Question about sharing homestudy with another agency

lafayettegirl

We have our homestudy through the agency we've been working with for quite a while. Now we would like to supplement their work with a consulting agency. In your experience, does a new agency want a copy of your homestudy from the one who conducted it? If so, how did you go about getting a copy over to them? Our agency said they won't release a copy of our homestudy to us.

 

Dr.Loretta

They might. You'll have to ask. Alternatively, they may want to conduct a new one based on their "rules".

I find it odd that your agency won't release a copy of YOUR homestudy. We got a copy to proof before our SW finalized it, and a final copy once it was done. What is their rationale?

silliestbunny

In CA, there are laws about releases criminal records, fingerprints, etc.

We became very frustrated trying to navigate this area w/our homestudy agency and a law office out of state with whom we matched.  There was grey area in understanding the law... it drove me crazy!

My point- it's possibly that your agency won't release parts of your homestudy based in the legality of it.  But I've heard of an agency that doesn't provide clients with written portion of the homestudy.

If it gets confusing basedo on laws, call other agencies in your state to see how they handle it.

lafayettegirl

We saw a copy beforehand, but once it was submitted, they told us we could not have a copy because it contained personal and legal information about us. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

I'll doublecheck the laws in VA, but if we have to pay for another complete homestudy, I'm going to be pretty angry.

KdgTeacher

I was given a password protected copy to review and then MH and I got 3 printed copies to keep.

Nineoceans

I don't know your states rules but in my state they can't release the home study to you directly but they have to release it to any agency or attorney you wish to share it with, with a signed release of information. It's a document technically you own but it describes your suitability to adopt so assessors are supposed to feel free to write whatever they want about your eligibility to parent- that's why it's not supposed to be re-released to the client.

silliestbunny

lafayettegirl:

We saw a copy beforehand, but once it was submitted, they told us we could not have a copy because it contained personal and legal information about us. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

I'll doublecheck the laws in VA, but if we have to pay for another complete homestudy, I'm going to be pretty angry.

It took a lot of dancing around but we didn't need to have another homestudy.  That was my fear as well.  Agency to agency should be able to talk and provide a letter w/your clearnaces.  (It is the clearances that are the legal part).    

The only other thing I would check is to make sure that there is not an exclusivity clause in your contract.

lafayettegirl

Thanks everyone! I feel much better!

No exclusivity clause. In fact, our SW told us we would have more luck working on our own than with them because we want to adopt a healthy caucasian baby. Should have been an indicator on our part that we should try elsewhere, but we knew people who had been successful with the agency previously.

I just don't want to be out a gazillion dollars before we ever get matched.

MayDayGirl

Our agency won't give us a copy either, but they will send it yl another agency for us

mommytoconnor

I don't understand why your agency won't release your homestudy.  If you paid them any type of fee then it it yours and they have no legal right to withhold it from you. I would definately check into this. It is yours to do with what you want.

summergirl79

We got a copy of our home study (conducted in VA also) to use with our national agency- but similar to silliest could not get copies of child abuse clearances that agency conducted due to state laws. They wrote a letter saying it was conducted and we also requested copies ourselves so we would have them.