Waiting Child Adoptions and Foster Adoptions
Both of these options are quite inexpensive, and there are often government subsidies available to help. Waiting child adoptions usually involve children who are past infancy and frequently considered “special needs”—which could mean physical, mental, or behavioral disabilities; minority group status; or members of a sibling group.
In foster adoption (sometimes called “fost-adopt”), a couple agrees to become foster parents for an infant or young child whose biological parents’ rights have not yet been terminated by a court of law. While these children are chosen for fost-adopt programs because it’s considered unlikely that they will ever be reunited with their birth families, there is still no guarantee that they will, in fact, be released for adoption. The uncertainty means that emotional risk is high, and a family may bond with a child they’re hoping to adopt, but then not have the opportunity. On the positive side: Wait times are usually shorter than in private or international adoption. And government subsidies and incentives may be available.
Other Considerations and Resources
An agency will frequently coordinate all the steps to adoption for prospective parents, but the fees may be high. For example, one agency consulted by conceive charges $25,000 to cover all expenses, including those required for the birth mother.
If you have already identified a birth mother and only need someone to handle the state process and legal papers, then you can use an attorney for the paperwork. This should save some money. But attorney’s fees vary widely, ranging from $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the situation. Contact the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys at www.adoptionattorneys.org or (202) 832-2222 for a referral or more information.
Winter 2005
