Questions to Ask a Potential Homestudy Agency

Selecting a home study (or pre-placement assessment) agency can seem overwhelming, but in reality it is not complicated. You should choose an agency with which you feel comfortable and one that is responsive to your questions and concerns. If you have a specific time requirement for your home study, ask if they can accommodate that and do not hesitate to compare prices. Of course, the best way to find the right agency for you is to seek out recommendations. Go to an adoption support group meeting, or go online, and ask, ask, ask!

Check with several different agencies if you can to determine:

A) The cost, and
B) How soon they can have it completed.

If one agency charges $900 but takes six months to get things done while another agency charges $1500 and can have it done in two months, the first one is NOT a bargain.

1.	Does your agency do International Studies?
A:
2.	How many international studies did your agency write last year?
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3.	What state(s) are you licensed in?
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4.	How much will it cost?
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5.	Can you send me a list of all applicable fees, including payment schedules?
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6.	Are there any additional fees (required classes, application fee, travel fee?)
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7.	How long will take to complete the study from the time you receive my application? How long will it take to complete? (Time frame for completion) Find out what factors determine how long a homestudy takes.
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8.	Can you expedite my final homestudy report? How fast? What is that fee?
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9.	Do I/we have to write an autobiography?
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10.	How many visits are there and where are the visits?
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11.	Do I/we receive a copy of our home study prior to completion to review for errors?
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12.	Can I speak to my social worker before I sign up for a home study to determine if we will work well together?
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13.	How does the homestudy agency work with my adoption agency?
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14.	Can you also do my post-placement reports if neccessary?
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