2022 Edition

Adoption Services (CA-AS) 6: Home Study Practice

Home study preparers use a standardized home study process to collect and analyze information and determine the eligibility, capabilities, and suitability of prospective adoptive parents. 

Interpretation

The term home study includes both the process of assessing the prospective adoptive parents and to the written report. The process is ongoing; home studies may need to be updated periodically or when there are significant changes.

NA The organization provides post-placement and/or post-adoption services only.

NA The organization provides child-focused recruitment only. 

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VIEW THE STANDARDS

Purpose

Adoption programs establish permanent family relationships for children in need of permanency, and increase the well-being, functioning, and stability of children, birth parents, adoptive families, and adopted individuals.

Note: Foster Care to Adoption programs will implement CA-FKC 19 and CA-AS 6.

1
All elements or requirements outlined in the standard are evident in practice, as indicated by full implementation of the practices outlined in the Practice Standards.
2
Practices are basically sound but there is room for improvement, as noted in the ratings for the Practice Standards; e.g.,
  • Minor inconsistencies and not yet fully developed practices are noted; however, these do not significantly impact service quality; or
  • Procedures need strengthening; or
  • With few exceptions, procedures are understood by staff and are being used; or
  • For the most part, established timeframes are met; or
  • Proper documentation is the norm and any issues with individual staff members are being addressed through performance evaluations and training; or
  • Active client participation occurs to a considerable extent.
3
Practice requires significant improvement, as noted in the ratings for the Practice Standards. Service quality or program functioning may be compromised; e.g.,
  • Procedures and/or case record documentation need significant strengthening; or
  • Procedures are not well-understood or used appropriately; or
  • Timeframes are often missed; or
  • Several client records are missing important information; or
  • Client participation is inconsistent. 
4
Implementation of the standard is minimal or there is no evidence of implementation at all, as noted in the ratings for the Practice Standards; e.g.,
  • No written procedures, or procedures are clearly inadequate or not being used; or 
  • Documentation is routinely incomplete and/or missing.      
Self-Study EvidenceOn-Site EvidenceOn-Site Activities
  • Table of contents of training curricula
  • Home study procedures
  • Copy of home study tool(s)
  • Procedures for background checks
  • Training curricula
  • Interviews may include:
    1. Program director
    2. Relevant personnel
  • Review case records
 

CA-AS 6.01

The program provides initial and periodic training and ongoing supervision to home study preparers on the use of a defined method and tools for home studies to reinforce the consistent application of process.

Interpretation

While practice should be consistent with the program model, tools, and standards, decisions about how the home study is conducted in each case (including who must be interviewed, how each interview is conducted, the content of interviews, and visits to the home) are clinical decisions that should take into account the unique needs and circumstances of the prospective adoptive parent(s) and the child if the child is already identified or living in the home. The program should have a system or approach that recognizes that there can be subjective aspects to assessment and decision making and appropriate mechanisms are in place to ensure that its determinations are well justified.
 
Fundamental Practice

CA-AS 6.02

The home study process includes:

  1. the receipt of self-reported information and documents from the prospective adoptive parents;
  2. at least one individual in-person interview with each prospective adoptive parent and one joint interview;
  3. age-and developmentally-appropriate interviews with each child and adult living or frequently in the home;
  4. age-and developmentally-appropriate interviews with each child or adult child of the prospective adoptive parents living outside the home;
  5. at least two visits to the prospective adoptive family’s home and during one or more of those visits a safety assessment of the home and an observation of family members interacting together;
  6. criminal background and child abuse and neglect registry checks in accordance with applicable law and regulation;  
  7. a review of information and documents relating to any previous unfavorable home studies, denied adoption petitions, disruptions, dissolutions, or placement of other children out of the home;
  8. written references and interviews with individuals providing references; and
  9. periodic updates and updates when there are significant changes in circumstance to ensure relevant information and documents are current.

Interpretation

Individuals living in the home share common areas, sleep in the home, and have lived there for more than two weeks. Individuals frequently in the home should include any child care providers.  

In-person interviews provide the best opportunity for engagement of the person interviewed and provide additional information through observations and interactions during the interview and are preferred, but have only been specifically required for the prospective adoptive parents. It can sometimes be appropriate to interview other individuals through a videoconference or over the phone. When the agency is unable to complete an interview, it should make a clinical determination if the interview is necessary given the circumstances, other steps that can be taken to obtain relevant information, and document that decision and its efforts in the case record.

People who provide references should be interviewed to validate the reference and can provide additional information or verification of other information collected through the home study process.   

While best practice generally requires at least two visits to the home to effectively engage the family in the home study process, make the necessary observations, and effectively collect all the required and necessary information, the agency should conduct additional visits when it deems necessary.  

Interpretation

 Home studies including background checks should be updated periodically so that they remain valid in accordance with applicable requirements. Significant changes in circumstances include a change in: residence, employment or financial resources, additional children or adults residing in the home, criminal history, abuse history, medical status, etc. Updates for a significant change in circumstance are best completed as soon as possible, but may be postponed in certain circumstances, for example, if an additional change is expected or the prospective adoptive parents expect a significant amount of time to pass before their home study will be used.

 

CA-AS 6.03

The home study includes a psychosocial assessment of each prospective adoptive parent’s:
  1. motivation and expectations relating to adoption;
  2. personal characteristics such as adaptability, coping skills, communication, and problem solving;
  3. caregiving abilities and experiences especially for children or adults with significant or complex needs, including knowledge and skills relating to discipline techniques;
  4. willingness and ability to support a child's continued connection to his or her birth parents, siblings, and relatives and racial, ethnic and cultural heritage; and
  5. previous experiences with foster care or adoption.

 

Interpretation

 The assessment of knowledge and skills relating to discipline techniques should include an assessment of the risk of prospective adoptive parents’ use of interventions that can be harmful to children, especially children with a history of trauma. Some examples of interventions which can be harmful include but are not limited to:

  1. corporal punishment;
  2. interventions that involve withholding nutrition or hydration or that inflict physical or psychological pain;
  3. the use of demeaning, shaming, or degrading language or activities; and
  4. forced physical exercise as punishment or in excess.
 

CA-AS 6.04

The home study includes a psychosocial assessment of each prospective adoptive parent’s:
  1. previous history of and services related to infertility, miscarriage or death of a child;
  2. personal history of trauma, abuse or neglect, alcohol or drug use;
  3. current status and history of physical and mental health;
  4. significant family history, status of marital and family relationships, and family lifestyle;
  5. education;
  6. literacy and language skills;
  7. employment history and financial status; and
  8. the community and social environment.
 

CA-AS 6.05

The home study process is in an open, engaging, and transparent self-assessment:
  1. of the prospective adoptive parents' strengths and capabilities to provide lifelong care and support to children who have experienced trauma and loss; and
  2. to help prospective adoptive parents confirm for themselves if adoption continues to be an appropriate goal through the provision of education, support, and continued assessment during the home study and preparation process.
 

CA-AS 6.06

The information gathered during the home study process is carefully considered, in a timely manner, to determine if:
  1. if any further assessment is needed;
  2. what additional counselling, training, or preparation is needed;
  3. the family’s ability and readiness to successfully complete an adoption;
  4. the family’s eligibility and suitability for adoption; and
  5. the specific characteristics and special needs of children the family would be suitable to care and provide for.

Interpretation

The rationale for these determinations and the persons involved in making the determinations should be clearly documented in the record. 

 

CA-AS 6.07

When the program has reason to believe that the prospective adoptive parents may not meet the required eligibility criteria or certain factors might not be adequately mitigated to demonstrate suitability:
  1. the program communicates the specific concerns to the prospective adoptive parents as early as possible and attempts to resolve them; and
  2. the home study report is completed and prospective adoptive parents receive a written explanation of the reasons for the decision and the procedures for appeal if approval cannot be given and the application has not been withdrawn. 

Interpretation

 Eligibility criteria of provinces may differ and the program must evaluate all applicable criteria. The program should ensure required eligibility factors are clearly and accurately addressed in the home study.  While some jurisdictions are willing to waive eligibility criteria in unique circumstances, it is best to receive those waivers in advance and in writing.   

Examples: Factors that may need to be mitigated and could delay the completion of the home study process include, for example: healthcare and housing needs especially in kinship or relative adoptions.
 

CA-AS 6.08

A written home study report is completed in a timely manner and contains complete, accurate, and current information addressing applicable eligibility criteria, suitability, and all other required information.