Adopting is often looked at as something only rich people can afford to do. If you are adopting in Louisiana and most other states through the foster care system, adoption is not expensive. As a matter of fact, they may even pay you!
States Pay Foster Parents
In our state of Louisiana, they pay their foster parents who have foster children in their homes. This is how they have mostly eliminated the use of orphanages. Children get more personalized care, and it’s cheaper for the state. Please understand that this is a very small amount of money. The point is you don’t pay the state anything. They send you a check until the day you adopt the child.
What Is Necessary to Adopt?
When a child is available for adoption, they have to be in your home for the required amount of time before you can move forward with adoption. Our state requires six months, but it does vary among states. Again, you don’t pay for this to happen.
Your attorney and your child’s caseworker do the rest. You are responsible for the attorney’s fees, which for us was around $700. Because our adopted children were considered special needs, the state paid for this as well.
Special Needs Subsidy
Most states pay foster parents who adopt children they deem as “special needs” even after they are adopted. Again, the rate is minimal, but it will continue until the child turns 18. Also, any medical and psychological assistance they will need in the future is usually guaranteed to be paid for.
What Is Considered Special Needs?
The term “special needs” in this case is not only children who have special emotional or physical needs. While it does include children with ADHD, behavioral problems, and physical handicaps, it also includes those children who are difficult to find adoptive placements for. In some states, this includes older children and, unfortunately, African American boys of any age.
Other Types of Adoption
This myth comes from the fact that adopting internationally or through a private adoption can be very expensive.* Most people are under the impression that foster care is cheaper than the other types of adoption, but it is still expensive. This is simply not true. Foster care is a wonderful choice for adoption and the financial consideration is just one more reason to look into it.
*There are organizations, including local churches, that offer assistance in international and private adoption fees.
