California Adoption Home Study Services

Eligibility Requirements for Home Study Services

state of california highlighted on a map

Nightlight® Christian Adoptions is licensed by the California Department of Social Services to select suitable families for children needing adoption. The selection of adoptive parents is based on their eligibility to meet state and agency requirements, foreign country requirements (if applicable), their capacity for adoptive parenthood, and the availability of children whose needs they can meet.

RESIDENCE

You must live in a state where Nightlight is licensed to obtain a domestic or international home study. We can complete Snowflakes Family Evaluations in any state.

RELIGION

Applicants must be committed to providing their child with a constructive, wholesome and spiritual home environment.

HEALTH

Adoptive applicants must give evidence of good health, both physical and mental, which will be verified during the application process by medical examinations and, if recommended, psychological evaluations.

AGE

Varies depending upon the adoptive couple’s state of residence; however, typically, applicants must be at least 25 years old.

MARRIAGE

Home study applicants are encouraged to have been married long enough to provide the couple sufficient time to establish a home, financial security, and to adjust to the marriage. Married applicants must have a satisfying and secure marriage and be married a minimum of 2 years.

EDUCATION

Education requirements vary depending upon the adoptive couple’s state of residence and, in some cases, the country from which they are adopting. Our goal is to prepare you to be the best parents possible for your child. Therefore, we require classes and reading on parenting skills and adoption issues.

FINANCES

Adoptive applicants must be able to provide a financially stable home, demonstrated by a solid credit history and ability to live within their means.

PREGNANCY

Before you begin the adoption process, you need to complete any infertility treatments so you can truly be ready to be the best parent for your adopted child. If you become pregnant while in the adoption process, notify our office immediately. We will then place your file on hold. When you are ready to consider adoption again, generally no sooner than when your child is nearing their first birthday, call us to discuss reactivating your file.

Nightlight is committed to providing you with excellent educational programs and guidance to prepare you to be knowledgeable and loving parents. Our intent is to give you the tools to parent an adopted child who may have unique and special needs. The home study will be tailored for the type of adoption you are entering: embryo, infant or older child domestic, foster-to-adopt, and international. The adoption home study will take about 2-3 months to complete and will consist of education, interviews, a tour of your home, and paperwork.

How do we get started?

Read the International Home Study information packet OR the Domestic Home Study information packet.
Contact Alice Llanos for a link to the online application and pay our application fee of $600. This application fee is only paid once, whether you are adopting internationally, domestically, with Snowflakes, or are just doing a home study. If you are in one of Nightlight’s programs, you do not need to fill out a separate application for the home study.
Pay the home study fee:
- International home study fee: $2,500 ($2,700 if you are using a different placing agency)
- Domestic home study fee: $2,500 ($2,700 if you are using a different placing agency)
Once we receive the payment, we will walk you through the process of completing your home study. We will be there to support you through the paperwork, education, and social work visits.

If you have questions or concerns after reading through the information packet, please call our California office at (714) 693-5437 or email our home study coordinator at Alice@nightlight.org.