If there are so many children and babies out there that need homes, why is it so expensive to adopt them?

Question

My husband and I are considering adopting a baby, but we are confused on why it is so expensive if there is such a great need for parents to adopt the children. AND what are the requirments of adopting?

Answer 1

The fees you pay generally are equal or even less than in vetro. You are paying for the agency or attorney services. The social workers services, criminal backround checks, sometimes medical for the birth mother, or even the children.

The least expensive route is to foster before adoption.

With adoption, I would recommend you contact a local agency first, attend some seminars, etc.

The homestudy will take approx 3 months to be approved, and at that point, you become a 'waiting parent" waiting for your placement. Most agencies match you and several other couples up with a birth mother, (shared interests), and then she chooses the couple she prefers to raise her child. This is a very emotionally trying time, as you don't know "who" she likes and why, so on and so on.

The homestudy consists of different criteria in different states, here's some of the things we were required to do

FBI fingerprinting
Criminal backround check
Full physicals
TB tests
Fire Dept inspection of our home
HHS inspection of our home
4 letters of referral from non family members
5 page autobiography about you and your mate
$2500.00 processing fee
3 seminars at agency prior to homestudy
scrap book of you and your mate/dear birthmother letter
etc., etc.,

It takes time, you need to give up control and be very patient, which is not at all easy. My agency is the Barker Foundation in DC metro area

www.barkerfoundation.org

if you would like to view their web page, otherwise, read, read, read, and educate yourself on adoption, there is a world of info to learn, good luck!

Answer 2

I commend you! I come from a large family and have eight adopted brothers and sisters. It can be a truly wonderful thing, but it does take the right people. Yes, adoption can be expensive. Keep in mind, however, that there is a considerable tax write-off and creative ways to finance adoption in the first place. Also, if you feel called to adopt a child with a special need, you can often get this done with little or no cost, and the state (often) pays for health insurance until the child is a legal adult. Special needs could be anything, so please don't assume that these are strictly children with severe or debilitating conditions. Check out the Lutheran Family Services website or give them a call. Holt is also a great organization. If you make the leap, be prepared for extensive home studies and lots of questions that may even seem offensive. But remember, it worth it! I wish you all the best!

Elsa

Answer 3

I know.

My hubby and I were in the same boat a few years ago. I felt like those children were the only ones losing. The cost is astronomical. Especially if you want a closed adoption or an international adoption.

Requirements depend on where your adopting from. Each country has their own set of requirements, called a dossier. You'll need find and agency - I find my local one online. I just did a google search. On the website they have required docs. Some things include notarized financial documents like a savings and checking account balances. We also had to submit photos of our home. They also require an affadivat of medical insurance and many other affidavits from friends and family that have known you at least seven years.

Beware that some things aren't included in the adoption fees the agency lists. For instance, any passports and VISAs and flight travel usually aren't listed. And, if you don't have a copy of your birth certs, and marriage certs you'll need certified copies of those. Those costs aren't included. You'll also have to set up a FED EX or UPS account for all the overnighting you'll be doing. Those fees aren't included either...

Answer 4

Consider foreign adoption. My sister and her husband were going to adopt 3 children from Russia, and it would have cost a lot less than adopting 1 in the U.S., including traveling expenses. But then she got pregnant, and the agency wouldn't let them adopt until the baby was at least 2. But my point was foreign adoption is often cheaper.

Answer 5

you can get pregnant with your tubes tied. It's damn near impossible but it happened to my cousin! Do NOT adopt from Guatemala, many of those babies are stolen. You can adopt a Latina baby from the USA, but babies are very expensive (not because of the adoption fees, but because agencies make a profit out of these kids) so adopt a child, like a 5 yr old. Also, adopting 1 child will NOT change the situation. If you really want to help, become a mentor in the barrio to kids. I go to Brazil often and work with kids in the slums. Adopting only helps 1, and even then not always. But if you network with people and build them a shelter and educate the people, your people, then you are helping hundreds. I have wanted to take those kids home so badly, and I know you're of the same culture (ex: Puerto Rican or Mexican American) but we want to change a community. When I work with my severely at-risk youth HS students I teach them skills to deal with rage, which helps the community deal with their violence issue. Networking it's all about networking.

Answer 6

Probably to ensure that they are getting a good home with parents who actually want them. There would be plenty of pedophiles adopting children if it were dirt cheap and some people would be sick enough to adopt so they could have a personal slave. I think they do it to just make sure the child being adopted will be safe. We have thought about adoption ourselves, and if God wants us to, someday we will. Best wishes!!

Answer 7

I think there are two things driving the expense of adopting children. One; the costs of paperwork and logistics of finding, assembling and distributing the children. Two: and the biggest expense, The lawyers, who are the ones who make the money in this. They charge big fees to do the legal processing. It is a shame, because there are many willing, deserving parents wanting to adopt that can't, because of the lack of money.

Answer 8

I don't understant the cost either, but recomend that you talk directly to a hospital near you. The hospitals in Utah have a no tell policy that allows for a mother to leave her child at the hospital and sign over rights, with no questions asked. These kids then don't have parents, and are easier to adopt. I suggest talking to them. good luck and hope you get a baby to love soon.

Answer 9

I know, it's really quite sad. Adoption is like a business, and children go to the highest bidder. The families with $50K to throw around aren't always the best families to have children. It just doesn't seem right to me. Best of luck to you.

Answer 10

THERE AREN'T AS MANY BABIES AS YEARS AGO, SINCE THE MOTHERS ARE EITHER KEEPING THEIR CHILDREN OR ABORTING. WISHING YOU BOTH THE BEST.