Special Needs Adoption
Fees
Minnesota's Waiting Children
The State of Minnesota incurs most adoption costs so there
are typically no fees associated with this program.
The Adoption Assistance Program,
funded by the State of Minnesota currently provides monthly
financial assistance to families that have adopted special needs
children. In addition, the program provides medical assistance
as a back-up to family's health insurance.
Interstate Program
Because there is no national contract that provides
uniformity of fees for Special Needs adoptions, each Interstate
Special Needs case will be reviewed individually to determine
costs. Because each state system is different, exact fees will
be unknown until a match is made. LSS attempts to keep fees
under $10,000.
Generally, Interstate Program
fees will include:
- $500 Application Fee; due with application
- $1,500 Program Fee; due at the
time service begins
- $3100 Home Study Fee; due upon
initiation of home study
- Travel expenses will occur on
a case-by-case basis
- Placement Fees are based on a
sliding fee scale
Contact your LSS Adoption worker
for more information.
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.
Initially, the home study fee
will be paid for by the State of Minnesota (family must meet
criteria of being open to adopting a child/children over age 6).
The family pays the Interstate Special Needs Program Fee of $800
in order to find matches in states other than Minnesota. If a
match is found in a different state, the family would then
reimburse LSS and the state for their home study fee of $3100.
Travel expenses and placement fees may also occur if the child
is from another state.
As these situations can become
complex, further discussion with your adoption worker about your
plans will be a part of the home study process.
Adoption Tax Credit
A Federal tax credit in the amount of $10,000 per child is
currently available to many families who adopt a child with
special needs.
IRS Publication 968
