Who Reads The Homestudy?
The homestudy is a personal document. It is generally read by the out of state agency or attorney (in birth mother’s state), the interstate compact office and the court at finalization. Birthparents are informed that a family has an approved homestudy and they are informed about what checks the family must pass (e.g. child abuse and neglect registry; criminal records check etc.). Most birthparents do not ask to read the homestudy. If Birthparents would like to read the homestudy, the adoptive family is asked if they would like to sign a release of information giving permission to share this. The family may agree to share this or not, just as the birthmother can decide whether or not to sign a release with regard to her medical records. At times an adoptive family is comfortable sharing the homestudy but not all the information (e.g. income or other financial matters).
