Home Study

We understand that a home study can be intimidating to prospective adoptive parents; however, we want to make it a positive experience that prepares prospective parents to bring an adopted child into their homes and lives, as well as assists Indiana courts, USCIS, and foreign governments determine that prospective parents are qualified to adopt a child. Your home study consists of documentation and information regarding prospective adoptive parents, personal references, an inspection of your home, interviews with all household members, and interviews with prospective adoptive parents. A copy of the written Adoption Preparation Assessment will be provided to prospective parents. Home studies can be completed throughout the state of Indiana by MLJ Home Study Coordinators; travel fees may apply if more than a thirty minute drive from our office.

Home studies completed for our clients by other agencies, including all those who reside outside of Indiana, will be reviewed by our Director of Adoption Preparation to ensure that they meet all state, program, and USCIS requirements. This is to protect your adoption and to increase the speed of your process by preventing any need for additional paperwork, documentation, or wait times.

If you are an Indiana resident with questions about the home stdy process or how to get started, contact Lauren Hacker with your home address. It may be possible for MLJ Adoptions, Inc. to serve as the home study provider for American citizens living abroad who wish to adopt a child. Travel fees will be included in such cases. 

Home Study Step by Step

  1. Receive and pay invoice.
  2. Instructions and documents will be made available to you at care.mljadoptions.com.
  3. Turn in a one inch 3-ring binder with all documents in plastic page protectors or folders, except for background checks that are sent directly to MLJ.
  4. Once your file has been reviewed, the assigned Home Study Coordinator will contact you to schedule a home visit.
  5. Following all interviews, the Home Study Coordinator will write a draft of your Adoption Preparation Assessment.
  6. Prospective Adoptive Parents are responsible to read this draft carefully, ensuring that they understand all it contains and that it accurately depicts the infomration that was provided.
  7. At times, additional documentation or background checks may be requested, and the Adoption Preparation Assessment cannot be finalized until this has been received.
  8. Once the draft is complete and has been approved by all necessary persons, the Adoption Preparation Assessment must be formatted, printed, signed, and notarized.