The Children…

For anyone who is considering adoption and worried about the cost, I found it is easier to point out to them how much it would cost in doctor appts. and what not that is necessary when a woman is pregnant. The cost for hospitalization during labor and birth on top of everything else is close to the same amount that it costs to adopt.
As someone who cannot have children, I have always known I would adopt. Now it is just a matter of time.

Cost wise another thing people don't think about is that you don't have to have the full amount up front. It's a $100 here and $200 there. I would say if you are TRULY interested and your heart is set on it, go talk to adoption agency's or orgs to find out what UP FRONT costs are and go from there. ALSO most states havee adoption programs where you sit in a seminar of sorts for a Saturday or two to get the low down. Very worth while. As for all the children who need homes God will provide you with the Child who belongs to you. He WILL provide the funds exactly when it is needed and He will provide support and inspiration at the very moments you need them, if it's His will. We will be praying for you. We are planning on adopting in the future as well however we are in the "information" stage, so we will see what the Lord has in store for us. But if it's in your heart you mine as well get your feet wet, get information and get all prayer saturated so you can truly know Gods direction for your family. Praying!

I have to disagree with Denise, if you adopt through foster care, in my state anyway, its not expensive at all. Just buy crackers and cheese for the social workers when they come for your homestudy.

It is time consuming as the process can be long, but didn't cost us anything.

What a great post. I have several friends who have adopted, as well as my brother and his wife who adopted a ten year old. Adoption changes lives for ever and ever and ever by bringing parents together with children who were meant to be with them. It's a remarkable thing, really. An otherwise difficult situation--a child born to a mother unprepared, or a child who has lost his/her parents, etc.--can feel something like a miracle to both the child and the adoptive parents. It takes a special kind of beautiful person to adopt, though. I commend anyone who opens up their hearts to it.

Adoption can be VERY expensive but there are often ways to help with the expenses. First, something many people don't realize, there is a tax credit for adoption expenses up to $11,600. This can equal a huge tax refund,but of course you still have to finance the adoption up front.

Second, many places of employment offer financial assistance for adoptions. Check with your human resource department and see if this is something your company offers.

Third, there are organizations out there that offer grants for adoptions however, these are often hard to get. Some are based on financial need and others are offered for harder to place children.

Fourth, fund raising! I know many families who have gotten extremely creative with their fund raising efforts. From selling candles, hosting spaghetti dinners at their church, garage sales to holding raffles-- many families have raised anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

Lastly, I must add (because as an adoptive mother of three, this is a huge pet peeve of mine) children are not "bought" and they do not "cost X amount of money." Adoption is expensive because of all the paperwork that is done to ensure that the child is placed in a loving and safe home. Social workers do not work for free. The US government charges fees to process paperwork. Certified copies of birth certificates and marriage licenses must be paid for. If it's an international adoption, the provincial government charges fees to process paperwork. Also if its an international adoption, travel to receive your child is included in the cost. All of these things add up. But nothing irritates me more than when some well meaning person approaches me in the grocery store and asks me how much my two year old cost, while her older adopted siblings are listening. I politely tell them my child didn't "cost" anything, however her adoption process did cost around $22,000 (she was adopted from Vietnam.)

Denise
Mommy to three great bio kids-- 22,19 and 12
Mommy to three adopted kids --7 and 4 (China) and 2 (Vietnam)

Great post! So many kids in need and you're right, the system makes it difficult for ordinary, loving families to adopt. The result is many of them go to foreign countries because it's much faster and less expensive. Important issue.