Law Office of Joyce S. Schwensen

Putting a child up for adoption can be an intimidating process. Birth mothers often wonder what kind of life the child would have with adoptive parents. Sometimes there is a fear the parents may not be fit to raise the child. In Washington, parents are intensely screened before they are able to welcome an adopted child into their home.

 Washington Administrative Code 388-27 requires anyone seeking to become an adoptive parent to go through a very extensive screening process, which is called a “home study.” The state process is used to determine if the parents should be eligible to adopt a child.

According to the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services, the home study process has three main processes:

• Educate and prepare the adoptive family for adoption
• Evaluate the adoptive family
• Gather information about the prospective parents to help a social worker connect the family with a child whose needs they can meet

The home study begins with an investigation into the background and personalities of the adoptive family. Several different factors are used in the study, including home inspections, interviews, various criminal and child abuse background checks, financial and medical approvals and references.

In Washington, the home study must be done by an independent third party, usually an adoption social worker, whose responsibility is to ensure that the adoptive parents will be family capable of caring for the child. For example, the social worker will see if the parents are financially able to afford a child.

The third party also will educate the adoptive parents about the adoption process and discuss several important topics with the family to make sure they are prepared to be parents to an adopted child. For instance, the social worker must determine whether the parents understand adoption as a lifelong developmental process and commitment, according to Revised Code of Washington 26.33.290.

Adoptive parents must understand the process is a permanent legal transfer of parental rights, which brings a great deal of responsibility. This means the parents will raise the child for the entirety of his or her young life, even if the parents separate or divorce. It is important the adoptive parents understand the child should be cared for no matter the situation.

Washington Code also requires the social worker discuss how to tell the child he or she is adopted. The parents should be aware the child may have mixed feelings about his or her identity and feel confused or concerned about being separated from his or her birth parents.

Once a child knows of the adoption process, there likely will be questions of his or her birth relatives. The social worker will discuss how to respond to the child's questions about his or her birth parents and other relatives, including grandparents and siblings. Curiosity from the child is natural, and parents should have guidance on how to make the best possible choices.

 Adoptive parents also are reminded to respect the birth mother and father for their decision to allow the child to be adopted. The decision to place a child for adoption in Washington is complex and often the most difficult choice a person will make. The adoptive parents are asked to be aware of its difficulty, and to honor their decision.

The home study has to be approved before the prospective parents can continue with the adoption process. The length of time to complete the home study process varies by case, but generally the goal is to have it completed within 90 days. This time frame gives the social worker a snapshot into the lives of those wishing to adopt a child.