Domestic Adoption Fees

Application Fee

$225

This fee covers the costs for your initial phone call, mailing information, establishing your file, and an initial meeting with your caseworker. During this time, we answer any questions you may have about the adoption process and develop an individualized adoption plan to meet your needs.

Educational Fee

$500

All adoptive parents desiring to adopt through Catholic Charities are required to participate in an educational program on adopting infants and Catholic Charities Adoption Services. This fee will cover those programs as well as other expenses for further education. For couples that can document similar education through another program (not including MAPP), this fee may be reduced with Clinical Director approval.

Although policy does not allow for single persons to adopt through this program, they may participate in the Adoption Workshops for a non-refundable fee. Families who have previously attended this workshop through Catholic Charities Wichita will not be required to pay this fee, but are welcome to attend any future workshops at no cost.

Domestic Home Study Fee

Complete Home Study: $625

Home Study Update: $350 (includes KBI and CANIS background checks)

Addendums: $90 per hour, up to $250

Mileage Fee applicable for 25+ miles from Catholic Charities office

All fees are non-refundable

The State of Kansas requires a home study evaluation to be conducted to assess the family’s ability to rear a child.

Click here to learn more about Home Studies

New Couples

Those couples that have not previously adopted from Catholic Charities Wichita will need a complete home study.

$850 complete home study fee + background check fees and mileage fees when applicable.

Returning Couples

Those couples that have previously adopted a child and are ready for their second placement or whose initial home study is more than a year old, will need a home study update.

$250 home study update fee + background check fees and mileage fees when applicable.

Couples Home Studied Elsewhere

The agency is willing to consider on a case-by-case basis, current or outdated home study evaluations that have been prepared by other adoption professionals. Any home studies that do not meet criteria as delineated by Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Council on Accreditation will need to be updated. Copies of all supporting documentation must be obtainable from the adoption professional that completed the original home study, otherwise a complete home study must be done.

$90 per hour subsequent update fee + background check fees.

Case Management Fee

$2,000

A case management fee helps cover the costs of providing easily accessible support by your case manager and other program personnel. In addition, this fee helps provide counseling regarding adoption, assistance with home study paperwork, preparation of family albums, networking with other agencies or assistance with networking for families doing this on their own, consultation regarding openness and communication options in adoption, and assistance with birth parent meetings.

Birth Family Care Fees

Birth Family Counseling Fee: $2,000

We work with birthparents to help them explore their options with an unplanned pregnancy. We provide free and confidential education, support, and counseling as well as assist them in the adoption planning process. The Birth Family Counseling Fee covers all pre-delivery relinquishment counseling and documentation as well as post-placement counseling to birth parents and their families for as long as needed.

$1000 birth family counseling fee must be paid prior to Agency Consent being signed.

Birth Mother Living Expenses: $0 – ?

Under Kansas statutes, birth mothers have a legal right to request “reasonable living expenses.” Although the agency attempts to meet the birth mother’s living expenses through community resources, the adoptive families may be requested to pay for things like utilities, maternity clothing expenses and mileage expense reimbursement for counseling. Receipts are necessary for reasonable living expenses to be considered.
Cost Varies.

Post-Placement Fees

Post-Placement Fee: $90 per hour

Mileage Fee applicable for 25+ miles from Catholic Charities office

For adoptive families, whose adoption placements were facilitated by another agency or an attorney, the agency may be contracted to complete post-placement services to adoptive parents.
This fee is waived for adoptions occuring within Catholic Charities.

Miscellaneous Expenses and Services

Legal Fees

All legal fees relating to an adoption are the responsibility of the adoptive parents. The agency retains an attorney for consultative purposes as well as for assistance with obtaining minor birth parent relinquishments. The adoptive couple is responsible for retaining legal counsel to finalize the adoption. If the adoption is contested, all fees associated with a contested adoption shall be the obligation of the adoptive couple if they wish to proceed with the placement.

Adoption insurance is available through some insurance companies that may cover the counseling portion of this fee as well as a portion of the attorney’s fees. Adoptive parents should get written confirmation of their coverage.

Medical Expenses

As they would be with the birth of a biological child, the adoptive couple is responsible for all medical expenses not covered by insurance or a 3rd party payer for the adopted child. In addition to the child’s medical expenses, the adoptive parents will be responsible for all or a portion of the birth mother’s medical expenses that are not covered by insurance or other 3rd party payers. These expenses could include all of the birth mother’s medical care or portions of the medical care, such as insurance co-pays or deductibles. Birth mothers remain obligated for the medical bills if for any reason the adoption is not finalized, and are advised on medical coverage through insurance or a medical card, if they qualify. If couples do not have medical insurance that will cover adoption expense, they may request to be matched with a birth mother that has a medical card or health insurance of her own. This will help minimize adoption medical expenses.

Catholic Charities encourages all adoptive couples who have adoption medical insurance coverage to obtain written confirmation of their insurance coverage as all unpaid medical bills are the responsibility of the adoptive family if a birthparent relinquishment is obtained.

If a baby must be placed in cradle care before being placed in the adoptive home, any needed medical, dental, psychological or psychiatric services will be arranged by the agency. All of the expenses for these services are the responsibility of the adoptive family.

Cradle Care/Foster Care Services

Any family desiring to utilize cradle care or foster care services will be referred to The Salvation Army and will be expected to pay reimbursement at the current daily rate for those services.

Communication ExchangesBirth and adoptive families have the option of sending pictures, letters or gifts through Catholic Charities, Inc. We believe communication between the families is a wonderful way to continue building a trusting relationship and benefits the child. Birth and adoptive families may mail or drop off pictures, letters, or gifts. The office staff will copy, document, and forward the correspondence. For items to be mailed, packaging and postage must be provided. Sealed, pre-packaged items must include a copy of the letter and a list of contents. To ensure prompt delivery, especially for birthdays and holidays, we recommend the item be delivered to the agency at least ten days in advance.

Reduction of Fees

While there are many costs associated with managing an adoption program, we understand that not all adoptive couples are able to pay the full agency placement fee. In an effort to assist those couples who would be suitable as parents but who cannot afford to pay the full fee or need to make payment arrangements, the agency will make reasonable efforts to subsidize services where needed.

Any applicable adoption related fees may be reduced if the agency is only providing a portion of a total placement package in cooperation with another agency or attorney.

Disclosure

The agency assumes no responsibility for incidental expenses (travel, lodging, meals, baby-sitting, medical, filing fees, lost time from work, etc.) prospective adoptive parents may encounter while moving through the adoptive experience. It is to be understood that adoption fees are paid to support the agency’s adoption program. Acceptance of payment is in no way to be understood as a guarantee that a child will be placed with a family as these fees represent services rendered in pursuit of an adoption. Fees must be paid prior to or at the time services are rendered. Invoiced balance is due upon receipt and must be paid within 30 days of receipt in order to avoid a finance charge of 1.5% per month. The agency reserves the right to rescind its “available for adoptive placement” status at any time. In addition, the agency reserves the right to revise the fee schedule at any time to reflect added costs that might be incurred. The agency will not apply fee increases retroactively for services already provided.