In Part 1 of this two-part webinar series, originally recorded on April 5, 2022, experienced social workers, Ann Cleary LCSW, Carolyn Cain MSW, and Gary Sampson LICSW, of Holt International, outlined the most critical parts of a comprehensive home study assessment and provided their expertise on best practices.

After attending this live webinar, professionals will be able to:

1. Describe best practices for the stages of a home study process, including documentation gathering, in-person interviews, home inspection, and making a professional assessment and recommendation.
2. Demonstrate best practices for social workers’ engagement with pre-adoptive families, including building rapport and assessing motivation to adopt and expectations for their child/family.
3. Give examples of how the home study process can be tailored to the type of adoption prospective parent(s) is pursing: private domestic, foster care, or intercountry adoption.
4. Give guidance on collaborating with other providers during the assessment, such as agency staff, medical providers, employers, mental health providers, etc.
5. Consider the importance of appropriately educating prospective adoptive parents during the home study process.
6. Identify critical steps in preparing prospective adoptive families for post adoption during the home study assessment.

Course level: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced

In Part 2 of this series, originally recorded on April 12, 2022, an experienced panel addressed best practices for responding to complex situations that arise during the home study assessment. Experts in the field discussed how to best assess dynamics within the prospective adoptive family, and provide the education and training needed to adequately parent in unique situations.

After attending this webinar, professionals will be able to:

1. Describe best practices for engaging families at the beginning of the home study process and assessing motivation for adoption.
2. Demonstrate best practices for social workers’ assessing historical factors that families may enter the process with; such ass criminal history, substance abuse history, chronic mental health issues and/or recent grief and loss. 
3. Give examples of how the home study assessment and required education can be tailored to prospective parent(s) hoping to adopt multiple children, children with medical needs, older children and/or relatives. 
4. Give guidance on appropriate use of supervision in complex cases, as well as how to guard against worker bias and employ cultural humility.
5. Identify characteristics and self-care practices that foster resilience in home study social workers, when working with families and children.

Course level: Beginning, Intermediate

Training Agenda:
120 minutes-  Home Study Best Practices Part 1:
-Intake and Engagement
-Managing Written Documentation
-Home Visits & In-Person Interviews
-Professional Recommendation/Approval

90 minutes- Home Study Best Practices Part 2:
-Engaging Families
-Historical Family Factors
-Required Preparation for Special Cases
-Cultural Humility
Post Test
Evaluation

National Council For Adoption is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0681.  Social workers completing this course receive 3.5 contact hours.

If you are a social worker who is NOT licensed in New York, do not complete this course for continuing education credit, instead visit this course: https://adoption.mclms.net/en/package/9274/course/18127/view.

In order to receive their continuing education credit, attendees must participate in the entirety of the recorded webinar training, have their attendance verified and complete a course evaluation and post-test. Upon completing these items, attendees will receive their contact hours certificate of credit to the email address provided at registration.

Other Questions? For questions, concerns or to request special accommodations, please contact us at ncfa@adoptioncouncil.org or 703-299-6633.

Cost to register: $30 

If you are a NCFA member, look for your discount code in the membership portal.

Click here to register.  Once registered, you'll be redirected back to this page and you will click on "Part 1" below to get started.