What a long weekend! We finished up with our first weekend of our adoption fund rasier garage sales. We did pretty good! I am hoping that we can raise even more money the next two weekends.
We were given piles of clothing to sell. There wasn't a shortage of that!
With all of this uncertainty about the financial part of the adoption, some questions have started to arise in our minds. I would love to get opinions on it from other families who have adopted. The program we are going through, will end up costing around 30,000 all together. You can see the run down here. We assumed that the huge amount (the 15,000 - 26,500) that we have to pay the placing agency would be us paying for the birthmother's hospital care. Our question is... doesn't every state have some sort of health plan available for women who are considered poverty level? Here in Oregon, we have the Oregon Health Plan available to use if you were considered below poverty level. If that is the case, wouldn't the birth mother be getting free health care?? Why would we be paying over 15,000 dollars? It doesn't add up. After looking over some of the international adoptions from Ethiopia, it seems like it would be a lot less expensive to adopt international. I always thought that domestic adoptions would be cheaper since it is all with in the states. Interesting. Well, I'd love to get opinions and information about it if anyone has any for me. It wouldn't be fun changing agencies mid way through, but it is virtually impossible to come up with that much money at one time. *sigh* As Adam's co-worker says..."we do what we can do, and that is all we can do"
I know that God is in control, and we do need to trust that His timing is perfect. It gives me comfort to think about that.
I don't know too many specifics, since my experience has all been second hand, but that does seem like a wide range for the fees. I'm assuming that includes legal fees, which will take a huge chunk of that. Maybe the higher end is if you end up adopting out of state and it gets more complicated. I'm assuming you chose this agency based on references from someone you know, so if you know others have had a good experience you might just want to ride it out.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the garage sale went well. Praying for more good ones ahead. International adoptions are sometimes cheaper in the fees, but the travel hikes the price up. Often you have to spend weeks in the country, not to mention the airfare getting there, and the adoption is often less protected legally while still in the country.
Praying for you for peace, wisdom, and financial provision!
~Erin
Ali, I would encourage you to do more research on different agencies. I have a friend who adopted and I KNOW they could never have paid that much to adopt. Also, look into HOLT Adoption agency in Eugene. They mostly deal with Korea, but have other countries too. I'll ask my friend about her experience.
ReplyDeleteSusan
30,000 is REALLY expensive. For our daughter is was under18,000 for everything including finalzation and lots of extras.
ReplyDeleteHi Ali,
ReplyDelete(remember me, you did a blog design for me quite a while back--like a couple years ago)
4 time adoptive mom--2 private, one state and one international. We've got it all covered lol!
Here's the problem. Basically you will be paying 2 agency fees. PLAN and the other agency. The $15,000-$26000+ is to the other agency for THEIR fees, not anything to do with hospital fees--yes some agencies, most that are not Christian supported, have very outrageous fees. (this is very similar to PLAN's $5000+ fee). Many BM's are on medicaid. (not free, our tax dollars pay for it). Although, in most states, if they are not, and are not eligible, most states laws allow that you can pay for medical care and small incidentals for the bm. My opinion, the fees PLAN is listing rediculous! If it were me, I would reject this in a heartbeat and find another way. On another note, black children unfortunately are considered "special needs" because they are harder to place (although, not quite so much in recent years, it seems to be the "in" thing these days) Our 2 private adoptions were deeply discounted because of this.
Just as a side note, I have to wonder why an agency in oregon, would specifically target AA adoption and "working with southern states?" I think that's kind of strange in and of itself. And, unless oregon has specific laws, it is not necessary to use an agency to adopt through the state. NJ contracted and paid our agency to do what was required from NJ in our home in MO.
Our first adoption (11years ago) cost us about $7000 total. It was a private adoption and the agency reduced her fees because they cared more about getting daughter placed than their profit. 2nd go, we had some agencies wanting upwards of $40,000 for a black baby in the states! We said no way! and found another way and spent about $8000-9000 on our second adoption.
Depending on Oregon law, once you have your homestudy, you should be able to circulate it to private attorneys or agencies, working with bm's or the agencies directly, you don't have to rely on PLAN to "find" your child.
Legal fees are minimal for finalization. Can't remember for sure what each of ours was, but not more than $1000-$1500.
Please feel free to email me if I can help you in any way. Walking through the adoption ropes is never easy...
I would LOVE to talk further, we're leaving for vacation tomorrow, and will be gone for several days. You should have my email address. If you'll email me, we can even find a time to visit on the phone.
ReplyDelete