Fees apply to private services only. Each service is provided separately.
Adoption Study (3 COPIES OF REPORT
INCLUDED*) $1,125.00
Intake fee (due at the
time of application): $ 100.00
Assessment
fee (due at the initial home visit): $1025.00
The adoption study is a written assessment of the prospective adoptive
family and home which includes:
Home visits (3)*
o
Initial home
visit and interview with the prospective adoptive parents
o
Individual
interview with each member of the prospective adoptive family
o
Complete
inspection of the home to assess availability of space, safety, etc.
o
Review of the
completed home study with the prospective adoptive parents
References
o
Character
references from three friends and two relatives
o
Employer
references
Employment
verification and history
Motivation
and understanding of adoption
Complete
personal history of each prospective adoptive parent
o
Childhood-
siblings, parents, discipline, value systems
o
Educational
history
o
Hobbies/Interests
o
Strengths,
weaknesses, personality, emotional/mental stability
Marriage
o
Marital history
and information on current marriage relationship
o
Children
Family
lifestyle
o
Structure,
lifestyle, typical home life
Child
rearing patterns- including philosophy and methods of discipline
Financial
Situation
o
A copy of the
last submitted federal return is required
Medical
history*
o
Current physical
on each member of the family (within one year)
o
Explanation of
any medical diagnoses
Child
abuse and neglect screening
Police
background screening- fingerprint*
Some of the information
gathered also comes from questionnaires that each prospective parent must
complete. Additionally, copies of birth
certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, financial paperwork and any
other documents needed to accurately complete the study are required. International adoption studies may require
additional information; requirements vary by country.
Annual assessment updates are
required until placement of a child or until the family withdraws from the
program. The cost of the annual
assessment update is $250.00.
Adoption Update (FEE IS DUE AT TIME OF
INTAKE) $
500.00
(3 COPIES OF THE REPORT
INCLUDED*)
The initial assessment completed by the prior agency is required. Information must be current within one
year.
Please refer to the adoption study for the format and process.
Post-placement Services (FEE IS DUE AT INITIAL VISIT) $ 500.00
Services include:
Home visits
o
1 home visit
every three months (6 months to finalization as per MO statute)
o
Additional
visits for each 3-month period beyond 6 months are billed at $ 250.00 per visit.
o
Additional home
visits within each 3-month period can be scheduled as needed for $150.00 per
visit.
Court Reports (one report for each home visit and 2
copies included*) including
o
Child’s birth
and placement information
o
Child’s medical
information such as well baby visits, concerns, progress
o
Family adjustment to placement including
routine and sibling adjustment
Court appearances (if necessary)
Guardianship Suitability Study*** $
350.00
(2 COPIES OF THE REPORT INCLUDED*)
(Fee is due at the time of the home visit
if not provided prior by petitioner’s lawyer)
The guardianship study
includes:
Home visit
o
At least one
home visit to assess condition, space, and safety standards
Police background screening (fingerprint checks are not
generally required)*
Current physicals (within one year) if required*
***STUDIES VARY BY COUNTY OF
JURISDICTION. THE STUDY WILL BE
COMPLETED ACCORDING TO THE FORM AND GUIDELINES OF THE COUNTY OF
JURISDICTION.
*Additional Expenses
4
Families living
over 50 miles from the agency location will be charged for additional mileage
at the current state rate.
4
Fees
for medical expenses for physicals are not included. Payment for services rendered is the responsibility of the
prospective adoptive family.
4
Fees
for police screenings are not included.
Payment for the service is the responsibility of the prospective
adoptive family. Fees vary by type of
screening and by state. Families who
have resided in Missouri less than 5 years may be required to have clearances
completed in prior states of residence.
4
Additional
copies of studies and reports are $25.00 per copy.
Methods of Payment
4
Cash
4
Money Order
4
Checks- made
payable to Bringing Families Together
o
Accounts with checks returned for
insufficient funds will be charged the bank handling fees incurred by our
agency. The amount due will be the
service fee plus any additional bank handling charges. Only money orders or cash will be accepted
for accounts with checks returned for insufficient funds.
o
Post-dated
checks will not be accepted.
o
Starter
checks will not be accepted.
o
REPORTS WILL NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL ALL CHECKS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED AND
PAYMENTS RECEIVED.
4
A late fee of
$25.00 will be charged for each thirty (30) day period that payment is late.
Reports and assessments will not be released
until services have been paid for in full.