[Dianestar]

Hi Everyone! My husband and I are wanting to adopt a child or a sibiling group from the U.S. We have gotten so many different answers from agencies about the cost and what all we have to do to get started. We are getting ready to start our homestudy, but really need to find an adoption agency to handle the adoption itself, and dont really know the cost, if we were to adopt a sibiling group. Does anyone out there have any ideas on the cost or a referral on adoption agency? Just one more question, does anyone have any ideas on fund raisers for the adoption? Thanks so much, Sorry Im still new at all this and just looking for some help.

[DianeScraps]

I think it really depends on who you are going through

Here in PA an 'older' child is considered 'special needs' and the adoption is essentially free ( you pay for your physical with drs and other small things) state pays the big things

HTH

Diane

[tobeafamily]

It is very unusual for older children and sibling groups to be adopted through domestic parental placement - aka private - adoption. The majority of these are done through state DSS.CPS as waiting child/foster care adoptions.

Costs for waiting child/foster care adoptions are almost always completely paid through your taxpayer dollars (AKA they're "free").

Regina

[DianeS]

If the child is in *foster care* then your state Department of Children's Services should be able to tell you approximately how much it costs to adopt a child in their care.

(The department to call may be Human Services, or Child Protection, or Family and Youth Services - you get the idea, whatever it's called in the government pages of your phone book)

In many cases, children in foster care can be adopted through that state agency, or in many cases, can be adopted through a private agency. There are pros and cons to each way. One of the differences will be price - the private agencies can charge more money, or distribute the cost a different way, than the state agency. The extra benefits the private agencies may offer might - or might not - make an increased cost worth it. You'll have to do your research.

But for the most part, adopting an older waiting child from state foster care will cost almost nothing. Getting children out of foster care and into adoptive homes is a government affair, and the vast majority of the costs are paid for with tax dollars.

For the most part, your homestudy will be free. Your required classes (and there ARE required classes) will be free or a nominal cost. The lawyers for the children will be free or a nominal cost. Etc. If this is the type of adoption you're pursuing, you won't need fund-raisers. Your adoption should cost just a few hundred dollars, if that.

Just be sure you do your research and choose the CORRECT agency to do your homestudy - many private agencies are not contracted with the state to do a state-accepted homestudy. You don't want to pay for that and then find out you can't use it.

BUT there are also some private agencies that accept older children straight from birthfamilies that simply wish to place them for adoption. Those children are not in state foster care. In that case, the agency is free to charge whatever they choose for their services. In many cases, the agency will charge the same as they do for their infant adoptions. Some will discount that. Some have special pricing options. It all depends on the exact agency, exact child, and exact conditions.

Hope that helps!

[Dianestar]

Thank you so much for all your help. I had no idea about any of that information that you told me. It helps us out a lot, I will be doing some research on the agencies for the homestudy.

[Jennifriend]

If you contact the local DCF in your state they can take care of the homestudy for you. Their homestudy is different than what you would do for an international adoption. Oh, and it's free...best wishes to you and you begin your adoption journey.