Article #10 the price of adoption.

I found a really great site listing the average prices of adoption. This site listed information for Maine adoptions and was very helpful.The prices they listed are as follows: the cost of a domestic public agency adoption zero to $2,500. A domestic private agency adoption: $4,00 to $30,000+ Domestic independent adoption: $8,000 to $30,000+ Inter country private agency or independent adoption: $7,000 to $25,000. Then
there was an estimation of specific adoption costs. These are a general range all depending on the type of adoption, the state the adoption occurred, whether there's a sliding scale fee depending on income, the country of origin of a foreign born child, the amount of subsidy available for adoption of special needs, tax credits available for reimbursement of adoption expenses, employer adoption benefits, and finally State reimbursement for non-recurring expenses for the adoption of a child with special needs.

Domestic Adoption Costs

	Low	High
Agency fees
Application fee	$100	$500
Home study and preparation services	$700	$2,500
Post-placement supervision	$200	$1,500
Parent physical (each parent)	$35	$150
Psychiatric evaluation (each parent; if required)	$250	$400
Attorney fees
Document preparation	$500	$2,000
Petition and court representation to finalize placement	$2,500	$12,000
Advertising	$500	$5,000
Birth parent expenses (Amount and type of expenses allowable for payment usually restricted by state law and subject to review by the court.
Medical expenses (prenatal, birth/delivery, postnatal for mother; perinatal care for child)	$0 (insurance)	$10,000 - $20,000 (depending on difficulty of the delivery, etc.)
Living expenses (rent, food, clothing, transportation, etc)	$500	$12,000
Legal representation	$500	$1,500
Counseling	$500	$2,000

There is also the cost of foreign adoption, where most of the expenses are paid out of pocket by the family adopting. These fees include: travel expenses, foreign agency placement fees, foreign attorney legal and placement fees, foster and medical care, use of translation and escort services, foreign court filing fee and document fees (birth certificate and adoption decree), the required "donation" to orphanage or agency and passport office fees. Thankfully, there are resources to help lower the cost of adoption. Things like a federal tax cut which is $5,000 for each child and $6,000 for children with special needs. A state tax cut for adopting domestic in that state. Adoption from the US public foster care system which allows parents who adopt for foster care to have the fees be minimum or even waived. Many of the children are eligible for federal or state-funded payments for meeting the child's needs. Some children even qualify for SSI to help pay for their medical needs. Adoption subsidy which is for children with special needs to help pay for their needs. These have to be negotiated before the adoption is finalized. Non-recurring adoption expense reimbursement. This is to pay for expenses after the adoption of a child with special needs has been finalized. This cannot exceed $2,000 and helps pay for travel costs, attorney expenses, home study fees, etc. Employer benefits, adoption loans, and finally adoption cancellation insurance which pays for expenses paid by prospective parents after the birth parent backed down from the adoption.

responce to new bill in Kentucky would prevent gay and lesbian adoption.

Reading this makes me mad and scared. Mad at the fact that people aren't allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt. Also mad at the fact that this is how they target certain groups without making it seem as if they're prejudice. I never realized so many states already had laws like this put in place. It makes me sad to think of all the children that could go to good, loving homes of unmarried gay, lesbian, or straight couples; but sadly can't because of a law. I don't think people think of everyone when these laws are put into effect. Really shouldn't it be about the children and weather they are happy and their needs are meet rather than the thoughts that putting a child with and unmarried couple is wrong? It makes me scared to think that Maine could be next in making one of these laws.

detor article....new bill in Kentucky would prevent gay and lesbian adoption

I just read an article about a new bill in Kentucky that would prevent unmarried couples from adopting of fostering. There are apparently similar laws in Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Utah. People are saying that the law is an attack towards gays and lesbians. However lawmakers are saying that the law would also prevent unmarried heterosexual couples from adopting. The law however wouldn't remove children already in homes with an unmarried couple.

Final focus; further research needed.

For my final research I hope to find more information on the money that goes into adoption. Specifically the money that goes into Maine adoptions. I would like to learn more about home studies and cost and any other areas that might have to be paid for. Statistics really that would wrap everything up. I hope to interview someone who has adopted or was adopted. Also perhaps finding statistics about the age groups of children adopted. I think these would help focus my research if I knew these facts so I could have something to refer to other than people's opinion on adoption.

responce to article # 9 the forgotten children of operation babylift

That is just ridiculous!! How in the world do people not properly file something like adoption papers!! It is not far that the children of operation babylift are now being threatended with deportation when they have lived in the U.S. thier whole lives.

article # 9 the forgotten children of operation babylit.

In 1975, President Ford commenced Operation Babylift. It was an operation that brought 2,500 orphaned babies out of war-torn Vietnam and sent then to loving homes in the U.S. and around the world. Now, thirty years later, many of these once orphans are finding themselves in fear of deportation. All because of improper filing of adoption papers back in the 70's. According to the USCIS, even though they have adoption paper work, a drivers licence, a social security number, and have lived in the U.S. there whole lives, they are considered illegal aliens and could be deported. Many have to go through the immigration process as if they had just arrived in the country before they can be considered a U.S. citizen. Congress acted to fix the problem. In 2001, the Child Citizenship Act, guaranteed that immigrants and foreign adopted children under 18 in the U.S. would get immediate citizenship. However, that does nothing to help the older children who aren't considered U.S. citizens due to faulty filing.

Response to post #8: The TODAY show explores the cost of adoption

I think that it's great that someone is doing something to help families that want to adopt but can't afford it. By submitting an application, that doesn't mean that one will get a grant, but it is worth a shot. I think that they should do screenings fro expectant families. If they do one for adoptive families they should do one on expectant parents to see if they will make good parents. Most foster or adoptive children were taken from bad family situations to begin with so I think that parents should have to go through a screening or test of some sort to see if they will be good parents to begin with. Otherwise you're putting all this children a jeopardy of being stuck with poor parents. Anyway, I think the grants are a good idea and can help many people with adopting. With the organization being non-profit, they must receive many donations in order to hand out yearly grants. However, it will hopefully help many families in the future that are wishing to adopt.