Home Study & Dossier

Your Home Study

A necessary component of your China adoption is the home study process. For families new to the process, the home study can bring anxiety. Don’t let it. The home study simply allows Sunny Ridge to make a well-informed decision about your readiness and ability to adopt a child into your family and home. We don’t expect to find “perfect parents” during this process, but rather, parents who are committed to love and raise an adopted child in a healthy and safe environment.

The home study process also includes training in adoption and parenting issues, particularly as they pertain to adopting a child from another culture. It is very important that families provide truthful and accurate information during this process. The end result of this process is a written document completed by Sunny Ridge, giving a summary of your family life. This completed document serves as our authorized approval for you to adopt.

The home study process must be completed by a state-licensed agency before a child can be placed with your family. Every home study has a written portion that includes your basic information, references, medical reports, financial statements, child abuse and criminal clearances, and other written materials. It also includes a series of visits with our social work staff to discuss a variety of issues from your background, your motivations to adopt, and your understanding of adoption and parenting.

Dossier and Paperwork
It’s been said that the road to adoption is paved in paperwork.

Anyone new to the China adoption process might easily be intimidated by the number of forms, papers, seals, copies, and notarizations required. But don’t let the paperwork get in the way of reaching your goal and dream of parenting.

Much of your paperwork preparation is connected with your dossier. A dossier is a collection of authenticated legal documents you gather for the China Center of for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA). These documents are used to process the adoption of your child in China. The dossier serves as your application to CCCWA to adopt a child from the People’s Republic of China.

Sunny Ridge is available to assist every step of the way. Our social workers and administrative team offers individualized help with your dossier preparation so you can successfully prepare the paperwork needed.