International Adoption Services
Home Study
The adoption home study is a biographical history of the adoptive family. The Department of Human Services, State of Minnesota has specific requirements to be implemented by the adoption agency.
Home Study Steps
- In-home visit by the IAS social worker
- Home study topics discussed with the family
- Documents required from the family
- Background searches for all states of residence since persons in the home reached the age of 18
- Training required – online through 3rd party entities
The entire process takes 4 – 8 weeks to complete, depending on your availability, time needed for background searches, and timeliness in submitting your documents to the agency.
Documents Required for a Home Study
- Birth Certificate for each adopting parent
- Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
- Divorce decree(s) (if applicable)
- U.S. passport for at least one spouse if you were not born in the U.S. and a green card for a second spouse if not a U.S. Citizen
- Financial Statement
- Most current 1040 – Pages 1 & 2
- Employment Verification – each adoptive parent
- Physician’s Reports – all persons residing in the home
- Reference Letters – minimum of 3
- IAS Post Placement Agreement
- Proof of Adopting Training
- MN DHS Individual Fact Sheet – for each adopting parent
- Background Search Reports
Copies scanned to PDF of these documents can be sent to IAS by email attachment.