Domestic Infant/Toddler Programs

Families interested in Adoption Programs III, IV, and V will be considered for possible placements by birthparents. Ohio families will also be considered for children in the public system who may match their criteria. There are adoption fees that apply for these programs. If a match is found in the foster care system, and the funding is supplied by the county, no other adoption fees will apply. Adoptive Families in these adoption programs will need to complete a photo narrative. We will need 3 color copies of your photo narrative for our records. Profiles must include a draft of the birthparent letter as well as photos. Photo narratives will be explained later in the adoption process.

It is a practice of A Child's Waiting adoption agency to allow birthparents to select the adoptive family. Families will be presented to birthparents based on the criteria they establish. Some adoptive parents will be interviewed by birthparents by phone or in-person. Other possible adoptive families may only be viewed by photo profile and birthparent letter. Some birthparents will take a few days to select, others may take several weeks. For birthparents in our program, adoptive families must give verbal permission prior to being presented.

When a family is matched with a child in the custody of ACW they are required to provide to A Child’s Waiting letters to the birthparents and photographs of the child on a specified schedule for 3 years after placement. Quarterly the 1^st year, bi-annually the 2^nd year and once the 3^rd year. After the third year, yearly pictures are required either around the child’s birthday or the winter holiday seasons. This is a “good faith” agreements between the birthparents and adoptive couples should be upheld. Families who do not comply with photo agreements will not be permitted to complete additional adoption programs through our company. If a family attempts to transfer their file to another adoption agency, lack of compliance with the photo contract will be noted.

NOTE: Families are not obligated to search only with ACW. They are encouraged to seek additional resources for placement. In the event that a placement is received from a different adoption agency or attorney independent of ACW, please note the application fee and administration adoption fees are not refundable. Additionally, interstate compact fees may apply if ACW receives your out-of-state placement.

A Child’s Waiting will also seek possible placement outside of our custody. In the event that A Child’s Waiting matches your family with a birth parent referred by an outside adoption agency or attorney, fees from the custodial agency, or attorney, will apply in addition to a match fee of $1000 to $3000 (depending on situation) for children in program III. The adoption fees will be based on the level of need, difficulty to place the child and other special circumstances as determined by the Executive Directors. All fees will be quoted at the time of the call for profiles. For Non-Ohio birth parents with whom ACW is working, there will be a placement fee of $10,000 to $20,000. Once again, the fee will be based on the level of need, difficulty to place the child and other special circumstances as determined by the Executive Directors. In these situations, ACW is not the legal custodian. The fee will include all legal, counseling and placement costs. These adoption fees do not include fees charged by another agency to supervise the placement or finalization costs. Once the birth parent has identified the adoptive family, there is a $1000 counseling fee to cover the costs of counseling prior to placement. In the event that the child is not placed with the adoptive family , this fee is non-refundable. This fee is in addition to the placement fee.

Additionally, post placement maintenance will be required for all adoptive families at $125 a month until finalization. This is billed at placement. In the event that the adoptive family wishes to have another adoption agency supervise the placement of an ACW custodial child, permission from the Executive Directors must be given. Adoption fees will be explained prior to consideration for a possible placement.

Adoptive parents are responsible for all medical fees for the birth mother that are not covered by medicaid or private insurance. They are also responsible for all medical bill associated with the baby’s birth. These bills may takes over 6 months to receive. Adoptive parents are responsible for all legal fees of both birth parents. The fee may range from $200 to $2500 depending on the court actions. These fees can vary in all states. Finalization costs are also the adoptive parents responsibility. These adoption fees can range from $500 to $1500 depending on the attorney retained as well as county filing fees. These fees can vary by state.

The following Services are offered as part of your agency adoption

**Possible Additional Adoption Agency Fees

• Birthparent Counseling - $75 hr.
• Post placement counseling for birthparents - $75 hr.
• Preparation of documentation for pre-finalization - $250
• Compliance with ICPC (inter-state compact) for out of state placements - $500
• Appearance of agency representative at finalization hearing - $150
• Special requests (ie. Non-routine medical tests for birthparent or child) - $75hr + test fees
• Post-placement visits beyond the included 7 visits - $125
• Update of an A Child’s Waiting adoption homestudy - $500
• Foster care/respite expenses
  • Infant - $35/ day
  • Non-infant or special need - $45/ day
• Services rendered after business hours or on weekend/holidays - $varies

Possible Non-Agency Fees

• Legal termination of birthfather’s rights (does not include guardian ad Litem, court costs, and publication)
• Non-routine legal services
• Medical fees for birth mother and child who do not have medical coverage.
• Attorney fees for the representation of the birthparents
• Attorney fees for representation of the adoptive parents
• Court costs, publication fee, Guardian ad Litem fees.
• Attorney fee associated with finalization
• Cost of Birth certificates
• Adoption Homestudy incidentals such as CPR class, finger prints, medical examination, fire inspections, etc.
• Cost of diagnostic or counseling services for the adoptive applicant requested by the agency as part of the adoption process.
• Fees associated with locating an unavailable parent such as private investigator or process server.
• Counseling services independent of A Child’s Waiting that may be outside of A Child’s Waiting’s realm of service not to exceed $750 per parent involved. May occur prior to placement or after placement.
• Compliance with Indian Child Welfare Act

Program V: Older Child/Sibling Program

Description

Fees
Application Fee*	(due with preliminary application)	$175
Administrative Processing Fee*	(due at approval of homestudy)	$1500
		$2675
Counseling Fee	(Due at match with birth family, non-refundable)	$1000
In addition to the above fees, a family will be responsible for the following:
Estimated Placement Fee** for: Child over the age 3 yrs. (36 months)	(due at placement)	$2000-$5000

*Fees are non-refundable
**Please see possible additional fees

Families who are interested in adopting a child that is disrupting from a finalized adoption can be a member of our adoption replacement pool. Children will be of all ages and races and may have been adopted internationally or domestically. The children will have various levels of need.

Adoptive families must render payment for their homestudy but no other fees are due until such time as a situation presents itself. While in the family pool, searching can also occur in other programs. Fees for the other programs will apply.

Each family must be willing to assist in any needed transitional activities for the child. All aspects of this program will be explained once in the process. Traditionally, the legal parents at the time of the disruption render payment for their legal fees as well as any foster care or transitional costs. The family from the pool would be responsible for their own post-placement supervision fees as well as finalization costs unless alternative arrangements are made ahead of the placement between the agency and the disrupting family.

Description
Families adopting through this program have identified or have been identified by a birthparent prior to contacting A Child's Waiting, or have located a birthmother through their own means while working with A Child's Waiting.

Requirements
Before being considered for placement of these children a family must have a birth parent already identified or located after having their study written by ACW.

For families who need adoption homestudy services:

Fees
Application Fee*	(due with preliminary application)	$175
Homestudy Fee*	(due prior to assessors visit to your home)	$1000
Administrative Processing Fee*	(due at approval of homestudy)	$1500
		$2675
Estimated PLACEMENT FEE*	(due day of placement)	$3500-$6175
Twin or sibling (younger than 36 months), fee would be an additional $5000

For families with completed homestudy:

Estimated PLACEMENT FEE*

(due day of placement)

$3500

*Fees are non-refundable
**Please see possible additional fees
**Failure to comply with terms of payment plan can result in removal of child

Possible Non-Agency Adoption Fees

• Legal termination of birthfather's rights (does not include guardian ad Litem, court costs, and publication)
• Non-routine legal services
• Medical fees for birth mother and child who do not have medical coverage.
• Attorney fees for the representation of the birthparents
• Attorney fees for representation of the adoptive parents
• Court costs, publication fee, Guardian ad Litem fees.
• Attorney fee associated with finalization
• Cost of Birth certificates
• Homestudy incidentals such as CPR class, finger prints, medical examination, fire inspections, etc.
• Cost of diagnostic or counseling services for the adoptive applicant requested by the agency as part of the adoption process.
• Fees associated with locating an unavailable parent such as private investigator or process server.
• Counseling services independent of A Child's Waiting that may be outside of A Child's Waiting's realm of service not to exceed $750 per parent involved. May occur prior to placement or after placement.
• Compliance with Indian Child Welfare Act