With work, home, recreation, spiritual and other daily obligations, you may feel there are too few hours in the day. You are not alone, of course, as many Americans report feeling busier than ever. Still, you are probably certain you have enough time to adopt a child.
Whether you want to adopt a family member or someone else, you probably have to go through a home study. During this study, a social worker comes to your home to determine if it is a good fit for the adoption. Fortunately, your home does not have to be perfect.
Health and safety
The social worker’s primary concern during any home study is whether the family provides a healthy and safe environment for the child. Consequently, you should be certain there are no immediate safety hazards in your home. When surveying your residence, you should check for the following:
- Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Functioning locks on doors and windows
- Covers on electrical outlets and light switches
- GFCI-protected electrical outlets in bathrooms and kitchens
- Accessible fire escapes
- Strong banisters and stair railings
The social worker may also ask you to explain your emergency plans. If extreme weather or another emergency requires evacuation of your home, you should have a formal plan for ensuring everyone in your home can reach a safe place quickly.
Cleanliness
If you do not have time to vacuum and dust every day, you should not panic. After all, social workers do not bring white gloves to verify the cleanliness of your home. Nevertheless, you should make sure your house is clean enough not to endanger the well-being of the children who live there.
To boost your chances of passing a home study prior to your adoption, you should perform a few walkthroughs of your house. Ultimately, anything you do to improve the safety of your residence is likely to benefit you during your home study.