AGCI is blessed to support pregnant women who are not ready to parent through counseling and practical assistance. AGCI provides these services directly to pregnant women in our five licensed states and works with agencies in other states across the country. AGCI is proud to work with loving adoptive families from Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky who are ready for an open adoption.
Each prospective adoptive family creates a family album that is shown to birthparents during the last trimester of pregnancy. Birthparents may select more than one family to talk to on the phone or meet in person before making their final decision.
In this open adoption, birthparents choose the adoptive family that they want to raise their child. Together, the birthparents and the adoptive family develop a plan for ongoing visits and the exchange of letters, photos, etc.
Families may travel to the birthparents’ state of residence for the birth of the child and placement will usually occur at the hospital where the child is born. Adoptive families will remain in the birthparents’ state of residence for the waiting period and until Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) clears both states, if travel is necessary.
Available Children
Children available for adoption are newborns and young infants of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Families must be open to all backgrounds and either gender. Families should be prepared that children may have been exposed to drugs and alcohol in utero, and have experienced other known and unknown risk factors. Adoptive families need to be aware that their child may have undiagnosed medical and/or mental health issues that may not be known until after placement.
Home Study Process
Once contracted with AGCI, your next step is to complete your home study. During the home study process, you will complete online training. You will also create a birthparent album with the help of AGCI. Once the home study is complete, you will begin the waiting process.
Waiting Process
After completion of your home study, your family album will be shown to birthparents. Your album may be shown to several birthparents before one selects you as the adoptive family for their child. Each family’s timeframe for an adoption is unknown as birth parents select the family for their child. There is the potential that some adoptive families may not be selected by a birth family.
Matching Process
Once a birthparent selects your family, AGCI will arrange a phone conversation or visit with you and the birthparents. After this call or visit and the review of available medical and social history, you will have the opportunity to decide if you wish to move forward with the match. The birthparents will also decide if they would like to move forward with the match. Once a match is agreed upon, AGCI will work with you and the birthparents to develop an Open Adoption Agreement.
Placement Process
Placement of the child will typically occur when the child is discharged from the hospital. The birthmother can sign her relinquishment of parental rights after the state-required waiting period. Your family may need to travel to and stay in the birthmother’s state of residence during the waiting period and until ICPC clearance is obtained in both states.
Post-Placement Process
Upon placement of the child in your home, post-placement visits are required for up to 12 months before the adoption can be finalized in your state’s courts.
Parents who are between the ages of 25 and 49 are welcome to adopt.
Marriage Status
Couples need to be married at least one year.
Divorce
Permitted (maximum of two per spouse).
Gender & Ethnicity Preference
Families entering this program will be open to adopting a child of either gender and any ethnicity.
Children in Family
Families should have no more than one child in the home.
Income
Families will have a positive net worth and an income of at least $10,000 per family member, including the adopted child.
Criminal History
All criminal history is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants can have no history of felonies.
Medical History
All medical conditions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants with a past or current diagnosis of a communicable or life-threatening disease or other condition that impairs their ability to parent and/or the quality of life of a child are ineligible.
Confirm your eligibility by completing a free no-obligation pre-application:
The following breakdowns provide a typical range of expenses, with an overview of what is included in each category. Actual costs may vary.
Application Fee: $350
Initial assessment of your family’s information to assure that all requirements can be met to complete an adoption in your chosen program.
Training: $200 (approximately)
Families must complete adoption training through Adoption Learning Partners and in-person training.
Home Study Services: $2,200
This is the education process where a licensed social worker will partner with your family to help prepare you for the challenges ahead as an adoptive parent. Mileage and travel fees for your home study provider may be additional.
Program Fee: $6,000
Provides staff and services from AGCI throughout the adoption process, and through the post-adoption phase. Unlike many agencies, AGCI always welcomes your call.
Placing Agency Fee: $12,000-$28,500
Provides for birthmother support, counseling, administrative expenses, court and attorney fees in the birth mother’s state and other costs from the placing agency to complete the adoption.
Post-Placement Fee: $1,975
These fees provide for the creation, administration, and filing of your post-adoption reports.
Travel: $2,000 (varies)
Costs associated with travel to pick up your child.
Attorney Fees: (varies)
Legal costs throughout the adoption process.
