The following data was published this week in Adoptive Families Magazine, based on the results of a survey taken by 1500 families who adopted in 2010-2011:
| Domestic Newborn - Agency | Domestic Newborn- Independent | U.S. Foster | |
| Homestudy Fee | $1,820 | $1,538 | $285 |
| Document Preparation & Authentication | $768 | $680 | $0 |
| Adoption Agency Application & Program Fees | $14,441 | $4,608 | $0 |
| Legal Fees | $3,536 | $10,331 | $686 |
| Advertising/ Networking | $2,172 | $3,437 | $0 |
| Birth Family Counseling | $1,233 | $543 | $0 |
| Birthmother Expenses | $3,834 | $4,274 | $0 |
| Foster Care | $230 | $38 | $0 |
| Travel Expenses | $1,870 | $2,285 | $521 |
| All Other Expenses | $4,108 | $2,488 | $761 |
| TOTAL | $34,012 | $30,222 | $2,253 |
| China | Ethiopia | Russia | South Korea | Ukraine | |
| Homestudy Fee | $2,052 | $2,107 | $1,923 | $2,178 | $1,886 |
| Document Preparation & Authentication | $2,214 | $1,769 | $3,258 | $1,472 | $1,272 |
| Adoption Agency Application & Program Fees | $7,652 | $11,988 | $22,173 | $16,675 | $6,143 |
| In-Country Adoption Expenses | $5,581 | $1,979 | $6,709 | $9,007 | $13,946 |
| Child's Passport, Visa, Medical Exam, and Other Fees | $716 | $837 | $1,431 | $888 | $1,021 |
| Post-Adoption Expenses | $1,576 | $1,150 | $1,684 | $1,775 | $767 |
| Major Travel Expenses | $7,181 | $7,852 | $14,748 | $5,577 | $9,614 |
| In-Country Travel Expenses | $2,704 | $1,080 | $6,709 | $583 | $2,386 |
| All Other Expenses | $2,125 | $5,363 | $7,569 | $8,533 | $5,000 |
| TOTAL | $31,801 | $34,125 | $66,204 | $46,688 | $42,035 |
And my personal thoughts after looking at the data:
1) Costliness is yet another factor why I cringe when I hear anyone say "just" adopt!
2) Adopting through the U.S. Foster Care System seems like a financially prudent way to go about building your family through adoption.
Did you adopt in 2012 or 2013? Take this year's Adoptive Families Magazine's Cost & Timing of Adoption Survey. If more than 1,000 parents complete the survey, Adoptive Families will randomly select an adoptive parent and donate $300 to the adoption charity of his or her choice!
2 comments:
I don't remember what it cost up front to adopt the kids from foster care. Not a lot. Especially considering we were being sent a stipend to care for the kids already, but after the adoption was over we GOT everything we paid out back. AND about $15 thousand per kid. I think the return is less now. BUT it was helpful as we had to buy a new vehicle to accomadate the kids.
It is interesting to me that in some states it costs more to adopt out of foster care than others. In michigan it costs $200 which you get back almost immediately.
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