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"Adoption through the state" means adopting children who are currently in foster care. This means usually older children, children who have been abused, neglected, etc.
It is VERY different from the adoption of a healthy newborn child.
If a person chooses to adopt a child currently in foster care, then there are several ways to go about it.
One is to get approved, and then search for a child who the court has determined will NOT go back to the biological parents. The courts have "terminated" the rights of the biological parents. Such a child is already "legally free" and can be adopted. The adoptive parents take the child into their home, foster the child for the mandatory waiting period that is usually 6 to 12 months long, and then finalize the adoption. This is "straight adoption".
The other is to get approved, and then search for a child who the caseworkers predict the courts will determine to not send back to the biological parents. Such a child is NOT yet "legally free", and can not yet be adopted. The foster-adopt parents take the child into their home, wait until the courts either terminate the rights of the biological parents or send the child back to the biological parents. If the biological parents' rights are terminated then the foster-adopt parents wait the mandatory waiting period, and finalize the adoption as adoptive parents. This is "foster-adoption"
The example of straight adoption usually (but not always) takes longer before you have a child in your home. But once the child is there you know the child will stay as long as it is a good match between parent and child.
The example of foster-adoption usually (but not always) takes less time to get a child into your home. But the first child in your home is not always the child you get to adopt. You HAVE to be OK with sending a child back to the biological parents if the court orders it.
Of course there is the choice of straight foster care, where the children arrive, and go, with no predictability of how long they will stay. But you mentioned adoption so I'll talk mainly about that
So that should help you decide whether you want to foster or want to adopt.
About costs: Adopting a child who is currently in foster care costs almost nothing. Unless you hire your own personal lawyer, most adoptions from foster care cost less than $500, and sometimes cost nothing.
While the child is considered a foster child, the foster parent receives a check from the state that should pay for most of the things the child needs. (Food, clothing, toys, etc)
If the child is considered a "special needs child", then the check may continue to arrive even after the child is adopted. A "special needs child" is usually a child who is OLDER than toddler age, SICKER than normal children, a member of a MINORITY group, or a member of a larger than normal SIBLING group being all placed together. A newborn child will not be special needs. A 4 year old African-American child probably will be. A toddler with a genetic illness will be. Eight year old twins will be. (For example.)
You can telephone your local Department of Family Services (or whatever it's called in your area) to get a list of requirements to either foster or adopt in your area. Some areas require you to be 18, or 21, or 25. Some have no marriage requirement, some require you to be married for 1 year, or 2, or 3, or 5. But you won't know until you ask, and requirements like that will make you wait a while but not tell you "no" completely. Never know until you ask!
Good luck, let us know how it goes!
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