A Guide to the Home Study and Placement Report

March 17th, 2025
Posted By
Sarah M. Litowich
Father and daughter coloring together at home
Adoption is a major decision that can come with many rewards for both parents and the child. If you are planning to expand your family through adoption, one of the requirements in Oregon is completing a home study. This is meant to ensure that prospective parents are emotionally and financially prepared to welcome an adopted child into their home. Significantly, a home study is required for all adoptions that are filed in Oregon courts — and it is vital to know what to expect during the process.

What is the Home Study?

The adoption home study is the process in which a social worker assesses the family’s suitability to care for an adopted child. Specifically, it looks at the adoptive parents’ home life to determine whether they will be able to provide a stable, loving, and safe household for the child. The process involves gathering paperwork, conducting interviews and home visits, doing criminal background checks, and verifying references. Once the home study is completed, a social worker will generate a written evaluation called the placement report. A home study can usually take a few months to finalize. However, the amount of time it takes can depend upon a variety of factors, including the social worker’s caseload. A home study in Oregon is valid for one year. It will need to be updated if a child has not been placed with you within that amount of time — or if there are any changes, such as a new job or home.

What Documents Do You Need for the Home Study?

There are several components of the adoption home study process. First, the prospective adoptive parents must provide a number of documents and submit to a background check. It’s important to be organized and gather the documentation as early as possible to help streamline the process. Create folders for each category of documentation and clearly label them to make it easier for the social worker to review. This can help ensure none of the paperwork is overlooked. The necessary paperwork that you will be required to submit for the process can include the following:
  • Current financial records
  • Health records
  • Driver’s licenses
  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Employment information
  • Pet vaccination records
  • Home deeds
  • Proof of insurance
  • Personal references
As part of the home study, all prospective adoptive parents and any other adult members of the household are required to undergo a state and federal criminal background check to ensure the welfare and safety of the child. A fingerprint-based criminal history record check will be conducted to determine whether there are any prior convictions related to child abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or other felony crimes that would disqualify the adoptive parents. In addition to conducting a check of the Oregon criminal records and the Federal Law Enforcement Data System, a Child Protective Services check will also be done.

What Happens at the Interview and Home Visit?

The home visit is a crucial step in the adoption home study process. It typically involves two parts: an inspection and an interview. During an adoption home visit, a social worker will inspect the family home to assess the safety and cleanliness of the living environment. They will look to see whether safety features such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are in place, and if there are any hazards. The social worker will also ask to see where the child’s sleeping arrangements will be. Additionally, the social worker will conduct individual and family interviews to learn more about the prospective adoptive parents’ backgrounds, the reasons they wish to adopt, their parenting experience, and their ability to meet the needs of the child. While many seeking to adopt may be nervous about whether they will be approved, it’s essential to understand that the social worker does not expect adoptive parents to have a perfect home — they consider whether it is safe and stable. The social worker may also take the inspection as an opportunity to educate the prospective adoptive parents and make recommendations on safety measures they can implement.

What is the Placement Report?

After the adoption petition has been filed, a placement report will be prepared by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) or a licensed adoption agency, depending on the type of adoption. The purpose of this report is to evaluate how the child and family have adjusted to the placement in the home — and recommend whether the court should grant the adoption. The confidential report includes a narrative about the child, information about the biological parents and their attitude about the adoption, and any additional information the court should be aware of.

Contact an Experienced Oregon Adoption Attorney

If you’re considering expanding your family through adoption, it’s essential to have a knowledgeable attorney who can advise you and guide you through the legal process. Based in Salem, Litowich Law provides reliable representation to prospective adoptive parents throughout Oregon for adoption matters, walking with them every step of the way. We welcome you to contact us for a consultation.
Categories: Adoption