Home study meetings are the beginning of the growing relationship between Adoption Choices and the applicants. A social worker meets several times with the applicants, including once in their home, to review together topics such as their personal background, present lives, values, motivation to adopt, and preparedness for parenting. The dialogues are an opportunity for the applicants to increase their knowledge about and comfort with adoption issues. After the meetings, the social worker summarizes her findings and proposes a recommendation regarding the applicants' suitability as adoptive parents. This confidential report becomes part of the permanent adoption record.