Adoption Costs Explained

Why the high cost to adopt when so many children need homes?

Many people are involved in each adoption. At our home offices alone we employ over thirty professionals. Our dedicated CWA staff views their work as a mission, yet they must earn a living to provide for their families. Each employee needs a salary, an office, a computer, a phone, office supplies, and ongoing training.

We have capital expenditures of equipment, furniture, maintenance, warranties, insurance, printing, postage, shipping, and telecommunications expenses which run thousands of dollars each month. Our staff must travel to various countries frequently to develop and adjust agreements with government officials, collaborate with our in-country facilitators, meet with judges and social workers to assure them that adoptions through CWA are successful.

We fly foreign dignitaries to the United States and host them while they spend time visiting with children adopted from their country and their families. This reinforces that adoption is a wonderful option and that our parents really do love their children. A large portion of our work is with the children and, if possible, the birth-mothers. In some countries we work hand-in-hand with private or government welfare institutions. Some centers care for 50 to 150 children or more. They depend on money from their government to provide food, clothing, medicine, heat, doctors, nurses, education and administrative staff. Yet many countries simply do not have the money to support their children, and therefore depend on relief organizations like Christian World Foundation to help provide humanitarian aid.

Of course there are many people in the child’s birth country who help make the adoption possible. Caregivers are needed to nurture the children; case workers videotape and gather background information on each child; investigators check the validity of the abandonment or the intent of the family to give their child in adoption. Attorneys or officials present the case in courts; judges interview birth mothers and the ministry of education, superior court or a central authority approves each case. All of these services require money to pay expenses.

When parents travel to pick up their child, guides and translators meet them at the airport, settle them into hotels, escort them to their meetings, and assist them as they meet their child for the first time. CWA staff or facilitators guide parents through the legal process and help them obtain the medical examination and paperwork necessary for their child’s visa at the U.S. Embassy.

Even after you’re home with your child, CWA is still here. Each family becomes part of the larger CWA family for life. We answer post-adoption questions regarding citizenship, new birth certificates and social security, and we refer families to professionals if additional care is needed. We share in the pride of watching each child grow through post-adoption pictures and reports. Finally, one of our greatest joys are our CWA Family Reunions. Families from all over the U.S., and occasionally foreign dignitaries, gather to celebrate heritage, friends and life!

So, as you can see, there is a significant investment of time, money and professional skills behind the scenes in order to make your adoption successful. We hope this explanation has given you a better understanding of the costs involved in bringing children into their forever families. Further information on financial aid options is also available on our site. And if you happen to have any additional questions, an adoption counselor will be happy to answer them. Please feel free to call us at 1-888-97ADOPT.