As with anything else that you take on outside of your field of expertise or just life experience, there is so much to learn!! This adoption process is not going to be any different. I learned today that the attorney we will be meeting tomorrow will probably refer us to an adoption agency who work as social workers and find birth moms. I talked to the adoption coordinator for that agency today for about 15 minutes and she sent a follow up packet of info. Their timeframe for an adoption is 6 months or less. They have 10-12 couples at all times looking for a placement. They do about 30+ placements a year. They said that they've never had a birth mom change her mind about a placement at the hospital or in court.
Both of the women that run the agency are adoptive parents and have been through this personally. I felt really comfortable chatting with her today.
I decided to share their general information packet in case anyone is curious about the process:
Agency Philosophy
The program is based upon openness in adoption
philosophy and practice. It provides comprehensive education, preparation, and
support for birth and adoptive parents in the adoption process. Our goal is to
offer all those involved a compassionate, understanding, and dignified adoption
experience. We are committed to the provision of services based upon
professional adoption practice and research that endorses openness in adoption.
These
are the most common characteristics of an open adoption:
1.
The birth family selects the adoptive family.
2.
The families have face-to-face, personal contact.
3.
Identifying information is exchanged.
4. There is potential for an ongoing
relationship between the adoptive parents and birth family.
Although
open adoption is defined in terms that are observable, it is probably best
understood as a set of attitudes. Open adoption is founded on sincere care and
mutual respect. Psychologist Randolf Severson states it well when he puts it in
the context of "courage, compassion and common sense". It takes courage to face uncertainty,
compassion to consider the experience from the perspective of others, and
common sense to give the situation the practicality necessary so it truly
serves the interests of everyone involved.
Experience
has taught us that there are at least eight interrelated values that are
crucial contributors to satisfying experiences with open adoption.
What are these values? We believe that every adoption plan
must be:
For the adoptee. Every child deserves to be honored as a
unique gift. The needs of the adoptee are paramount.
Based on candor. Accurate information equips people for
effective decision-making. Candor produces the best results when it is coupled
with a spirit of kindness.
Based on choice. People tend to take responsibility for
decisions when they freely choose them from real alternatives.
Cognizant of the pain. There is loss in adoption that
cannot be ignored.
Covenantal. The quality of an adoption will depend on the
integrity the participants bring to their commitments.
Transforming. Adoption is a life‑altering experience for each
person involved.
Adaptable. Adoptive relationships are dynamic, growing and
changing over time.
Community‑building. Adoption is best understood as a system of
interrelated needs.
Common
Misunderstandings in Adoption
Open
adoption is not co-parenting. Birthparents have no
authority over the adopted child. Birthparent involvement is based on good will
and cooperation. Birthparents clearly understand this and this significantly
reduces the likelihood of power struggles. Birthparent involvement is limited
to involvement with the adoptive family, not one‑on‑one with the child.
The
primary relationship is between the birth parents and adoptive parents, not
between child and birth family. Personal
contact following placement is in the presence of the adoptive parents. Other
contacts are between the adults involved and not expected to involve the child.
A
common concern is that there is no room for privacy in open adoption; that it
requires total exposure of those who participate in it. Certainly, open
adoption features a spirit of candor and transparency, but the sharing is
purposeful and kept within the limits of common courtesy and decency. There is
much that each family needs to know about the other family if they are to enter
a relationship intelligently and if they are to serve the adoption well over
time. On the other hand, there is much that does not need to be known. We have
found over a twenty-year experience in open adoption, that the boundaries are
well managed. In fact, birthparents tend to be less involved over time because
they have are secure with their adoption choices.
GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
PROCESS
Our
infant adoption process involves having the birthparent(s) select the family
for their child from a waiting pool of prospective adoptive couples. These
couples are open to a newborn infant of either gender. Couples are represented
by portfolios that they prepare after a completed and approved homestudy. After
selection, we move toward meeting, developing a relationship, and then
agreement about the adoption plan and anticipated contact.
Birthparents
have the option of developing written open agreements with the adoptive
parents. These contracts are placed in the court record at the time of
termination of rights. The agreements are very basic and are considered
enforceable in court. The birthparents can litigate for enforcement of the
agreement, but not for return of the child. We regard written agreements as a
“back-up” system should there be difficulties in the future. Written agreements
usually include a provision for a personal contact one to two times yearly,
letters and pictures two times yearly. Some birthparents do not elect to put
agreements to paper.
AGENCY
REQUIREMENTS
We have learned
that the adoption process takes personal and marital maturity and base our
requirements accordingly.
1. The prospective adoptive
couple has been married at least three (3) years.
2. Minimum age at time of application of either
partner is 28. The maximum age is 45 assuming the individual(s) is in good
health. Please note for those who are 40 and above health factors will be a
consideration in proceeding.
3.
For those applicants 40 and above our agency has an expectation of
expediency through the homestudy process. If there is a six-month delay by the
prospective adoptive couple between application and completion of all other
required paperwork the file will be closed.
4.
It is our assumption that a couple is infertile if they are seeking to
adopt a newborn or infant and enter the Waiting Pool of perspective adoptive
couples. This means that they are unable to conceive, or if able to conceive
the woman is unable carry a pregnancy to term, or a pregnancy is dangerous to
the health of the woman and/or child.
We
are certainly open to discussion of individual circumstances that do not fit
the above criteria.
FEES AND SERVICES PROVIDED
1. APPLICATION FEE:
$500 Non-refundable
$100 for
repeat adoptive families
Services provided:
- Telephone contacts
-
Initial screening
-
Information and application mailings
-
File preparation
-
In office meeting with our Adoptive Parent Coordinator or Director, if
desired by adoptive couple.
-
Application review and approval process
-
Adoption education
2. GROUP SEMINAR FEE:
$200 ‑ 2 days
This fee covers the cost of
a couple and we ask that both the husband and wife attend. The seminar is for
those who have applied and are in the file building process. We request
attendance at both days of the Group Seminar.
3. HOMESTUDY FEES (PRE- AND POST PLACEMENT REPORTS)
a. ORIGINAL HOMESTUDY FEE:
$ 800
$1100 ‑ OUTSIDE A 100 MILE RADIUS
This
covers long distance calls, mileage and travel expenses.
The
homestudy includes education and support during the adoption process. It
involves an individual meeting in your home and the preparation of a written
pre-placement report. This also covers required post placement visits and the
preparation of the post placement report for adoption finalization. As a
licensed child‑placing agency, we are charged with doing a thorough
investigation and pre‑placement report. Payment
of homestudy fees does not guarantee a recommendation for placement.
We
do not routinely request psychological testing. However we reserve the option
to request an MMPI should we need a further expansion on your ability to adopt,
as well as your ability to develop and maintain a healthy relationship with a
child on a parent/child basis. This would be an outside cost to the couple.
b. UPDATE ADOPTION HOMESTUDY FEE:
$500 ‑
$700 ‑ OUTSIDE A 100 MILE
RADIUS
If there is a previous homestudy prepared by us or
another agency that is over two years old and/or a placement has occurred from
this report an Updated Homestudy will be needed.
c. HOMESTUDY ADDENDUM FEE:
If we are accepting a current pre-placement (homestudy) report
from another agency, an Addendum may be needed to address any changes to the
family situation. The charge for this will be based upon a rate of $80 per hour
that covers file maintenance and a court ready report/letter of acceptance.
There
will be a $250 charge if we are accepting a current homestudy but are
completing the post placement services and report.
4. STATE PATROL CRIMINAL HISTORY
CLEARANCE: $10 per
person.
This is a cost that will be billed to couples along with the homestudy
statement.
5. PORTFOLIO / WAITING POOL
FEE:
$2500
$1500 for repeat adoptive families
The
pool fee is due when the approved homestudy is complete and the family enters
the Waiting Pool to be considered by pregnant clients.
WAITING
TIME:
We
cannot make guarantees in regards to waiting period. Historically our waiting
pool has been small and waiting time has been six months or less. On a
case-by-case basis, we can honor a couple’s request for a specific sex of
child. This will increase the waiting period.
** Those couples seeking to adopt only a special needs infant,
young child, or multi-racial child and choose to be a Resource Family for a
particular situation will not be placed in the Waiting Pool or charged a
Waiting Pool fee. Please refer to section 6, page 7 for more information.
6. BIRTHPARENT SPECIAL NEEDS ACCOUNT:
$800
When
the couple is ready to enter the Waiting Pool of families they will be billed
for the Birth Parent Special Needs Fund along with the Waiting Pool fee. The
purpose of this fund is to provide for special needs of birthparents such as
housing, transportation, incidental living expenses, clothing, food, pre‑natal
vitamins, childbirth education or other medications not covered by medical
coupons. This fund provides for a wide range of emergency needs and is kept
separate from other monies.
7. PLACEMENT FEES:
Please note: placement fees are a one-time fee and are charged when a child is placed
and legally free.
Portfolio and placement fees provide professional counseling and
support for birth mother clients, birth fathers and their families. The
counseling is either in our office or at the client's location.
The
counseling includes services related to:
-
Crisis intervention.
-
Family concerns.
-
Decision-making and adoption information.
-
Referrals for financial/educational/medical assistance.
-
Group counseling and support.
-
Meeting and counseling birthfather.
-
Legal preparation for termination of rights.
-
Hospital coordination.
-
Adoption mediation, facilitation of pre and post birth contacts with
adoptive parents.
-
Relinquishment and placement coordination.
-
Pre and post relinquishment grief counseling and life planning.
-
Intermediary work for communication and mediation of ongoing contact,
if necessary.
-
Development and maintenance of foster care receiving homes.
-
Training for program development.
-
Office administration to meet State licensing guidelines.
-
Brochures, community outreach, advertisement to inform the public about us
a. HEALTHY INFANT
$18,000
Special circumstances in
some infant adoptions may reduce the placement fee. This will be determined on
a case-by-case basis with the lowest anticipated fee of $8000.
b. OTHER THAN INFANT / SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCE PLACEMENT
$6000
Placements in this category involve finding families for
young children, sibling groups, or other young children or infants with
significant health issues. In specific situations the placement fee may be
reduced. The lowest placement fee anticipated is $1000. Our commitment to
children is that placement fee will never be a barrier to a forever family. As a licensed child placing agency we can assist
families in applying Adoption Support assistance if the child and family
qualify.
c. IDENTIFIED CHILD PLACEMENT
This category
involves couples who have come to us with an identified child or birthmother
and are seeking adoption coordination services.
$5000
Agency Services Fee
Services include:
- Birthparent preparation and counseling
- Legal preparation for termination of rights
- Hospital coordination
- Assumption of custody
- Court appearances
- Coordination with adoptive parents
If needed the following fees for services may
apply:
$500
Interstate Compact coordination
Please note that if the adoption is not completed
the adoptive couple is responsible for incurred costs and/or counseling fees at
a rate of $80/hour.
8. MEDICAL and LEGAL COSTS:
MEDICAL
Adoptive
parents will be responsible for all medical and legal costs related to the
birth, relinquishment, and finalization of their child. The ordering the child’s birth history is a direct cost and will
be added in the final placement fee billing and ranges from $30 - $80.
PLEASE NOTE: Occasionally medical bills can surface
several months after placement. This generally occurs when birthparent private
insurance is involved. If the couple has already finalized the adoption they
are still responsible for payment.
Nearly
all of our birthmothers are on medical coupons or private insurance. Therefore,
medical costs for birth mother normally range from zero to twenty percent of
her total care. When on medical coupons the coverage extends to the needs of
the baby. If we have a baby in care with high, uncovered medical expenses, as
an agency we usually are able to apply for coverage for that particular baby
through the state services.
LEGAL
Relinquishment,
the process of freeing a child for adoption legally, requires a court
appearance by our attorney, the birthmother, and an agency representative.
Standard relinquishment costs are $1770 but may be more depending on the method used to
terminate the rights of the birthfather.
Finalization
is the last step in the legal process and involves the release of custody from
the agency to the adoptive parents after a post-placement report has been
completed. Our agency attorney offers finalization services at a
most reasonable cost that should not exceed $820. This cost will include
all contacts, mailings, filing fees, the revised birth certificate, and
finalization legal representation in court. For couples living outside the area
the court appearance can be done telephonically.
PAYMENT
POLICY
Fees for services 1
through 5 are paid at the time service is provided. The Placement Fee (6) is
divided into two payments. One half is due when the child is placed in your
home and legally free. The second half of the payment is due prior to
finalization. It is our policy to finalize within three to seven months
following placement. Overdue accounts will be charged interest.
The
relinquishment legal costs (7) are due upon presentation. We ask that you pay
these by check or cash. These are direct bills from the agency attorney who has
completed the termination of rights. Finalization legal costs and payments are
arranged directly between the adoptive parents and their attorney of choice.
We shall maintain
all fee schedules at the time of the Homestudy Contract signing. However, if
there is more than one year between the Homestudy Contract signing and couples'
commitment to active adoption process, the current fees will then apply. Finalization materials are released to your
attorney upon payment of all fees due to us.
We accept Visa and MasterCard for payment.
IMPORTANT
TIP: We are delighted to share with couples
investigating adoption that there are new increased Adoption Tax Credits
available. Please see attached information for overview, but be sure to ask
your accountant for individual application.
REFUND POLICY
APPLICATION FEE:
Non refundable
HOMESTUDY FEE:
The
homestudy fee is non‑refundable once contracted. If the agency does not provide
Post Placement visits and report, $100 of the homestudy fee (Post Placement
portion) will be refunded upon request. If the homestudy is not completed and
the family and agency agree that the adoption should not proceed, a partial
refund will be negotiated.
Refund
of homestudy fee prior to contracting is available. The extra fee for a “rush”
homestudy is non-refundable.
WAITING POOL/PORTFOLIO FEE:
Upon
a family's decision to withdraw from the Waiting Pool the following refunds
apply:
Less than one month ................................. …..$1500
More than one month ………………………….$1000
More than two months and less than three ….$500
Over three months No
refund
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