Idaho Administrative Code
Title IDAPA 16 - Health and Welfare, Department of
Rule 16.06.01 - CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
BECOMING AN ADOPTIVE PARENT
Section 16.06.01.762 - COMPLETING THE ADOPTION HOME STUDY

a. Names, including maiden or other names used by the applicant(s);

b. Legal verification that the person(s) adopting is at least fifteen (15) years older than the child, or twenty-five (25) years of age or older, except in cases where the adopting person is a spouse of the child's parent, must be accomplished by:

c. Verification that the family has resided and maintained a dwelling within the State of Idaho for at least six (6) consecutive months prior to the filing of the petition;

d. Adequacy of the family's house, property, and neighborhood for the purpose of providing adoptive care as determined by on-site observations;

e. Educational background of the applicant(s);

f. A statement of employment, family income, and financial resources, including access to health and life insurance and the family's management of these resources;

g. Current and historical mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse, and medical conditions and how they may impact the adoptive parent(s) ability to care for an adopted child;

h. Previous criminal convictions and history of child abuse and neglect;

i. Family history, including childhood experience and the applicant(s) parents' methods of discipline and problem-solving;

j. Verification of marriages and divorces;

k. Decision-making, communication, and roles within the marital relationship, if applicable;

l. The names, ages, and addresses of all biological and adopted children currently residing inside or outside the home. Information regarding the current adjustment and special needs of the applicant(s) children;

m. The religious and cultural practices of the family, including their ability to nurture and validate a child's particular cultural, racial, religious, and ethnic background;

n. For an Indian child, the study will also determine the prevailing social and cultural standards of the Indian community in which the parent(s) or extended family resides or maintains social and cultural ties.

o. Individual and family functioning including inter-relationships with each member of the household and the family's ability to help a child integrate into the family;

p. Activities, interests, and hobbies;

q. Child care and parenting skills, including historical and current methods of discipline used in the home;

r. Reasons for applying for adoption;

s. The family's prior and current experiences with adoption, understanding of adoption, and ability to form relationships and bond with a specific child or general description of children;

t. The attitudes toward adoption by immediate and extended members of the family and other persons who reside in the home;

u. Specifications of the child preferred by the family that include the number of children, age, gender, race, ethnic background, social, emotional, and educational characteristics. The family's ability to accept the behavior and personality of a specific child (if known) or general description of children and their ability to meet the child's particular educational, developmental, and psychological needs;

v. Emotional stability and maturity in dealing with the needs, challenges, and related issues associated with the placement of a child into the applicant(s) home;

w. The family's attitude about an adopted child's birth family including:

x. Training needs of the applicant(s); and

y. A recommendation regarding the family's ability to provide adoptive care to a specific child (if known) or general description of children.