Many couples across the country view adoption as a potential means for them to build their family. For some, traditional methods of conception are not an option, and others welcome the idea of providing a home for a child in need of one. However, many of these growing families might be shocked at the potential financial cost of pursuing adoption.
According to The New York Times, adoption costs can range from $20,000 to $45,000 and vary from state to state. These fees could be as high as $70,000 for couples adopting from outside the country. This places adoption at a potentially higher expense than traditional birth methods and can rival costly procedures like artificial conception.
The fees associated with adoption can go into covering the birth mother’s medical expenses, as well as legal representation for both the adoptive parents and both parents, court fees, social workers, travel, and more.
The financial burden of adoption compounds with the emotional stakes that couples face. As couples wait in anticipation to see if their adoption will finalize, the fees continue to accrue. Although the federal government subsidizes the cost of adoption through the public foster care system, this subsidy only covers up to $2,000.
This subsidy may encourage some families to pursue adoption from the US foster care system. However, the Children’s Bureau reported that in 2022, 109,000 children were waiting for adoption, while only close to half of that number were successfully adopted.
In addition to the foster care system, there are child adoption agencies across the nation with children in need of homes. With the financial burden posing as a significant barrier to prospective parents, some independent nonprofits are stepping in to fill in the gap for support. One such organization is Helpusadopt.org, a national financial grants program that seeks to assist couples and individuals with the costs of adoptions.
“The average cost of adoption has sky-rocketed in recent years,” explained Becky Fawcett, the founder and President of Helpusadopt.org. “Our goal with this increase is to make adoption more financially accessible to the families we serve.” Since its founding in 2007, the organization has awarded 765 grants, totaling over seven million dollars; applicants today can receive awards up to $30,000.
Though there are outside options for financial assistance in adoption, many private organizations working to fill the financial gap are religiously founded. This can restrict what kinds of individuals and couples can qualify for these programs. Some of these programs also raise their money through costly application fees, which still pose a financial barrier to lower-income homes.
These different restrictions inspired Becky Fawcett to find her own organization to help struggling couples. “I wouldn’t have qualified for any of these grants if I needed help back then,” she states.
Though organizations like Helpusadopt.org provide potential new avenues for adoption, prospective parents should do thorough research before embarking on their adoption journeys. Fees and laws for adoption vary from state to state. Before beginning the process, prospective parents should know what fees they will be expected to cover and then review their options for grants and subsidies accordingly.
Adoption remains a solution for couples hoping to build their families, as well as a means for parentless children to obtain a home and a better future. With the growing acceptance of LGBT couples, adoption also presents an ideal path for nontraditional families and communities to establish themselves. Despite this, the US State Department has reported declining adoptions in the US since 2021.
Economic factors may play a significant role, as many families still struggle with high inflation rates post-pandemic. Compounded with the upfront financial costs of adoption, assistance from programs like Helpusadopt.org is crucial to keep adoption possible. With careful planning and help from subsidies and grants, the dream of growing a family through adoption can still be realized.
