How Much Does Foster Care Adoption Cost in Arizona?

Have you researched the cost of adoption? If so, you may have found both private adoption and international adoption to be quite expensive. However, hopeful parents often find the expense isn’t an obstacle to family growth, thanks to the low cost of adoption through foster care in Arizona.

It’s true that the average cost to adopt a child from foster care in AZ is substantially lower than the expense of adopting in other ways. For some adoptive families, foster care adoption isn’t just affordable but also satisfying because it lets you provide a stable home and loving family for a deserving child.

Parents who have the resources find there are many advantages to domestic private adoption as well. Those benefits include: 

• Opportunity to adopt an infant
• The choice regarding which adoption situation is best for your family
• Ability to get to know the birth parents before the birth of the child
• Chance to have open adoption contact between you, your child, and their birth parents
• And many more

If you’re still not sure whether foster care adoption and private domestic adoption best suit your family, we’re here to help. To talk with one of our experienced professionals, all you have to do is call 1-800-ADOPTION or fill out our free online form. Now, let’s explore foster care adoption cost in AZ and how it can impact your personal adoption journey

Exploring the Cost of Adoption Through Foster Care in Arizona

Before investigating the cost to adopt a foster child in Arizona, there are some concepts that you need to understand. First, you should know that foster care adoption involves the adoption of children from the state foster system. These children have been removed from their homes for their own safety due to an adverse environment.

There are two paths to adopting from foster care available to prospective adoptive parents. They are:

• Adoption: After the parental rights of the child’s biological parents have been terminated, the child becomes eligible for adoption from the foster system.
• Foster to Adopt: When the biological parents still have parental rights, but a child in foster care needs a temporary (and possibly permanent) home, hopeful parents can pursue the foster-to-adopt path. Foster parents are usually needed to provide temporary homes for kids for the duration of their parents’ court cases. If the parent’s rights are eventually terminated, the child can be adopted by the foster parents most of the time.

The path you choose will impact your AZ foster care adoption cost and the timeline for your adoption journey. That’s why you should consult a professional for current information on the average cost of adoption through foster care in Arizona.

How Much Does Foster Care Adoption Cost in Arizona?

Many prospective parents are a little shocked when they first learn how expensive some forms of adoption can be. Don’t worry if you reacted that way. It’s a natural response. If the estimated costs of private and international adoption gave you pause, you might be asking, “How much does it cost to adopt a foster child in AZ?”  

The good news is foster care adoption is the most affordable avenue to family growth because it’s funded by the state. In Arizona, most fees that are paid by hopeful families seeking to adopt from the foster system are either covered or reimbursed.

Also, Arizona issues subsidies and reimbursements to help foster parents pay for the needs of their foster child. If you’re in Arizona adopting a foster child, cost should never be an issue when making your adoption dreams come true.

Is there truly no cost to adopt a foster child in AZ? That’s true because there’s minimal expense involved. The AZ cost of foster to adopt is even more manageable when you consider almost all expenses you incur will be offset by assistance and subsidies you will receive.

However, cost shouldn’t be your only consideration if you plan to adopt. Yes, foster care adoption cost in Arizona is basically free, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your family. Foster care adoption can be challenging, even though the cost is minimal. It’s wise to research it thoroughly before deciding if it’s right for you.

What’s Included in Foster Care Adoption Cost in Arizona?

You’ll be responsible for a few costs when adopting a foster child, but you may question whether there are any incidental fees or charges that you may have to pay. Sometimes, the average cost to adopt a child from foster care in AZ can include:

• Matching and Advertising Costs (usually free through state listing services)
• Fees for the required home study
• Costs for agency services (if you go through a private agency)

You may have to pay these costs initially, but most of the costs of adoption through foster care in AZ is fully reimbursable by the state. That’s why it is the least expensive way to adopt for hopeful families.

Is the AZ Foster to Adopt Cost Higher Than the Foster Care Adoption Cost?

The cost of adoption through foster care in AZ is the same whether you simply adopt from foster care or foster to adopt first. However, there could be additional costs associated with fostering to adopt. Fostering a child means you agree to take care of a child in your home even though you can’t yet permanently adopt them. You’ll be responsible for paying for daily needs, such as housing, food, clothing, and transportation.

However, though there may be some additional costs of foster to adopt in Arizona, that cost is usually offset by subsidies from the state that help pay some of those expenses.

Why is Foster Care Adoption Cost in AZ So Minimal?

Foster care adoption cost in AZ is so low partially because there are many more children in the foster system waiting for a home than there are potential adoptive families. There are around 13,500 kids in the Arizona foster care system, and on average, 6,500 are eligible for adoption at any time.

Some children awaiting adoption in foster care have special needs requiring special medical, educational or other remedial services. It’s harder for the state to find homes for them. Another complicating factor is that many foster kids are part of a sibling group, which are usually placed together.

Adoptive parents who open their homes to these children may be eligible for adoption subsidies to help ease concerns and offset the additional cost to adopt a foster child in AZ. The intent of these subsidies is to allow adoptive parents to provide the quality services needed regardless of the additional AZ foster care adoption cost.

What does the term “special needs” mean in the context of the foster system? It could mean that the child has one or more of the traits below:

• Having medical conditions
• Being an older child (beyond 8 years old)

• Having a particular racial or ethnic background
• Having physical, mental or emotional disabilities
• Being part of a sibling group needing to be placed together

DO Adoptive Parents Get Paid to Cover Foster Care Adoption Cost in Arizona?  

No, adoptive parents aren’t paid by the state of Arizona to adopt from foster care. They can receive an adoption subsidy or reimbursement to supplement the average cost of adopting through foster care in AZ.

Part of becoming a foster parent involves proving you’re financially stable. That’s because if you do get subsidies from the state, they’re not likely to satisfy all the child’s needs. When you foster, you’re making a commitment to provide for the child fully, though there is help available to pay some of the cost of adoption through foster care in AZ.

The following assistance is provided to eligible families who ask for help:

• Payments to help with living expenses for the child, like food, clothing and shelter.
• Payment for medical, dental or other care through the Arizona Comprehensive Medical and Dental Plan (CMDP) as a supplement to the adoptive/guardianship families' private medical or dental insurance plan.
• Payments for childcare for children when both parents are working.
• Other subsidy services may be available based on the individual needs of the child, as long as there is documentation of need by appropriate professionals.

Why Should I Consider Private Domestic Adoption Even If the Cost is Higher?

Foster care adoption can be a great way to build your family, especially if the idea of providing a stable home to a waiting child in need appeals to you. If the age of the child you adopt isn’t a concern, you adopt a deserving kid through the foster care system. Foster care adoption cost in AZ can also be attractive if financial resources are an obstacle to growing your family.

Still, it’s not for everyone. Be sure to consider your adoption journey outside of the cost. There are other factors to think about regarding something as important as building a family. For instance, even if the cost for adoption through foster care in AZ may be lower, private infant adoption offers families a lot of advantages, such as:

• Chance to adopt an infant
• No preexisting trauma, attachments, or difficulties from previous adversity
• Opportunity to define your preference in your Adoption Planning Questionnaire (APQ) and find the perfect adoption opportunity
• Shorter timeline to placement due to reduced steps compared to foster care adoption
• Reduced uncertainty because birth parents provide consent before private adoption can proceed
• You don’t have to wait for the court to terminate the parental rights of biological parents before adopting
• Open adoption allows open communication between you, your child, and the birth parents
• And many more

If private infant adoption appeals to you, there’s no better agency to work with than American Adoptions. Over the years, we’ve assisted more than 13,000 families with their adoptions. Our 96% success rate in adoptions is among the leaders in the industry. We also provide 800x more marketing and promotion than leading competitors, so you can be certain to experience shorter wait times (between 9-12 months) than with other agencies.

Our staff is another big advantage because it consists of licensed social workers with compassion and years of experience. An added benefit is that many of the members of our team are also adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth mothers themselves. They know what you’re dealing with and can share how they got through it.

If you’re still questioning whether foster care adoption or infant adoption is best for you, you can speak to one of our specialists at no cost. We’re here to help 24/7. To speak with someone today, simply call 1-800-ADOPTION or complete our online form. 

Final Words on Foster Care Adoption Cost in Arizona

Navigating foster care adoption can be tough at times, even if it’s true that the cost to adopt a foster child in AZ is lower than the expense of private infant adoption. If you’re considering foster care adoption, make sure you’re diligent in researching how it works and what it can mean for you. Try not to make your choice based on cost alone.

To get answers regarding the cost of private infant adoption or foster care adoption cost in AZ, all you need to do is contact us when you’re ready to begin. Call 1-800-ADOPTION or complete our online form to speak with one of our experienced adoption professionals today.

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