SWAN homestudy

From start to finish... training, clearances, home study, etc for us was from June 2008 to October 2008. We first read our son's profile in Nov 2008, met him in Feb '09, had weekends through June '09 when he was placed with us, and adoption in December '09.Since we were looking only for teenagers, SWAN paid for our home study with no problem. We didn't put any money out at all for it, because we were very secure in only going for teens. How likely they are to pay depends on the demographic (age, needs, gender, siblings, race) of the children you are considering.Good luck! It's been a hard haul sometimes, but worth it. We're in the process of getting the paperwork in to start looking for a second.

Thanks for the response! In my letter requesting the homestudy, the CW had me write that I am looking for special needs, sibling groups and/or kids over age 10. She said those factors will help me get SWAN to pay for the homestudy. I am just wondering now if that is the best way to go. I would love to have the homestudy done quickly and also be able to use it in other states, but I am not sure a SWAN one can be used in other states or will be quick.

Yes, home studies can cross state lines, go to different agencies, etc, but if you adopt across state lines, you may need to reimburse SWAN for the home study fee ($1500, I think).

We have a SWAN homestudy. We first contacted agency in March 09 It was June before they got the approval from SWAN to do our study. Our homestudy was complete in Oct. We have contacted both our agency and SWAN about going out of state for a placement. Maybe it depends on the agency that did the homestudy, we will owe Swan 2500 if we do an interstate placement. But that is only do if a placement occurs. And sometimes, the sending state will pay SWAN for it.

I thought I would update my experience so far with the SWAN homestudy. As of today, my worker sent us an email saying that we would have to pay for our study first before it would be sent across state lines. Her reasoning was some people did not reimburse the state after their match was made, so it ruined it for the rest of us. This is the complete opposite of what the SWAN helpline told us one month ago. They said it would be no problem. It is possible that this is something my agency has come up with. They have also told us that we MUST be certified FOSTER parents to accept a preadoptive placement, although we are an approved adoptive home(that even confused SWAN!). SO again tomorrow, we will call SWAN to see what we can straighten out!

With our agency, we are certified for everything from the start, that way, should our goals change it's just a matter of moving paperwork from one department to another instead of having to be re-certified. Also, for adoption, when the child is first placed with you, they are considered your foster child until adoption is finalized. You get paid as a foster parent, go to the permanency hearings as a foster parent, etc.