$25,150. That's the estimated cost for our adoption. We had slightly underestimated the cost of adoption. When we first explored a few agencies and were made aware of the associated costs, we were blown away. So, I am assuming some of you may feel the same. This fee schedule, provided by our agency will help you to understand why we need to raise $25,150 at minimum. Some assume the money is due at the end when you are matched with a birth mom or when you bring your baby home. That is not the case. There are fees due all along the way. So, in order to keep the ball rolling we need to have money raised to pay these fees. These fees go to help the birth mom with a home, counseling, and medical costs. They also pay for our training, home study, interviews, legal fees and tons of other little things necessary to bring home our baby. Here is the list broken down:
Review & processing Fee $95
Orientation Fee $250
Training $255
Application Fee $750
Home Study $1,500
Social Service Fee 1 $1,300
Social Service Fee 2 $3,500
Outreach Fee $6,000
Match/Placement Fee $10,000
Legal Fees- Finalization $1,500
Total $25,150
Raised $4,500
There are some common misconceptions when people first hear of the HIGH cost of adoption. Some are tempted to think its all a big scam or some might think to themselves, "are they BUYING a baby?". NO!! Absolutely not. No doubt some agencies might have their own interest at heart, but we took time and prayerfully evaluated multiple agencies to find a reputable Christian agency that's heart is to place children with "forever families", not to make as much money as possible under the guise of well doing. Some may be fearful to donate or move forward in adoption themselves because the misconception that if the birth mom chooses to be the child's mother (there is a small risk of this happening), we will lose all of the money and lose our opportunity to adopt. Let me set your mind at ease. We have no risk of losing the money. The match placement fee will be refunded to us until we are matched with another birth mom.
This is a difficult topic to discuss but we do so because of the high price paid for our adoption, Jesus' blood, and for the opportunity to extend that to a child in need. We believe Jesus' heart is for adoption, that he has called us to adopt and that his plan to provide has already been written.
Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
Ephesians 1:4-7
