Domestic Home Study Only Services
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.
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 $250.
Download an Adoption-Link Application

Review the Client Grievance/Complaint Policy and Procedure

Download an Domestic Home Study Application
What is a home study?
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.
Adoption Education
16 hours (with at least 6 hours in person) of adoption education are required by Adoption Link, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Hague Convention to complete the home study process. Adoption-Link requires families to complete a one day-long workshop Preparing for Adoption (6 hours) in Oak Park, registration information provided by your social worker. In person infant and child CPR certification is also required. Your social worker can provide you with a list of course options. They are typically between 2-3 hours. The final course requirement is a 2 hour online course entitled "The Journey of Attachment" (details provided by social worker). The remaining 5-6 hours, if not completed in person, must be completed 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. If you are adopting transracially then there is required tranracial adoption training.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) licensing
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.
Home Study Update
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 update, 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.
Post Placement/Post Adoption Services
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.
Adoption Finalization in the State of Illinois
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.
What are the costs?
Adoption-Link Fee Schedule

Application - $250

Domestic Home Study - $2,200

6 hour Preparing to Adopt Training session - $140/per couple

2-3 hours of Infant and Child CPR certification - $25-50/per couple

2 hour Journey of Attachment course online - $25/per couple

5-6 hours of additional online training (transracial required if adopting transracially) - $25-50/per couple

Home Study Amendment - $250

Home Study Update with minimal to no changes for the current adoption process- $250

Home Study for subsequent adoptions within past three years - $1900

Home Study Update (if original home study completed by another agency) - $2,200

Post Placement/Post Adoption Visits/Reports - $250/each

Report of Investigation - $250

The Executive Director will provide customized fees for specific service needs not defined above.



Adoption Resources    Adoption Bookstore   Join Mailing List

Adoption-Link is a not for profit licensed child welfare agency #287866

1113 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 524-1433