“Our caseworker made us feel so comfortable that it felt like having a friend over. Of course, we did the requisite white-glove cleaning, but it’s really not about that. The social worker is looking for a happy, safe home for the child, not perfection.” –Joanne Roden; Mays Landing, New Jersey
“We read through all the information provided by our agency, and researched the home study process. We also spoke with families who had gone through it. To our relief, the viist was informal and laid back (at least it seemed that way). Be honest, and be yourself–that’s all the social worker expects.” –James and Tracy Dodd; New York
“Our experience was great. The biggest surprise was that our social worker (whom we had previously thought of as a home inspector we needed to impress) gave us fantastic parenting advice and pointed us toward great resources. I know that’s her job, but I was pleasantly surprised!” –Jamie Morningstar; Orem, Utah
“Be prepared to talk bout every detail of your lives.” –Anne Valentine; Indiana
“Our agency gave us a list of questions to be prepared to answer, and we talked through all of them. Our work situations, our plans for child care, our ideas about discipline, our hopes and dreams for our children. Sure, it’s fun to talk about how to set up the nursery, but the home study’s purpose is to make you think about being the best parent you can be.” –Alison Stein; Elk Grove, California
“The home visit was casual, a pleasant conversation with someone who was supportive and caring. We were expecting an interrogation. My advice would be to expect the visit to go well!” –an AF reader
