer to some of the questions, you thought you understood, are not asked for the reasons that you think they might be! Hint: Would it surprise you to know that your answer may not preclude you from adoption like you thought?

1. Where do you live?  
2. What is your current living situation? 
3. What is your highest level of education?  
4. Have you ever been arrested?  
5. Have you ever worked with children?  
6. How is your physical health?  
7. How is your financial health?  
8. How is your mental health?  
9. How do you feel about corporal punishment (such as spanking)?  
10. Do you have insurance?  
11. Do you have well water or a septic tank?  
12. Do you have pets?  
13. Do you have a pool?  
14. Do you own firearms?  
15. How did you grow up?  What was your life like as a child?
16. What type of child do you want to adopt?  

Where do you live?  Contrary to popular belief agencies don’t normally ask this question to see if you’re rich enough to adopt.  They want to know this: Is your home safe? Is it in a safe neighborhood? Is it big enough for another person?

So many people I talk with say they want to adopt but that they don't own a home!  Let me put your mind at ease; this question isn't as important as whether or not you can pay for where you live while taking care of another person. 

We also want to know what kind of neighborhood you live in; not what the ratio of races or religious preferences are within the area but whether or not you continually have to make 911 calls in the night! 

If you are adopting a child of mixed race, or one different from your own, we want to make sure that the child will have peers to relate to and leaders to look up to that are of the same origin.  This is important for the child's well-being and self-awareness. 

You see, this question is not all it seems.  I'll be back later to talk to you more about the next questions.  Until then, just know that everyone deserves to grow up in a safe and well-rounded environment. It's our job to make sure that happens if we can.

Dee Shihady is the Executive Director and Adoption Consultant of Crystal Adoptions, Inc. located in Johns Creek and Suwanee. For more information on this adoption agency please visit Crystal Adoptions’ website .

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