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Domestic Home Study Only Services
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Adoption-Link provides domestic home study and provides post-placement / post-adoption services for Illinois residents in the greater Chicago area who planning to adopt a child.
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To apply for an domestic home study, please fill out the following application and then sign, date, and mail to Adoption-Link with a non-refundable check for $150.
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Download an Adoption-Link Application
Review the Client Grievance/Complaint Policy and Procedure
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What is a home study?
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A home study is very much what its name implies. The home study is an assessment of a prospective adoptive
family's home environment and is conducted by a licensed adoption professional. This professional will review
autobiographical and health statements, documentation of income, child abuse and criminal clearances, personal
references, etc. Your Adoption-Link social worker will conduct a series of interviews including, but not
limited to, individual interviews with each member of the household, joint interviews with spouses, and a
home site inspection. Although this may feel a bit invasive, the purpose of the home study investigation is to
insure that the adopted child will join a safe, secure and loving family. Overall the home study will take
anywhere from 2-6 months to prepare. A family can help the process along by being flexible, available and
promptly returning paperwork.
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Adoption Education
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6 hours (with at least 4 hours in person) of adoption education are required by Adoption Link and the Illinois
Department of Children and Family Services to complete the home study
process. Adoption-Link offers families a one day-long workshop Preparing for Adoption (6 hours) in Oak Park, registration
information provided by your social worker. An additional 4 hours of training is required in order to adopt a child with special needs of any kind.
These hours can either be in person or online. There are various course options
available through Adoption Learning Partners. These options should be discussed with your worker and based on
your specific adoption plans.
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Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) licensing
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All Illinois families who are adopting domestically must be licensed as adopt only DCFS foster family homes. Adoption-Link will help
you complete the licensing process as part of the home study process.
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Home Study Amendment or Update
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After a home study has been finalized and released, any significant changes in the prospective adoptive family’s situation or
in the recommendation for the type of child to be adopted will require a home study amendment,
which involves at least one visit from your social worker. If your home study is over a year old and a child
has not yet been placed with you, DCFS requires you to complete a home study update, which also
involves a current visit by your social worker.
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Post Placement/Post Adoption Services
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Post-Placement / Post-Adoption consists of photos and letters provided by the adoptive family as well as home visits
and interviews conducted by the agency. The post placement/post adoption requirements will be determined by your placing agency and/or specific
state requirements.
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Adoption Finalization in the State of Illinois
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For all families whose adoptions will be finalized in the State of Illinois, Adoption-Link can offer information on highly qualified
adoption attorneys and will complete the Report of Investigation to submit to the court.
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What are the costs?
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Adoption-Link Fee Schedule
Application - $150
Domestic Home Study - $2,100
6 hour Preparing to Adopt Training session - $130/per couple
4 hours of online training through Adoption Learning Partners (if necessary) - $50/per couple
Home Study Amendment - $250
Home Study Update - $250
Home Study Update (extensive >3 yrs) - $900-$1,500
Home Study Update (if original home study completed by another agency) - $2,100
Post Placement/Post Adoption Visits/Reports - $250/each
Report of Investigation - $250
Travel Reimbursement - $0.585/mile
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