OPTIONS 4 ADOPTION, INC.

WELCOME AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR

GEORGIA DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL HOME STUDY REPORTS

Welcome!

We are honored that you have chosen Options 4 Adoption to complete your domestic or international home study report. Options 4 Adoption is committed to providing you and your family with understanding and support, and we wish you much success throughout your home study and adoption process. As adoptive parents ourselves, we fully understand the importance of having a knowledgeable home study agency who will guide you as a partner, support you, and complete your home study report in a timely and efficient manner.

If you have not done so already, please go to download the Home Study Application by clicking on “FORMS” and scrolling down to “Georgia”. Please type in theapplication in Microsoft Word on a PC (not Mac) and scan the application to or fax it to (770) 200-3748. Once your application is received, we will contact you immediately to begin the home study process. When completing your home study forms, remember to always use your CURRENT FULL LEGAL NAME – no nicknames! Keep a copy of your application for your records and mail the original application, along with the $100 NON-REFUNDABLE application fee, to our mailingaddress at Options 4 Adoption, Inc., 1014 Park Manor Terrace NW, Marietta, Georgia 30064. Your home study packet does not need to be complete in order to begin the home study process.

PLEASE NOTE: It is very important that you retain a COMPLETE copy of your ENTIRE home study documentation packet. Please make your photocopies prior to meetingwith your case worker.

For domestic adoptions, your home study report is valid for twelve months from the date it is issued. Your home study documents are valid for twelve months from the date on the document. If you are not placed with a child within that timeframe, a home study update will be required for you to continue to pursue an adoption. Please contact us at least eight weeks before your home study report expires to discuss the home study update process.

For international adoptions, your home study report must be updated before your USCIS approval expires at 15 months or else you will have to pay the I-600A/I-800A form fee again.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tonya Boggs directly at (770) 928-1871 or Kelly Barth directly at (770) 514-7324.

We look forward to working with you on this exciting journey!

Kelly L. Barth and Tonya Boggs

Co-Executive Directors

HOME STUDY FORMS CHECKLIST

1.Home Study Application

2.Policies and Procedures Document

3.Home Study Agreement, Fee Schedule, and Refund Policy

4.Child Abuse and Neglect Consent and Results (for all household members: Domestic age 16+, International age 18+)

5.HIPPA Form & Criminal Check Acknowledgement

6.Self Studies (one for each adoptive parent)

7.Employment Verifications - (one for each prospective parent, if applicable)

8.Financial Form & Mortgage verification/mortgage payment stub or lease agreement

9.Most Recent Federal Tax Return summary pages only (Form 1040 pages 1 & 2 only, no attachments)

10.Medical Reports TB (for all) HIV (domestic) Urine Drug Screen (domestic)(testing, as

applicable, is required or each household member age 16+)

11.Pediatrician Report(s) AND Immunization records of children already in the home age 0 to 18 (if applicable)

12.Health Insurance Card (copy the front and back of your insurance cards)

13.Child Safety Agreement (signed by all household members age 18 and older)

14.Criminal Background Checks (for all adult household members):

a. Local Criminal Record Check

b. 911 Screens(domestic only – for all residences in the last five years)

c. GBI Fingerprint Check thru COGENT

d. FBI Fingerprint Checkthru Fieldprint

e. Georgia Parolee Check (domestic only)

f.Georgia Department of Corrections Check (domestic only)

g. National Sexual Offender Registry

h. Georgia Sexual Offender Registry(for each household member age 18+)

15.Certified Arrest Disposition(s) and Letter of Explanation (if applicable)

16.Five Reference Letters –domestic only, one must be from a family member ______(F)

Three Reference Letters –international only, one must be from a family member ______(F)

An additional reference letter is needed if you have worked, or volunteered, with children during the past 5 years

17.Address Form – Domesticten-year address history; International address history back to age 18; for all adult household members

18.Fed Ex Account Number: ______

19.Adoption Training Certificate –domestic only(provided by your case worker)

10 Hours of Hague Treatytraining –international only (obtained by 3rd party resource)

20.Birth Certificates for all family members in the home / Marriage Certificate / Divorce Decree / Death Certificate / Adoption Decree for all adopted children in the household (photocopies only)

Clear color photocopy of passportsfor each prospective adoptive parent -international only

Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card, U.S. or foreign passport for each parent – international only

21.Pet Vaccinations (rabies required for all indoor pets)

22.Pictures – front of home, child’s bedroom, adoptive parent(s), children in the household – domestic only

23.Photocopy of Driver’s Licenses and proof of car insurance for all drivers in the household- domestic only

24.Septic Tank Letter & Well Water Test (if applicable)

25. Weapon & Pool Safety Statements

26. Copy of all prior home study reports with agency license attached

HS #1: ______

HS #2: ______

HS #3: ______

COMPLETING YOUR HOME STUDY DOCUMENTS

DOMESTIC - Keeptwo papercopies of ALL of the following documents IN ORDER for ICPC as well as one full set saved to a USB drive. Youroriginal documents must be maintained in our file.

INTERNATIONAL – Keep one full set of copies (electronic or paper) for your file. Your original documents must be maintained in our file. For USCIS (Immigration), your home study documents must be dated within six months of when you begin your home study report.

  1. Application: Please type the entire Home Study Application in Microsoft Word on a PC (not Mac), scan it to and mail the original,along with the $100 NON REFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE,to: Options 4 Adoption, Inc., 1014 Park Manor Terrace NW, Marietta, Georgia 30064.
  1. Policies and Procedures, and Home Study Agreement/Fee Schedule/Refund Policy: Read this contract regarding our services thoroughly and sign prior to your first home study meeting.
  1. Child Abuse and Neglect Request Form: Each household member age 16 and over must be accounted for on the Child Abuse and Neglect Request Form. We will run this check for you. Please advise your case worker if you have resided outside of the State of Georgia during the past five years.
  1. Georgia Sexual Offender Registry Consent: Fill out the appropriate sections of the Sexual Offender Registry check form for all household members age 18 and over. We will run this check for you.
  1. HIPPA Form and Criminal Check Acknowledgement: The HIPPA form gives us permission to share information with persons who are responsible for your adoption, and the Criminal Check Acknowledgement is an acknowledgment that background checks will be conducted for all members in the household age 18 and overAll members of the home age 16 and over must fill out these forms due to the child abuse check being required for those 16 and older.
  1. Self-Studies: Complete one for each adoptive parent. Please answer all questions and then sign. The questions on the last two pages about adopting a child of a different race or culture MUST be completed by one only adoptive parent if you are open to adopting a child outside of your own race.
  1. Employment Verification(s): Please have your employer type a letter verifying your employment. It must be on company letterhead with an original signature and include your job title, date of hire, and income (base, bonus, commission, etc.). If you are self-employed, your CPA must complete a verification letter on their letterhead by indicating the name of your company, income for the previous 2-3 years (if available), and a statement that the current year’s income should be the same or better. If you are paid hourly, your employer must indicate how many hours per week you are scheduled to work so we can calculate your annualized income.
  1. Financial Form and Mortgage/Lease Verification: Thoroughly complete Finance Form, sign, and date. Please note that we need both gross and net monthly income numbers defined as: GROSS income is thetotal amount paid to you by your employer; NET income is your gross income minus deductions meaning what you actually take home. Include a copy of your mortgage payment stub showing property address, loan balance and monthly payment, or a copy of your lease agreement. The lease agreement must show the monthly rent and when the lease expires.
  1. Most Recent Federal Tax Return: Copy of the summarypages(page 1 and 2 only) of the most current years’Federal Income Tax Return (Form 1040). We do not need copies of your schedules or attachments. If you filed an extension, we will need proof of the extension and a copy of the prior years’ federal income tax summary pages. We do not need copies of your Georgia taxes.
  1. Medical Reports and Labs: One form per family member age16and over. This form must be completed and signed by a medical doctor, not a nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. The doctor must also print their name, sign, and date the form. A TB test is required for all household members age 16 and older. A standard 6-10 panel urine drug screen and an HIV test must be performed on all household members age 16+ for domestic adoptions only. Lab results should be submitted along with the medical report. Please schedule these appointments as quickly as possible as completion of the Medical Report and Labs frequently delay the completion of the home study. Any costs associated with obtaining the required medical reports and labs are the responsibility of the adoptive applicants. NOTE: If you are taking medication, or seeing a counselor for a mental health concern, additional information may be required. If you are being treated for a serious health concern, additional information may be required. Please discuss with your case worker if applicable.
  1. Pediatrician Report and Immunization Record: One per family member under the age of 16. This form must be completed and signed by a medical doctor, not a nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. The doctor must also print their name, sign, and date the form. Also obtain a recent copy of the child’s immunization record for all children age 0 to 18 in the home. If the child is not up-to-date with the required vaccines, the doctor must explain why.

12.Health Insurance Card: Photocopy the front and back of your health insurance card(s).

  1. Child Safety Agreement: Please read thoroughly. All adult household members must sign and date this form. Your case worker will sign as well.
  1. Criminal Background Checks: Follow the instructions provided to obtain the criminal clearances required for your home study for all adult household members. Any costs associated with obtaining the required criminal clearances are the responsibility of the adoptive applicants. Note the background checks needed as per a domestic vs. an international home study report.
  1. Arrest Disposition and Letter of Explanation (if applicable): If any adult household member has ever been arrested for any reason, no matter how long ago it may have been, Georgia requires that you obtain an original, completecertified arrest disposition on official letterhead.“Complete” meaning it shows the entire case from arrest through completion of the case. “Certified” means that the letter will be notarized. Contact the County Court in the county where the arrest occurred and requestthe disposition. If no record exists, request an original notarized letter from the court stating no record was found. You must also write a letter explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest and the steps you have taken to ensure that you would never be arrested for similar reasons again. International adoptions require the letter of explanation to be a notarized original. If possible, please obtain TWO certified arrest dispositions and TWO notarized letters of explanation, one for this agency, a second for finalization/immigration.
  1. Reference Letters: For domestic adoptions, five references must be obtained (1 from a family member / 4 from non-family members). For international adoptions, three references must be obtained (1 from a family member / 2 from non-family members). NOTE: If you have worked, or volunteered, with children in any capacity during the past five years, an additional referenceletter must be obtained from that particular employer/organization. All reference letters must be dated, have an original signature, and include the writer’s name, address and phone number. The originals must be given to Options 4 Adoption and you must maintain a copy of each.
  1. Address Form: For domestic adoptions, list all complete addresses during the past ten years. For international adoptions, list all complete addresses back to age 18.
  1. Fed Ex Account Number: Go to and create a Federal Express Account which we will use to deliver your completed home study directly to you.
  1. Adoption Training Certificate: For domestic adoptions only, your case worker will provide this to you along with your completed home study. International adoptions will require ten hours of adoption training provided by your Hague accredited primary provider. Please provide your case worker with all certificates of completion.
  1. Birth and Marriage Certificates / Divorce Decree / Death Certificate/Adoption Decrees: Provide photocopies of birth certificates for each family member residing in your home. If a marriage ended due to the death of a spouse, or a child has passed away, a copy of the death certificate must be included. For past divorces, please photocopy the first and last page of the decree only. Adoption decrees must also be included if applicable. If you immigrated to the United States, we also need a copy of your Certificate of Naturalization, U.S. Passport, or Permanent Resident Card. Non-U.S. citizens must provide a copy of their valid foreign passport.
  1. Pet Vaccinations: Obtain copies from your veterinarian showing all animals in the home are up-to-date on rabies and required vaccinations.
  1. Pictures: For domestic adoptions only, please provide one picture each of the adoptive mother and father, front of your home, bedroom where your adopted child will reside, and (if applicable) a photo of children already residing in the home.
  1. Driver’s Licenses and Car Insurance: For domestic adoptions only, please provide a color copy of driver’s licenses and car insurance policies (insurance card is acceptable) for all drivers in the home.
  1. Septic Tank Inspection (if applicable):Obtain a letter from your county health department, or a septic tank inspection company, stating that the septic tank is found to be in good working order and can accommodate an additional person(s) in the home. This can take some time to schedule. Your county health department will be much less expensive (approximately $100).

Well Water Test (if applicable): If your home is served by well water, please provide the results of a well water test from the Department of Natural Resources showing the water to be free of contaminants.

  1. Weapon & Pool Safety Statement: Please read and sign these forms. Indicate safety measures in place if you have either. Pools must have locked gates to prevent access by children, or pool/house alarm, and dead bolts on all exterior rear doors. Your case worker must see any firearms in the home and where they are stored. All firearms must have trigger locks installed. The ammunition must be stored in a separate locked location.

ICPC CHECKLIST WHEN YOU TRAVEL

DOMESTIC ADOPTIONS ONLY

You MUST bring TWO COMPLETE ICPC PACKETS with you when you travel which includes the documents below. ONE set goes to the agency/attorney filing your ICPC packet and ONE set will remain with you at all times. It is also recommended that you scan a full set of documents onto a USB drive. If you do not provide copies of all documents listed below to GA ICPC, you WILL BE delayed in returning home to Georgia with your child. Use this checklist to organize each packet by placing it on the top and checking off each item that is included in the packet.

Home Study Report, Post Placement Letter, and Receipt provided to you by Options 4 Adoption

Home Study Application

Policies and Procedures Document and Home Study Agreement/Fee Schedule/Refund Policy