The Pre-Adoption Home Study
The Kansas Adoption and Relinquishment Act (KARA) § 59-2132(a) provides: "Except as provided in subsection (h), in independent and agency adoptions, the court shall require the petitioner to obtain an assessment of the advisability of the adoption by a court-approved: (1) (A) Licensed social worker, licensed specialist social worker, licensed specialist clinical social worker, licensed masters social worker, licensed baccalaureate social worker or licensed associate social worker licensed by the behavioral sciences regulatory board; (B) licensed clinical marriage and family therapist; (C) licensed marriage and family therapist; (D) licensed clinical professional counselor (E) licensed professional counselor; (F) licensed psychologist; (G) licensed masters level psychologist; (H) licensed clinical psychotherapist; or (I) a licensed child-placing agency."
The KARA also requires that certain information be contained within the assessment, as defined in § 59-2136(e); "in making the assessment, the person authorized pursuant to this section or Kansas department for children and families is authorized to observe the child in the petitioner's home, verify financial information of the petitioner, shall clear the name of the petitioner with the child abuse and neglect registry through the Kansas department for children and families and, when appropriate, with a similar registry in another state or nation, shall determine whether the petitioner has been convicted of a felony for any act described in articles 34, 35 or 36 of chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, prior to their repeal, or articles 54, 55 or 56 of chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, or K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 21-6104, 21-6325, 21-6326 or 21-6418 through 21-6422, and amendments thereto, or, within the last five years, been convicted of a felony violation of K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-36a01 through 21-36a17, prior to their transfer, or article 57 of chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, or any felony violation of any provision of the uniform controlled substances act prior to July 1, 2009, and, when appropriate, any similar conviction in another jurisdiction, and to contact the agency or individuals consenting to the adoption and confirm and, if necessary, clarify any genetic and medical history filed with the petition. This information shall be made a part of the report to the court. The report to the court by any person authorized pursuant to this section to perform this assessment shall include the results of the investigation of the petitioner, the petitioner's home, and the ability of the petitioner to care for the child."
The home study must be filed with the court before the finalization hearing, along with any other clarifying documentation, post-placement reports, or other information requested by the court.
Suppose you live outside of Kansas but are adopting a Kansas child. In that case, the KARA still requires a home study to be completed in your home state by a person authorized to make such an assessment in your home state.
Below is a list of Kansas Home study requirements:
Homes studies for adoption must be completed within a year of submitting a referral to the court. It is no longer valid if the home study is more than a year old. An updated study will be required.
Name of Agency or Social Worker who completed the study. Include the name of the agency/professional completing the home study, address, phone, email, and date the home study was completed.
Name, address, and telephone number of the adoptive parents.
Dates and types of contacts
Motivation and understanding of adoption
Child desired
Openness of adoption
Personality and physical description of both adoptive parents, including social security numbers, if available.
Social History of the adoptive father, including extended family
Social History of the adoptive mother, including extended family
Marital History and status
Marriage and Family lifestyles (How marriage verified)
Children in the home (include descriptions, school history & perception of adoption - any special needs member)
Child Care arrangements
Parenting experiences and discipline
Physical description of home and community
Religious values
Employment history (verified and so noted)
Finances and Monthly expenses (May attach a budget completed by adoptive parents)
Health reports within the last year (verified and so noted)
three references (Names of references and comment paragraph) 2 should be nonrelatives
K.B.I. checks (These are valid for one year of the verification date. Copies attached are not required as long as they are referenced in the study
Child Abuse Checks (Same as above, . . . See K.B.I.)
NCIC Fingerprint checks in compliance with the Adam Walsh Safety & Security Act. (F.B.I.)
Sex Offender Registry check
Summary and Child-Specific Recommendations
Signature of preparer and date of completion
Copy of the Social Worker's license attached to the home study
NOTE: If a private practice social worker completes the adoption home study, the KS ICPC requires they be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and verification be attached.
You can call, text, or email me anytime -call or text: 785-217-4603, email: lisa@theadoptiongroup.com, or Facebook message: https://www.facebook.com/theadoptionlawgroup/. The office phone is answered 24 hours a day, every single day. I make every effort to respond to emails and text messages within a few minutes of receipt.
POSITIVE ADOPTION LANGUAGE DISCLAIMER: These blog posts are written using language people use when searching for help with their adoption plans. Unfortunately, while many of us understand what positive adoption language means, most expectant moms that come to me at first do not. Like it or not, the search term, "how do I give up my baby for adoption," is the most common. If I do not include those words in the blog posts and instead write "how do I create an adoption plan for my baby," my website will not show up in most expectant moms' search results in Google.
