Although it may seem somewhat uncomfortable, an adoption home study is designed to help prospective adoptive parents explore all issues related to adoption.
Adoption is a legal procedure that creates a parent-child relationship where none existed before.
A court needs to know that adoptive parents understand and can meet the needs of children. The adoption home study provides much of the information needed by the court. Adoption home studies are required in both international and United States adoptions. Adoptive parents need to know as much as possible about children's health history, and the health and social history of birth parents and their extended families. It may help in understanding children's personality traits and mannerisms.