Passing Adoption Background Checks [Get Home Study-Approved]

Adoption background checks protect the welfare and best interests of your future child.

If you want to adopt, you will need to ensure a safe, stable environment for the child and comply with legal requirements. A licensed adoption agency can help you through every step of this process.

For over 30 years, our agency has connected families all over the U.S. We’re fully licensed in Colorado and offer all the services you need to grow your family successfully. For more information, call 1-800-ADOPTION or fill out our online form.

What Checks Are Done for Adoption in Colorado?

To adopt a child in Colorado, your adoption agency will need to assess various aspects of your life. This includes your:

• Criminal history (if applicable)

• Physical health

• Mental health

• Social history and background

• Relationship with your spouse

• Relationship with your extended family

• And home environment

These comprehensive adoption background checks happen during a process known as a home study. If your home study is approved, then your adoption agency can begin showing your adoptive family profile to expecting parents.

What Is a Home Study?

A home study is a thorough assessment conducted by a licensed social worker that evaluates your readiness to adopt. Home studies are required in all 50 states to protect the best interests of adopted children. At the end of the home study, the social worker will compile a report to send to your adoption agency and the state of Colorado.

What to Expect During the Home Study

The home study process is comprised of four distinct steps:

Step 1: Documentation

In addition to the adoption background check, you must provide identification and documentation for your social worker to review. The goal of this step is to verify who you are and make sure you are capable of caring for an adopted child.

Here is a short list of what you’ll need to collect for your Colorado home study:

• Driver’s license

• Birth certificate

• Social Security card

• Most recent tax return

• Updated health information

• And more

You may not have all of these documents on hand, so you’ll want to start preparing for this step as soon as possible. Being proactive can minimize or eliminate delays in the home study process.

Step 2: Home Inspection

Once all of the paperwork is in order, your social worker will schedule one or more home visits. The home inspection part of the process ensures you can provide a safe, stable environment to an adopted child.

Here are some things a social worker will be looking for during the home inspection:

• Working smoke detectors

• Fire extinguisher

• Covered electrical outlets

• Designated bedroom

• Indoor and outdoor play areas

It’s normal to feel nervous about this evaluation. Some hopeful parents worry that everything needs to be spotless — not even a load of laundry in the washer. But remember that the social worker just wants to understand what your community is like and whether there’s a safe space for a child.

Step 3: Interview

The social worker managing your home study will need to interview everyone who lives in your household. There are some things they can’t learn through adoption background checks alone.

During this phase of the home study, you will need to answer questions like:

• What is your relationship with your spouse like?

• Why do you want to adopt?

• Which parenting style do you want to practice?

• How was your childhood?

• What are your education plans for the child?

There are no “right” or “wrong” answers to these interview questions. Just be genuine and share your life story. This will give the social worker a clear image of what your family is like.

Completing Your Home Study and Adoption Background Check

You will need to undergo a background check for adoption. It is required by Colorado’s government to ensure the safety of adopted children. Additionally, birth mothers want to know they can trust the families they choose to place their child with.

In Colorado, people convicted of felonies that involve child abuse or neglect, violence or sexual crimes are ineligible to adopt. Drug- and alcohol-related offenses are evaluated on a case-by-case basis if they happened at least five years before the individual applied to adopt.

Generally, misdemeanors like traffic violations don’t pose an issue as long as you’re honest with your social worker. If you have any concerns, you can contact one of our experienced adoption specialists.

Creating Your Adoptive Family Profile

Your adoptive family profile is a vital part of the adoption process, showcasing who you are and why you want to adopt. Your adoption agency will present this profile to expectant parents searching for the right family for their baby.

At American Adoptions of Colorado, we help our hopeful adoptive families create video profiles in addition to digital ones with photos and essays. These video profiles offer expecting parents an intimate glimpse into your daily life, helping them envision their baby as part of your family.

You can start creating your video and digital profiles while completing your home study. However, you will not be considered an "active" family until your home study is approved. Throughout this process, your social worker will keep you updated on the progress of your adoption journey.

Begin Your Adoption Home Study

Working with a home study provider licensed in Colorado can set you up for success during the adoption background check. Every state has its own home study requirements, so you’ll want to work with a provider that is familiar with Colorado’s specific regulations.

Our agency is fully licensed in Colorado, so we can handle your home study and adoption background check. We facilitate hundreds of adoptions every year, so we know what you need at every stage of the process.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward growing your family through adoption, contact us today online or at 1-800-ADOPTION. Our experienced staff members can answer your questions and start the home study process as soon as you’re ready.

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