Home studies expire after one year so annually we complete an update with families. Please note that many of these documents are required by the state of Minnesota to be completed annually for all foster/adoptive applicants. Releases of information expire after one year and must be renewed annually, as well.
Your home study update will not be signed or considered complete until all required paperwork has been received, an update meeting and annual home safety walk-through has taken place, and you have paid the applicable home study update fee.
Please note that similarly to your initial home study assessment, your worker may take up to 30 days to write the home study update document. Please plan ahead to accommodate this timeframe, taking into account the time it will take to complete and update the documents.
If the current home study expires prior to the completion of the home study update, families in the profile book will have their profiles flagged and may not be considered for hospital call situations or other fast-moving matches, as the home study must be current at the time of placement.
Annually, we ask all licensed child foster care providers to review the Foster Care Adoption Case Service Plan and the Foster Parent and Agency Agreement. These are forms you signed during your initial licensure process. Please review and contact your worker if you have any questions regarding the content of these two documents.
Please download the below forms to complete your Annual Home Study Update and return to your Adoption Worker:
- Ensure that your worker can check “YES” to all boxes when they plan to complete the Home Safety walk-through.
2. Driver’s License and Insurance Verification
- In addition to this form, please also send along copies of each applicant’s Driver’s License & a copy of their current auto insurance card.
3. Training Log
- Each license holder must have 12 hours per year of foster care related training. One hour of mental health training is required and one hour of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder training is required (which can count towards one of the twelve hours of annual training). Required trainings need to be approved by the Commissioner and on the DHS list of approved trainings.
4. Pet Vaccination Verification
- Each license holder must complete, regardless if they currently have pets in the home.
5. Well Test (if applicable)
Forms for Annual Home Study Update:
6. DHS Adoption and Foster Care Application
- One per family
- To assist in completing this application, please use the MN DHS Dual List Application Update Example.
- One per household member age 18+
8. Medical Form
- One per household member 18+; can be filled out based on the most recent doctor visit if it occurred within the last year otherwise a new appointment will be required
- Sign top portion and send to professional to complete. Advise them to return to our agency.
9. Medical Form—Child (if applicable)
- Only required for applicants with children under the age of 18 currently in the home; one per child required
- Sign top portion and send to professional to complete. Advise them to return to our agency.
10. Counseling Form (if applicable)
- Only required for applicants who have seen a counselor within the last year; one per applicant when applicable)
- Sign top portion and send to professional to complete. Advise them to return to our agency.
11. Financial Form
- In addition to this form, please also send the following items to verify your income:
- Most recent 1040 tax form
- Copies of most recent pay stubs (one per applicant)
Releases to Update Annually:
12. Consent for Release of Information
13. Profile & Social Media Release Form
