Haven Adoptions, Inc. FAQ

1. Tell us a little about the founding and development of your organization?
   Haven Adoptions, Inc was founded to create a new standard in the field of adoption. As a fully licensed Pennsylvania agency, Haven Adoptions works with biological parent(s) looking to place their child(ren) for adoption and adoptive parent(s) hoping to adopt. Haven’s founders bring an extensive background in adoption with over 10 years of experience working together in the field. Our mission is to create an adoption agency that truly revolves around the needs of both biological and adoptive parent(s). Adoption is about hope. Hope for a fresh start. Hope for a new direction in life. A new beginning. A new future.
2. How are your adoption home study and your organization unique?
   Our home study process is designed to provide adoptive families with the utmost support, education, and personal attention. A caseworker is assigned to a family as soon as they begin the home study process and is available to the family by phone and email throughout the entire home study process. Our caseworkers have master’s degrees in the field of counseling and bring their knowledge and experience to help assist families. We can complete home studies quickly and efficiently, and we are highly accessible to our adoptive families. Our agency maintains a high level of integrity and transparency, and we pride ourselves on open and honest communication with our families.
3. Why are you passionate about adoption and the home study process?
   Haven’s founders created Haven after many years of experience in all aspects of the field of adoption. The founders saw a need for some changes in the industry, and they created an agency based on providing support, honesty, advocacy and options to both adoptive families and to biological parents. Haven believes strongly that adoption is a brave and admirable choice, and that adoptive families and biological parents should be treated with the utmost respect throughout the adoption process and beyond. The home study is the first step in the adoption process, and it is a time in which adoptive families can really explore their thoughts and expectations about adoption. At Haven, we want the adoption process to be positive, thoughtful, and conscientious, and this begins with the home study and a supportive and caring caseworker.
4. How long is an adoption home study valid?
   A home study is valid for three years, with an update yearly. After three years, a new home study is required.
5. Approximately how much time is necessary to complete an adoption home study by your organization?
   Generally, your home study will be completed in two to three months from starting the process, about a month after all documentation being received (i.e., completed background clearances, medical reports, reference letters).
6. Can adoptive parents use a home study completed by your organization to adopt a child born in another state?
   Yes! Our home study will approve a family to adopt a child from any state.
7. If you complete my home study, do you also have to complete my post-placement visits?
   Generally, your home study agency would also be the agency to complete your post placements. Our hope is that you have established a strong connection with your caseworker throughout the home study process, so that the post placement visits are a continued extension of that connection. We would always consider circumstances in which another agency would be a better fit for the family to complete the post placement visits.
8. How many post-placement visits does your organization require?
   Per the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, Haven requires three post-placement visits.
9. What is some advice you can give to potential adoptive families about the home study process? What should they be prepared for?
   Our best advice to any potential adoptive family is not to stress about the home study process! It can seem overwhelming, and we suggest taking it one step at a time. Your caseworker will take you through every step of the way! We provide families with everything they need to complete the home study application, an easy-to-follow checklist, and individualized caseworker support from the moment they begin working with Haven. A potential adoptive family should be prepared to complete an application and to gather necessary support documents, and to have a caseworker come to their home for a visit.
10. What do your home study social workers look for in a home and a family when they visit potential adoptive families' homes?
    We are looking to ensure that the home is a safe environment for a child, and that the adoptive family is emotionally, physically, and financially ready for adoption. In the physical home inspection, we are looking for working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, a fire extinguisher, secure storage of any weapons, and adequate space for a child to grow and develop. With a potential adoptive family, we are looking to see if the family has a full understanding of the adoption process and has given proper thought and consideration to the decision to adopt. We are looking for families who are ready and able to provide a loving home to a child.
11. Are you Hague accredited, and if not, does your international home study comply with Hague International Standards?
    We are not Hague accredited and at this time do not complete international home studies.
12. Do you have experience in completing the home study and working with international placement companies?
    As of the current time, Haven has not worked with international placement companies.
13. Are there other services and benefits you would like to share about your company?
    As a fully licensed agency in Pennsylvania, we can provide many services to both adoptive parents and biological parents. Please feel free to reach out for more information.