Orphan Statistics:
- Today, there are approximately 143,000,000 orphans worldwide.
- There are an additional 20,000,000 children who have been displaced from their families.
- There are approximately 450,000 children in the US foster care system.
- In the US, approximately 25,000 children will leave the foster care system without a family. 25% of them will become homeless. 56% will join the unemployment ranks.
- Worldwide, many orphans will not live to see their 20th birthday. Often they are drafted into organized crime, drugs, and prostitution.
- The biggest barrier to orphans being adopted into loving families is the cost of adoption (the average cost of domestic adoption today is $25,000).
Adoption Avenues:
Through the state
Foster care: Foster parents often receive a small daily stipend to cover some of the costs of caring for the child. Ultimate goal is to return the child(ren) to his or her birth family. Foster parents are an interim care while the child’s family gets the help they need to parent again. This is not adoption because the care of the child(ren) is temporary but greatly needed.
Foster-to-adopt: Foster parents may be able to adopt the child(ren) if the environment is deemed unsafe for the child(ren) to return. These adoptions are usually inexpensive or at no cost.
Adopting through the state: Adoptive parents can choose to only adopt (no foster care involved). The children who are ready for adoption through the state are usually older than 7 and have often experienced emotional hardships.
Private adoption: Adoptive family and Birth parents meet and agree to an adoption plan without the use of an adoption agency. Costs vary based on attorney fees (both adoptive and birth parents need an attorney). Sometimes the adoptive parents with help the birth mother with certain costs related to the pregnancy.
Through an agency
Domestic
Same-state: Agency communicates directly with birth parents and attorney. Costs vary depending on agency fees. Adoptive parents and birth parents are in the same state but may be located in different cities. Only one attorney needs to be involved. Least expensive option if you want to use an agency.
Inter-state: More expensive than same-state adoptions because adoptive family is located in a different state than birth parents. Two agencies may be involved. Two attorneys are necessary (one from each state), and state adoption laws must be followed for both states.
International: Adoptive family decides in which country to adopt based on many factors. Agency walks them through the process. Often very expensive, but adoptive family is also often saving the life of the child(ren) they bring home.
LifeSong
CTR has partnered with LifeSong to create an adoption fund for our church members. LifeSong takes applications from adoptive parents who are members of CTR and who have already completed their home study process. LifeSong reviews their application and will decide if the adoptive family is eligible for funding with either a matching grant or an interest free loan. The money must be raised by CTR – through special offerings or donations, alleviating as much of the financial burden of adoption as possible. Anyone who donates money toward the adoption will receive a tax deductible receipt from LifeSong. And the church comes together to bring a child into its midst!