How Much Does It Cost to Adopt?

Here are a few eyebrow-raising statistics:

Working women who bear or adopt children lose earnings of $31 billion annually. Those who have no leave time benefits incur an additional $607 million loss in earnings (Institute for Women's Policy Research).

In 2003, 9 percent of employees had access to adoption-assistance benefits, up from 5 percent in 2000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

An average adoption costs $15,000 out-of-pocket, while an average hospital birth costs $500 out-of-pocket (Health Insurance Association of America).

This article and several other articles about financing adoption are also available at www.laurachristianson.com.

Comments

[Teddy]

Need advice, my father is 59 years old and his wife is 45. They are looking to adopt a Russian child and I was wondering everyones view of them adopting at such a later age. I am 30 with a 6 month old.

[miriam]

i need info whether a grand mother may adopt a grandchild with down syndrome according to medicaid/state laws

thanks

[leah cohen]

i would like to adopt a kid

[Olga M. Lantz]

I have two orphaned grandchildren in another State, in a Foster home through Social Services. Do I need "Guardianship of these children or do I need to adopt?
I do not need state financial help.They have been in Social Services controle for just over 2 months.

[maria camacho]

My husband wants to adopt a 20 yrs old boy from mexico to help the boy who doesn't have family left in mexico. If that posible and how much it cost?

[leighanne weikel]

could someone please tell me how much it cost to adoped a step child

please email me at
lcweikel@yahoo.com

[Danielle Ackerman]

I'm 21 years old i can't have anymore kids of mine own. But i would love to have more kids but see i'm a single mother to an 1 year old. And when i told my boyfriend that i can't have kids he cried and he wants to have kids. What should i do? Can you help me...

[Mary Jackson]

If there is such a need for adoption...why does it cost so much??

[Laura Christianson]

Mary:

You asked the $100,000 question! In the adoption world, just as in every "industry" or "business," there are unethical people out to make a quick buck by preying on people's emotions and vulnerability.

Because the adoption "industry" is largely unregulated, some providers charge whatever they can get away with, which irks me!

Generally speaking, though, adoption fees pay for a full range of services provided by highly educated professionals (social workers, government officials, attorneys, and so forth). While many adoption service providers earn salaries far below what they should be making, they need to eat, too. Adoption fees pay their salaries, as well as a variety of other services that facilitate an adoption.

Adoption fees vary drastically among agencies, which is why I recommend comparing fees among adoption service providers so you'll know exactly what each agency does (and doesn't) charge for a particular service.

[Josh]

well i need to know how old u have to be to adopt a child...and how much it cost.....

[Meghan H.]

When I'm older, I'd like to adopt a child from China. Maybe two, but I'm only 16 but still want one. Maybe in a few years or so if I can afford it! (hopefully)!!!