Special Needs Adoption Fees

Minnesota's Waiting Children
There are approximately 500 children available for permanent adoption from foster care in Minnesota. For Minnesota families who choose to adopt a child or sibling group from Minnesota’s Waiting Children, the State of Minnesota pays the majority of adoption expenses so there are typically very limited fees associated with this program.

Families will pay a $70 Background Study fee for each person over the age of 13 residing in the home. Additionally, families may have some out of pocket expense relating to travel in the State of MN if a matched child or sibling group resides in a different area than the family.

Additionally, some children may qualify for the Adoption Assistance Program (funded by the State of Minnesota). Depending on the individual child’s needs, this program may provide monthly financial assistance to families that have adopted children with special needs. In addition, the program provides medical assistance as a back-up to family's health insurance.

Interstate Program
In addition to the children in Minnesota, there are over 118,000 children across the United States in the foster care system waiting for their permanent adoptive homes. LSS offers families the choice to expand their search beyond the borders of Minnesota to find the child or sibling group who is the right match for their family.

Families who choose to broaden their search will pay for their adoption expenses. Generally, Interstate Program fees will include:

• $3,200 Home Study Fee
• $1,500 Interstate Program Fee
• Travel expenses will occur on a case-by-case basis
• $1,000 - $3,500 Placement Fees (based on a sliding fee scale)

Some states may reimburse families for a portion of their adoption expenses. However, each state system is different so whether a state or local county will reimburse families (and to what extent) will be unknown until a match is made. LSS attempts to keep fees under $10,000.

Combination of Programs
Families can pursue a Minnesota Special Needs Adoption and an Interstate Special Needs Adoption at the same time by completing the home study process, and searching for a child both in the State of Minnesota and in other states.

Families choosing to pursue both programs from the beginning will pay the Interstate Waiting Children program fees right from start just as you would if you were pursuing the Interstate program only. We will process your paperwork and work with you in both programs.

Families who have focused on MN Waiting Children first will have had their adoption expenses paid for by the State of Minnesota. In order to broaden their search, they can simply pay the Interstate Program fees at whatever point they choose to add the Interstate component. Once your fees are paid, LSS will reimburse the State of Minnesota for the home study process (including any annual updates that may have occurred) before assisting you in the Interstate Program process. Again, we will continue to work on your behalf in the MN program as well.

Adoption Tax Credit
A federal adoption tax credit of up to $13,170 (for 2010) may be available to help offset expenses that families incur in the adoption process. Families may want to consult with their tax advisor to see the impact in their specific case.

Ready to Begin Your Journey?
For more information on any of our adoption programs or to register for Information Meetings or training workshops, please contact:

Lynne Haggar
Adoption Program Information Specialist
612.879.5202 or 1.888.205.3769 (toll free)
Lynne.Haggar@lssmn.org