Where Can I Find a List of Requirements for Adoption and Home Study?

check out this web-site
http://www.adoptionservices.org/adoption/adoption_requirements.htm

Different homestudy agencies can have slightly different requirements and do things a little differently. Also requirements vary state to state, so your homestudy agency will be meeting whatever the requirements are in your state. Additionally, if you are adopting internationally, the foreign government will have requirements for what they want included in your homestudy, so your homestudy agency would work with your adoption agency in that case to make sure those requirements are met. As people are saying though, pretty standard requirements are smoke detectors, police background checks, a bio, home tour and home interviews.

I wish I could give you a more solid answer, but when we went through our adoption process, our agency provided us with a “checklist” or guideline. If you are using a specific agency, perhaps they can provide one to you. The other place that you might want to try is your Department of Youth website: http://www.dys.ohio.gov/dysweb/default.aspx

They may have some additional info for you.

With over 20 years in adoption work, and having approved over 400 families to adopt, I can tell you what we looked for. Many of these requirements are set in stone in our state, as they are with every state. And then the agency approving you will also have their own requirements — some may have “Christian only” or “No smoking” reqirments, for example. But the basic requirements are as follows:

Job and job history – stable employment history
Salary – decent stable salary reflected on your tax returns, pay stubs and employment letters
Taxes – good history of completing verifiable tax returns
Marriages – usually look at number (less than three is preferable!) and length of current marriage (usually 3+ years)
Divorces – will need copies of the decrees, and names of exes, as well as explanation of reason for divorce
Children – children will be interviewed, even if live with you part time or if they are grown
References – must have personal and professional (therapist, rabbi, teacher) references who have known you both for 5+ years ideally
Medical – letters from doc stating no communicable or catastrophic ilnesses/diseases, and state that you are mentally/emotionally and physically stable
Mental – stability
Abuse history – from childhood on up, history and how you have resolved or coped with it
Arrests – if you have one, why and when, with details, and resolution, verified by criminal and child abuse background checks in all states where you have lived
Income – must be sufficient to more than just pay all bills and expenses, and not be in debt or bankruptcy
Pets – must be child friendly and up on all vaccinations and healthy
Home – must have a “home” — not just a house — can be an apartment or house, but needs to be organized, warm and child friendly and safe
Cars – do not have to be new, but need to be safe and dependable with approved car seats
Friends/neighbors – appropriate, not partiers and moochers
Family – need to be enthusiastic about the adoption for the sake of the child!
Counseling – history of marriage counseling and resolution, as well as mental health counseling and therapist’s names and reports
Alcohol and drugs – no drug use and alcohol in strict moderation, and if have history of addictions, must have proof of resolution
Lifestyle – generally fit and appropriate for children, such as not a “clubber” or partier, no risky habits
Hobbies – what you do with your spare time
Religion/Spirituality – do not have to attend church unless the specific agency reqires it, and some birthmothers want only a certian religion or practice or the absence of it
Motivation to adopt – why and history of desire to adopt
History with children – caring for nieces/nephews or friend’s children, or volunteer work documnted
Childhood – everything from your birth on up, such as family activites, discipline, parental roles, discipline, etc.
Family of origin – how close are you now and how often do you stay in contact, etc.
Marriage – stability and strengths and weaknesses, duration, usually at least 3 years
Sex life – normal, agreeable to both (indication of stability)
Exes – why ex relationships ended
Attitudes toward birthparents – caring, open, appreciative or want nothing to do with her (indication of attitude towards child as well)
Attitudes towards people of different socio-economic status – general attitudes reflect how you may see child, or birth parents
Attitudes about continuing contact with birthmother – open, semi open or closed — most agencies will not work with families who want a closed adoption as this is not in the best interest of the child
Expectations of child – are the expectations realistic or not, such as must be bright and look like us (argh)
Health Insurance – must have adequate medical insurance for the child, as well as for selves

ETC.!! Good luck to you!!