Home Study and Post-Placement Fee Schedule

As a private, non-profit 501(c) 3 Child Placement Agency, we strive to keep costs as low as possible. Financial aid may be available for your child’s adoption. To learn more about funding your adoption visit Financial Assistance for information and resources.

This page includes an overview of the possible cost of adoption. A Prospective Adoptive Family will be charged the actual adoption fees in effect at the time service is being rendered for any service that has not been prepaid; those amounts may vary from the amounts stated.

 

To learn more about the Fee Schedule (below), please view the video from Steffany Aye:

A Home Study is an educational tool used by Adoption & Beyond, Inc. (Agency) to prepare a Hopeful Adoptive Parent(s) (AP) to adopt a child. It is also an assessment process to determine whether AP is suitable to adopt and has the ability to care for a child in a safe, nurturing and healthy environment. Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Visits occur to ensure healthy adjustments for everyone.

Adoption & Beyond Inc. is available to perform domestic, international, private, foster care, and embryo adoptive home study assessments. An approved home study is required in order to adopt a child.

Home Study Fee

(96.40 (b)(1))

Type of Fee
Amount
Fee Due Date
Consultation
Type of Fee
Individual (in-person or telecommunication) consultation to adoption avenues and services.
Application for Services
Amount

Free

Fee Due Date
Not Applicable
Application for Services
Type of Fee
Application fee includes one or more of the following Services provided by the Agency:

  • Screening, reviewing and processing the application
  • Establishing AP’s file
  • Addressing AP’s questions about the adoption and home study process
  • Access to our easy to use Home Study Portal
  • Personal guidance and support to AP with home study process
Application for Services
Amount

$500

Fee Due Date

Upon submission of On-line Application

(Application fee is waived for returning clients)

Home Study Services
Type of Fee

A home study is an educational tool to prepare AP to adopt a child and the appropriateness of the AP for adoptive placement. Home study approval is valid for twelve months.

  • Home study fee includes one or more of the following Services provided by the Agency:
  • Maintenance of file 
  • Office visits and one home visit 
  • Review and compiling of home study material; writing report 
  • Core mission costs (scanning, copying, phone calls, standard postage, etc.)
  • Coordinating/communicating between the attorney and court
Application for Services
Amount
$1,500
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of all
Home Study paperwork
Home Study Addendum
Type of Fee
It is important that the courts have the latest information about AP, so it is required to document Any changes during the twelve (12) month home study approval period. Some changes may require further interviews and home visit (e.g., changes in physical, emotional or mental health, changes in marital (or significant other) relationships, arrest, allegations of child abuse, loss or new employment, significant change in finances, move to a new home, a new individual or extended guest joining AP’s household, change of child approval, responding to an Immigrations Request for Evidence (RFE), Agency’s concern about the AP’s capacity to continue in adoption process, failure of AP to disclose critical information during the home study process, etc.).

Note: An addendum is simply documenting a change to your current home study after it has been approved, finalized and signed; it does not extend the expiration date.

Application for Services
Amount
$200/
text change only

$400/
if home visit needed

Fee Due Date
Upon submission of all
Addendum paperwork
Annual Updated Home Study
Type of Fee
An annual updated home study is needed if: AP has not received placement of a child within twelve months, the states of Kansas and Missouri require an update to extend the approval for a current home study for an additional twelve months; or if AP is switching from a domestic to an international adoption (or vice versa);

A home study update includes one or more of the following Services provided by the Agency:

  • Maintenance of file
  • One home visit 
  • Review and compiling of updated home study material and writing report 
  • Core mission costs (scanning, copying, phone calls, standard postage, etc.)
Application for Services
Amount
$600
Fee Due Date
Submission of all
Updated Paperwork
Full Updated Home Study
Type of Fee
A full updated home study is needed if: AP is pursuing the adoption process for another child; or if Agency is updating another agency’s home study.

Full updated home study fee includes one or more of the following Services provided by the Agency:

  • Re-establishing file
  • Review of previous Home Study completed
  • Access to our easy to use Home Study Portal
  • Personal guidance and support to AP with home study process
  • One home visit 
  • Review and compiling of updated home study material and writing report 
  • Core mission costs (scanning, copying, phone calls, standard postage, etc.)
Application for Services
Amount
$1000
Fee Due Date
Upon submission of all Updated paperwork
Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Fee (96.40 (b)(7))
Type of Fee
Once AP adopts a child, the court or country of adoption requires post-placement/post-adoption visits 

Post-placement/post-adoption report fee includes one or more of the following Services provided by the Agency:

  • One home visit
  • Reviewing, preparing and writing report
  • Communication during supervision period
  • Core mission costs (scanning, copying, phone calls, standard postage, etc.)

 

Application for Services
Amount

$400/
per report

The number and timing of post-placement/post-adoption reports is determined by state, agency and/or country the adoptive placement occurs (3 to 6 reports are usually required.)

Fee Due Date

International Adoptions – Pre-payment of all reports due upon submission of Home Study paperwork

 

Domestic Adoptions – Pre-payment of all reports due Prior to placement or ICPC supervision letter being issued

Miscellaneous Adoption Expenses

(96.40 (b)(2))

Type of Fee

Expedited Services

Expedited processing of Home Study or Post-Adoption/Post-Placement Reports for urgent adoption situations

  • Expedited Processing of Home Study or Post-Adoption/Post-Placement Reports for urgent adoption situations. Expediting is necessary only when a placement or report is due in less than eight (8) weeks. Although Agency will make all reasonable efforts to complete the service in the required time, there can be no assurance the shorted time frame can be met. This service is available on a case-by-case basis.

 

Application for Services
Amount

$600

Fee Due Date

Upon submission of all Home Study or Post-Placement/Post-Adoption paperwork

Travel
Type of Fee

Travel up to 60 miles Round Trip (RT) is included in the fees for home study and post-placement/post-adoption. A travel fee is charged for reimbursement to case workers for services provided further than 60 miles (RT) from Agency’s office or closest regional case worker. If an overnight stay is required, there will be an additional Hotel/Meal expense fee of $200 to cover the cost.

Application for Services
Amount

$2/
per mile

Fee Due Date

Upon submission of all Home Study or Post-Placement/ Post-Adoption paperwork

Foster Care Case Management Fee

Type of Fee

If AP is searching for children available for adoption on public foster care photo listing sites. Agency will advocate for AP throughout the public searching and matching process. Note: Family must have completed home study with Agency and taken state foster care training prior to this service being available to AP.

Application for Services
Amount

$600

Fee Due Date

Upon submission of all Home Study paperwork

Hourly Work
Type of Fee

If AP has an adoption situation that falls outside of the fee schedule, they can hire Adoption & Beyond for an hourly rate of service.

Application for Services
Amount

$200/
per hour

Fee Due Date
Retainer fee due Prior to work being initiated

Adoption Court Hearing(s)

Type of Fee
Agency’s attendance at court hearing(s) with AP. 

Court hearing fee includes one or more of the following services provided by the Agency:

  • Present at the court hearing via teleconference or in-person
  • Reviewing post-placement reports from out- of-state agency 
  • Writing court report (if applicable)
  • Coordination with all adoption professionals 
  • Preparing court documents needed from agency

 

Application for Services
Amount

$400/
each hearing
(generally MO requires two (2) and KS requires one (1))

Fee Due Date
Pre-payment of all court hearings due prior to Temporary Custody Court Hearing

Third-Party Expenses (Estimated variable expenses that are not usually paid to Adoption & Beyond) (96.40(c)(1))

Type of Fee

State and Federal Criminal Background Checks/Finger Printing

Application for Services
Amount

$45 – $57/
each
(varies
by state)

Fee Due Date
Upon submission of Criminal Background Checks
Type of Fee

State Child Abuse Checks

Application for Services
Amount

$10 – $13/
each
(varies by number
of state previously lived)

Fee Due Date
Upon submission of Child Abuse Checks
Type of Fee

National Sex Offender Checks

Application for Services
Amount

$7/
each

Fee Due Date
Upon submission of National Sex Offender Registry Checks
Type of Fee

On-line Adoption Education Courses

You are required to complete a number of on-line adoption education courses together (approx. $100-$286). Number of courses varies depending on type of adoption AP is pursuing (e.g., Domestic, International, Special Needs, Trans-racial, etc.). Note: One course required for domestic adoption is sponsored by Adoption & Beyond.

Application for Services
Amount

$19 – $120/
per course

Fee Due Date
When registering for on-line Adoption Education courses
Type of Fee

Documents

(e.g., copies of birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce decree)

Application for Services
Amount

$15/
each

Fee Due Date
When requesting Document(s) from issuing entity
Type of Fee

Employment Verifications

If your employer contracts with a third-party for employment verification to be completed

Application for Services
Amount

$50 – $100/
each
(varies by third-party)

Fee Due Date

Upon submission of Employment Verification

Type of Fee

Health Exam

Application for Services
Amount
Co-pay
Fee Due Date
At Medical Visit

If you’d like more information on the other fee schedules, please click below to go back to the selection page.

Adoption Services Fee Schedules

Interested in learning more about The Ultimate Guide to Adopting a Child?  Check out our entire guide here.

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