How to Adopt In The United States—Oregon
Through our partnership with the Oregon Department of Human Services, we facilitate adoption services for children currently in the Oregon foster care system. Families adopting through AGCI’s Oregon Adoption program are able to begin their adoption process immediately and also have access to our extensive support services that begin through advocacy to be matched with your child and extends to support throughout your child’s life.
The State of Oregon cares for hundreds of foster children and many of these children are now waiting to be placed into permanent adoptive families. Prospective adoptive families are able to inquire about the child(ren) they are interested in and would like to request more information about. AGCI is one of a select group of agencies that the State of Oregon partners with through the Special Needs Adoption Coalition (SNAC).
Christian Adoption Agency, All God’s Children International has been placing children with their forever families in Oregon since 2008. AGCI provides Oregon adoptions for families currently living in Oregon. To date, we’ve united over 30 children with loving adoptive families through our Oregon adoption program.
- Most children available for adoption are between the ages of 6 months to 17 years old.
- Waiting children come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds.
- Many sibling groups are also waiting for a forever family.
- 1/3 of the waiting children are under age 6.
- Families interested in adopting a child from this program must be open to adopting a child up to at least the age of 3.
- Families with an approved home study have access to the “database” and are able to view waiting children.
- Timeframe: 12 to 24 months. Timeframe is from registered dossier to completion. Timeframes are dependent on family’s openness to medical conditions, gender, and age of child.
- Complete a FREE Pre-App to view waiting children.
Age of Parents
Parents between the ages of 25 and 49 are welcome to adopt.
Marital Status
Married couples and single women may apply to adopt. Couples must be married for at least one year prior to beginning the adoption process. Couples with a history of divorce (maximum of two per spouse), must be married for at least two years.
Children in Family
Families with no more than five fostered, adopted or biological children or young adults living in the home are welcome to adopt from the Oregon Adoption Program
Income
Families interested in adopting a child must have a positive net worth and an income of at least $10,000 per family member, including the adopted child.
Criminal History
All criminal history is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants interested in adopting a child cannot have a history of felonies.
Medical History
All medical or mental health conditions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants cannot have a past or current diagnosis of a communicable and/or life threatening disease or other condition that impairs their ability to parent and/or the quality of life of a child.
The approximate cost to adopt from the Oregon foster care system is $8,500. Adoption assistance may be available.
It’s important to keep in mind that tax credits are available! To learn more about adoption tax credits, grants, and how to fund your adoption, schedule an appointment with our Financial Expert.
Additionally, there are so many ways to fund your adoption! You can learn more about AGCI specific grants, adoption loans, and employee benefits and more on our How to Fund Page!
AGENCY FEES
Application: $350 This non-refundable fee covers the cost of a review of your application to confirm your eligibility for your program.
Agency & Program Fees: $4,750 The agency fee covers AGCI’s cost to facilitate your adoption with agency and government officials. Processing expenses for AGCI include, but are not limited to, personnel costs, administrative overhead, operational costs, staff training and education, state, and federal licensing and accreditations, communications and insurance. These fees are paid at two separate times: $2,500 at orientation, and $2,000 at committee match.
HOME STUDY AND POST-ADOPTION
Home Study Services: $2,500 Th ese fees cover our services in preparing and completing your adoption home study.
Social Worker Expenses: $15/hour after 2nd hour of round trip travel. These fees may be paid for travel outside the 40 mile round trip service area. The adoptive parent is also responsible for all food, lodging, and other travel expenses.
Home Study Update/Addendum/Program Transfer Conversion: With visit: $900. Without visit: $200-400. DHS requires home study to be current within the year at time of committee.
Expedite Fees: Home Study: $300. Update: $200. Post Adoption: $100. Additional Document: $6 per document
THIRD PARTY EXPENSES
Adoptive Parent Home Study Education: $300
Adoptive Parent Referral Education: $600
Total Cost: The approximate cost to adopt from the United States program is $8,500. Cost does not include airfare, lodging and other fees associated with travel.
Fee Disclosure: All fees paid to AGCI are paid in advance of service. AGCI fees are non-refundable and may not be waived. If services are terminated and a refund is due, all refunds will be processed within 60 days of withdrawal and/or closure of the adoption file upon receiving the Adoption Termination Contract.
Each family’s time frame for an adoption is unknown as the DHS determines if a family is chosen to parent a child.
Complete home study process.
Once the home study is approved, your family will receive access to the State of Oregon’s database. Families can receive updates on children available for adoption. You may also make a request to your case manager to be considered as an adoptive family for children available for adoption.
Families may be selected for a child by an adoption committee or through a review by the child’s state caseworker.
Once your family is chosen by the adoption committee/review, placement of the child in your home will happen in approximately two to eight weeks.
Welcome home! Upon placement of the child in your home, post-placement visits are required within 30 days & quarterly for a minimum of 6 months and/or until the adoption is finalized.
