Georgia Home Studies (Adoption/Foster Care/Kinship/Parent/Relative)
Types of Home Studies
Georgia conducts the following types of home studies:
- Relative Care
- Foster Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Parent Care
- Adoption
- Other
Court jurisdiction case by case basis
Georgia designates staff in each county/region to conduct home studies and/or process interstate placements:
Georgia considers a home study as current/valid for:
- Public: 1 year
- Private: 1 year
Private Contract Services - Home Study
As the Sending State, Georgia will pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:
As the Receiving State, Georgia will permit a Sending state to pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:
As the Receiving State, Georgia will accept/update a home study that was not originally conducted by the receiving state or a private contractor acting on behalf of the Receiving State:
Adoptive Home Study
Home study for adoption conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):
Prospective adoptive parents permitted to pay for a pre-adoptive home study:
- Private Adoptions: Yes
- Independent Adoptions: Yes
DCPS contracts for Purchase of Services with private agencies in other states:
Foster Care Home Study
Home study for foster care conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):
Parent Home Study
If child has been removed from the parent, Georgia requires a home study evaluation before reunification:
Non-Custodial Parents: Placements with non-custodial parents are not covered under the ICPC if:
-
A court does not have evidence before it that such parent is unfit
-
Does not seek such evidence
-
Does not retain jurisdiction over the child after the court transfers the child
Proof of Paternity is required:
- Yes: If the non-custodial parent is a father and both parents agree that he is the father and/or he has established relationship with the child, placement may occur.
Relative/Kinship Home Study
Home study for relatives conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):
Define Relative:
Relatives must be licensed:
Proof of Paternity is required:
- Yes : If the non-custodial parent is a father and both parents agree that he is the father and/or he has established relationship with the child, placement may occur.
Georgia considers the following types and degrees of relation as relative placements. Individuals related in the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 4th degree (You may need to refer to your state's consanguinity chart or state statute to determine relations or relative status.):
- 1st Degree (mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter)
- 2nd Degree (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin)
Regulation 7 Priority Placement
Georgia performs priority placements:
A court ordered Priority 7 conducted if the child is in a DCF shelter or foster home for substantial period of time.
Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Public
Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of educational training):
Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):
Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Private
Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):
Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):
Georgia determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:
- Date stamped in the mailroom
Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study
|
Regular Mail |
Express Mail |
Overnight Mail |
Electronic Mail |
| Send request for a home study to Receiving State |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Send request for a home study to Receiving State |
|
|
|
y |
| Send home study report to Sending State |
y |
y |
y |
|
Criminal Record Checks
Georgia requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:
- Foster Care
- Relative Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Adoption
- Parent
Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)
Georgia requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR))
|
Federal |
State |
Local |
ANR |
NR |
| Foster Care |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Relative |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Relative Foster Care |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Foster-Adopt |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Adoption |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Parent |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
Wait Time for Criminal Records Results
Wait time for fingerprint results are:
Live Scan or other technology
- State: 4-7 days
- Local/County: 4-7 days
Manually - Fingerprint Card
- State: Not Offered
- Local/County: Not Offered
