Role of Social Workers in Adoption

In order to prepare for a job interview, I decided research what exactly the role is of social workers throughout the adoption process. I thought I would share what I found in my research. 


Role of Social Workers
Here is an excerpt from the National Association of Social Workers on their website, written by Deborah Gray, MSW, MPA:

Homestudies are completed on every adoptive family. The homestudy is an interviewing and educational process in which families are assessed to determine whether they can provide a safe and nurturing home. It is also an opportunity to provide adoption-specific information to families. It helps them to position themselves realistically in determining potential needs of children and their resources to meet those needs.

Social workers complete the homestudies and help acquaint families with adoption issues during the homestudy process. The homestudy process helps families to make realistic decisions including whether they can care for one child, a sibling group, or children with special needs. They explore such concepts as continuing contact with birthfamilies, the lifelong identity processes of adoptive family members, transracial or transcultural adoption, and their own strengths, limitations, and expectations.