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Adoption Costs

Why Does It Cost So Much To Adopt?
To set the stage
Bethany Christian Services of New York and New Jersey sought licensure as a child-placing agency in order to offer adoption as an alternative to women who would choose life for their babies. Our first focus has been and remains on serving the birthmother, helping her understand the options available to her and helping her make an informed choice about her own and her baby’s future.

Bethany will never turn away a birthparent that comes to us for services. On average, 1 in 3 birthmothers with whom we’ve established a counseling relationship will make an adoption plan for their baby. The others elect to parent their children.

All Bethany’s services to birthparents are free of charge and confidential. We serve the birthmother, the birthfather, and often their parents (the birth grandparents of the child) at no charge to them.

How are the costs of adoption services covered?
Bethany’s income is from two primary sources - adoption services fees and donors. Service fees consist primarily of fees paid by adopting families. About a third of every adoptive placement is subsidized by donor sources - individuals, fundraisers, churches, foundations and businesses. Unlike county or state agencies, or private agencies placing waiting children (special needs), Bethany typically does not receive government funding for adoption related services.

Why does an adoptive placement cost so much?
Adoptive placement fees are assessed for services provided, not for the child. The actual cost is determined by what is required to do a good job. To accomplish the most permanent and secure adoptive placement possible, all the following services are needed in one form or another for each adoption plan:

• License to operate To secure licensure as a child placing agency or agent, Bethany must secure and maintain professional staff with a high level of training, competency and credentials. Typically, Masters’ level clinicians are hired.
• General office costs As with any business, Bethany has the costs of maintaining and operating. Expenses for the offices (including the branch office and sub offices) include such things as office rent or mortgage costs, property maintenance, utilities, telephone service, computer service, postage, advertising, supplies and equipment, insurance and printing. Also there are costs for fundraising, transportation, payroll, administration (both local and national), and professional associations.
• Birthparent counseling and support Good adoption casework includes professional staff time spent preparing clients to understand their situation and their options, to prepare them for their plan and to help them make an informed decision about their future and their child’s future. Often this counseling includes the extended family of birth parents as well. Services also includes providing pregnancy related financial assistance to the birth mother, as well as assistance with housing, medical care, and coordinating with other social service providers. After placement, on-going counseling and support is also offered to birth families.
• Legal Services Bethany is responsible to secure birth parental right terminations in each adoptive placement. Legal assistance is sought above and beyond case related work. This requires significant staff time and interfacing with the court system, our attorney, and/or the State Department of Social Services. Due to the legal nature of adoption, Bethany must also carry malpractice insurance.
• Adoptive family preparation A home study or Family Assessment is required by the State for every adoptive placement. It serves these general purposes: preparing the family to parent a child through adoption; evaluating that the family environment is a safe and suitable place to receive a child through adoption; and supporting the family through the process of adopting. Professional staff time is given to interviews with the adopting family, visits to the home; phone contact and case/records management through the process. There are also costs related to educational materials and resources for adoptive families.
• Cradle care (if needed) Bethany offers a period of time after the birth of the baby for a birth parent to review her decision before making a final plan. Good casework provides a safe place for the infant in that interim period to reduce pressure on the birth mother as she weighs her options and to provide an alternative if a family is not prepared to receive a child in the face of some uncertainty. Cradle care families must have a completed home assessment and on- going supervision and training to remain active and qualified.
• Open adoption mediation Bethany provides ongoing services and support to birth families and adoptive families as they develop and continue their open adoption relationships through the life of the child.
• Finalization of adoption and post placement supervision After placement, caseworker supervisory time is required as the family adjusts to the new arrival in their home, including home visits, office interviews, and phone support. For finalization, staff prepare legal documentation for the courts and are involved in securing other legal documents related to the finalization of the adoption.
• Case management Licensed placement agencies are required to provide and maintain documentation for the state and for the record of all their placement activity. Additionally, permanent retention of all adoption files for 99 years is a requirement by the state.

Please contact the office for more information at 201.703.4371 or contact us