Adoption Interview Questions – 108 Questions to Prepare You for Adoption

After deciding to adopt, your next step will be to pick an agency. There are many options, but your location, as well as the location you are hoping to adopt from, will likely help you narrow this choice down. However, regardless of the agency you are working with, one of the biggest steps in the process will be your home study, which includes your adoption interview. Thinking about your adoption interview may leave you feeling nervous or overwhelmed, but the better you prepare, the more you will be able to look at answering the adoption interview questions as an exciting step on your new journey to expand your family!

Typical Questions You Might Be Asked In an Adoption Interview

As you are preparing yourself for the questions your adoption interviewer might ask, remember that their job is simply to make sure your home will be the best place for the child you are hoping to adopt. Be sure to answer as honestly and thoroughly as possible, and remember that there is not a list of right and wrong answers! Do your best to let your personality come through as you paint a picture of your life and home.

Background

What was your childhood home like?
What about your childhood home would you like to recreate in your own home?
What about your childhood home do you hope not to repeat?
What was your relationship like with your parents?
What is your relationship like with your parents?
What was your relationship like with your siblings?
What is your relationship like with your siblings?
What was your life like as an adolescent?
Describe your schooling and educational experiences.

Marriage

What is your marital status?
How long have you been together?
How long have you been married?
What are some strengths in your marriage?
What are some weaknesses in your marriage
How do you handle conflict?
How do you invest in your relationship?
What do you appreciate most about your spouse?
How do you divide up the housework and other tasks?

Other Children/Parenting Style

Do you currently have children? Adopted or biological?
Describe your individual children’s relationships with each parent.
Describe your children’s relationships with each other.
How does each child feel about the adoption?
How do/would you discipline your children?
How do/would you teach your children?
Where do/would your children go to school?
How do you feel about education?
What values do you hope to instill in your children?
What are some boundaries you do/would set for your children?

Health

Would you consider yourself to be in good health? Why or why not?
What do you do to take care of your body?
What type of foods do you eat?
When was the last time you saw a doctor? What for?
When was the last time you went to the dentist? How often do you go?
In what ways do you need to improve your physical health?
Are there any illnesses (physical or mental) that run in your family?
How do you take care of your mental health?
Do you smoke? If so, how often? Where?
Do you drink? If so, how often? Where?
Have you ever done drugs? If so, when was the last time?

Community and Lifestyle

Describe a typical week in your household.
How often do you see extended family?
Is your extended family supportive of your adoption?
Aside from family, who would you consider to be your support group?
Who has been the most supportive in the adoption process so far?
Who has been the least supportive in the adoption process so far?
Do you consider yourself religious? How does that influence your life?
Are you a part of any organizations or clubs?
What are your individual hobbies?
What are your family hobbies?
What goals do you have for your family?

Finances and Work

Where do you work?
How many hours do you work on an average week? What hours?
Have you ever experienced financial hardship as a child?
Have you experienced financial hardship as an adult? If so, when and what was the cause? How did you overcome that hardship?
Do you have a budget? Do you use/follow your budget?
How do you prepare financially for the future?
What are your financial goals?
What are your financial priorities?

Home Environment

Who all lives in the home?
Who visits the home on a regular basis?
How often do you invite friends or family to your home?
What makes your home a safe place?
Are there pets in the home?
Does anyone smoke in the home?
Do you own or rent your home?
What is one improvement you would like to make to your home?
How long have you lived in your home?
Describe your neighborhood.
Do you feel safe living there?

Adoption – motivation, preferences, preparedness

Why do you want to adopt?
Have you ever adopted or started the adoption process in the past?
If so, describe that experience.
Are you open to adopting a child with physical or other disabilities?
How do you feel about open vs closed adoption?
How do you feel about transracial adoption?
Are you financially prepared to adopt?
Do you believe you are physically fit to bring another child into your home?
Do you believe you are mentally fit to bring another child into your home?
Do you believe you are emotionally fit to bring another child into your home?
What about adopting makes you most excited?
What about adopting makes you most afraid?
What other emotions have you experienced through the adoption process?
Is there anything else you would like to share?

Typical Questions To Ask In an Adoption Interview

In an adoption interview, you will likely have an opportunity to ask questions as well. It is wise to spend some time in advance thinking of questions that you have. Keeping a running list of adoption interview questions in your phone or on a piece of paper is a great idea, as you will likely think of new questions at different times. Don’t be afraid to ask what is on your mind, and if you forget something or think of something later, be sure to contact your agency to get your questions answered. After all, adoption is a beautiful decision, but also a big decision that you should enter into as informed as possible.

Do you offer both open and closed adoptions?
For what age range of children do you complete adoptions?
Do you have interpreters on staff for non-English speaking birth mothers?
What does the adoption process timeline look like?
What are the requirements for birth mothers?
How do you screen adoptive children for health issues?
If adopting a newborn, are we able to be at the hospital when the baby is born? Will we meet the birth mother before the birth?
How are birth mothers matched with adoptive families?
What is the likelihood that the adoption will successfully go through after we are matched?
Do you offer any counseling or mediation services for the birth mother and/or adoptive family after the adoption takes place?
Are there any additional financial responsibilities we might incur through the adoption process?
Are there any resources you would recommend to help us better prepare for the adoption?

Questions To Ask Other Adoptive Parents

Talking to other adoptive parents is a great way to help yourself prepare for the adoption journey. If possible, try to connect with more than one set of adoptive parents prior to your adoption as everyone will have different experiences and advice. Connecting with adoptive parents in advance is also a great way to expand your post-adoption support group.

How did you decide to adopt?
What was the best part of the adoption process for you?
What was the hardest part of the adoption process for you?
What did you do to prepare to bring a new child into your home?
How did your other children feel about the adoption?
How did they respond once the adoption was complete?
What are some of the blessings of having an adopted child?
What are some of the challenges specific to having an adopted child?
What advice do you have for us?

In Conclusion…

Deciding to adopt is an exciting decision, but it can also be a bit nerve racking! Preparing yourself for the adoption interview questions you might be asked and thinking through some questions you want answered is a great way to help put your mind at ease leading up to your interview. To help yourself feel even more prepared, you could ask a friend or family member to conduct a practice interview with you prior to the official interview. And remember, the adoption interview isn’t a test; it is an opportunity for your adoption agency to ensure that you are ready for your future child(ren) and a chance for you to be more informed and prepared!