Home Study Checklist | Ohio - Struggle Shuttle

This article will include, in detail, the home study checklist Ohio requires. Some items on this list may vary between adoption agencies and will be noted as such. This list may also serve as roughly accurate guide as to what to expect nationally when it comes to an adoption home study checklist.

The adoption home study checklist Ohio is comprised of:

#1 Get finger printed for a background check.

#2 Have your home inspected by the fire department.

This includes:

Drawing a floor plan/map of each level of your home including: names for each room, where safety features such as the fire extinguisher/sprinklers are located, as well as an outlined escape plan from each room of the home.
Writing and displaying a list of emergency numbers (i.e. fire department, 911, police station, etc…) where a child would easily be able to access them.
Having a written and displayed calendar/schedule for monthly fire drills for household members.
Buying and displaying/mounting a Carbon Monoxide detector and fire extinguisher.

#3 Provide utility bills for the past 3 months.

#4 Provide pay stubs for the past two months.

#5 Provide last year’s tax return.

#6 Have primary doctor complete a heath status and adoption recommendation form for each prospective adoptive parent.

#7 Have 2-4 non family members complete recommendation letters.

This is simply a letter to the agency/state/county that provides reasons why you would be good parents to an adopted child.

#8 Read any literature/books provided by the agency and complete any worksheets/questionnaires also provided. (This varies by agency)

#9 Create an adoption profile book about your current family and the life you can offer a child.

My article, How to Make an Adoption Profile Book, will provide you with step-by-step instructions for making your adoption profile book.

#10 Fill out a Child Characteristic Checklist provided by the agency. This form includes:

Gender/sex
Age of child
Number of children/siblings
Race/ethnicity/language
Placement history
Birth History
A series of medical/mental conditions
Education
Temperament/personality
Behavior
Substance abuse
Sexual behavior
Criminal history
Family history

You will complete this form by checking either ‘will consider’ or ‘will not consider’ for each item listed.

#11 Take classes currently mandated by the state of Ohio:

Inter-racial adoption awareness
Infant CPR and safety
Infant/child care (i.e. baby care basics)

**Some hospitals do combination classes for baby care basics and infant CPR. Check with your local hospitals to see what they offer if your agency has not already provided you with the information. (If you are around the Cincinnati area, University Hospital provides the combo class.)

#12 Have a safety inspection done.

This will be completed by your social worker likely during your second home study meeting. This will include checking things, such as but not limited to:

a working Carbon Monoxide detector
Fire extinguisher displayed
Working fire alarms
Medication is locked up
Cleaning supplies are out of a child’s reach
There is a bedroom intended for child (**does not have to be set up yet)

#13 Provide a copy of any pet licenses and updated shot/vet records.

#14 Provide proof of Ohio residency for the past 5 years.

#15 Complete a total of 3 home studies.

For more detail about what to expect during each home study meeting, please refer to my article: An Adoption Story | The Process

The stress of the adoption process does not start or stop at the home study process. However, if you are stressed about the home study process, please read: Adoption Home Study Tips | The ‘Dos and Don’ts’. Hopefully it will help to ease your mind about your adoption home studies.

Also, at this stage of your adoption process, you may also be financially concerned with the increasing costs of adoption. Learn more about Gift of Adoption Ohio and apply for an adoption grant through provided links in my article: Gift of Adoption | Adoption Grants | Donations.

I hope that this article and adoption home study checklist Ohio provided you with the insight into the adoption process you were looking for! Please let me know what you think in the comments!

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