Are You Financially Ready for Adoption in Lafayette?

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If you are considering adoption, it is crucial to be financially prepared. While a certain annual income is not explicitly required to adopt, families must live over the federal poverty level. In addition to income, adopting families should also take additional expenses into account. From adoption fees to post-placement living expenses, the process calls for financial stability. Let St. Elizabeth Foundation help you grasp the necessary costs associated with adoption and give you guidance on how to be financially ready for adoption in Lafayette.

How Can You Be Better Prepared?

On average, domestic adoptions through private agencies in the United States range from $20,000 to $40,000. While this expense may seem like a major hurdle in your adoption journey, there are a few methods you can use to help offset the financial stress. Follow these tips to help prepare your finances for this important investment.

1. Understand Your Full Range of Expenses

There are many costs associated with adoption. These include financing your home study, legal expenses, professional counseling, and education before finalizing your adoption in Lafayette. After your adoption has been completed, you will also have doctor’s visits, newborn care, food, diapers, and more to afford. Your financial obligations may seem overwhelming when looking at your total expense, but prioritize your understanding of each piece of your financial plan. Each cost comes with an essential purpose to ensure that you and your home are in the best possible condition to welcome a new child. 

In some circumstances, government financial aid may be available. For example, children with special needs may be eligible for an adoption subsidy. Consult with the experts at St. Elizabeth Foundation to learn what expenses to expect and which opportunities you may be able to find for financial assistance.

2. Make Sure Your Finances Are in Order

Before beginning your adoption journey in Lafayette, you will want to take a realistic look at your finances. If your money is already in a precarious position, this will not be sustainable after your adoption. It is especially important to restructure your finances before your adoption agency conducts a home study. This will evaluate not only the state of your living arrangements but also your income, debts, and proof of health insurance. It is important to make sure that families are living within their means so that they can adequately support the financial, medical, and educational needs of a new family member. 

3. Start Saving Early

If your family is confident that adoption is right for you, it is best to begin saving as soon as possible. The adoption process itself may take some time to finalize, so take advantage of the period you have to save. Note areas in your budget where you may be overspending, and instead put this extra money aside into your adoption fund. Cut back on travel or eating out and save this money in a secure account. Fundraisers, garage sales, and family donations are also effective ways to help fund your adoption. Make sure to immediately place any earnings from these events directly into your adoption savings. By beginning these healthy saving practices early, you can better offset your adoption costs when you’re ready to begin the process.

Ready for Adoption in Lafayette? Reach Out to St. Elizabeth Foundation

While adoption is a financial commitment, beginning your road to adoption in Lafayette is a beautiful and rewarding journey that is well worth the expense. Interested in the adoption process? Reach out to us today to learn more. Give us a call at 225-769-8888 or send us a message for more information. We look forward to helping you build a happy family.

How Does Private Adoption Work in Louisiana?

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Adoption can feel like a complicated process, especially when you’re first getting into it. However, it doesn’t have to be. With the right professionals, you can find the answers you need to complete your family. But how does private adoption work in Louisiana in the first place? Let’s go through the laws and the different processes to see how the professionals at St. Elizabeth Foundation can help you. 

Louisiana Laws

Adoption laws vary from state to state. In the state of Louisiana, there are a few requirements to meet. To become an adoptive parent in Louisiana, you must be at least 18 years old. You may adopt if you’re a single person, but married couples must petition jointly. You must also be able to prove your citizenship or legal alien status, stable income, sufficient physical and mental health for child care, and completion of adoptive parent training. Additionally, your home must also meet a certain set of requirements. This includes having a working telephone, working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, restricted areas for aggressive animals, and a secure place for hazardous chemicals or weapons. 

In addition to these laws, our agency has its own requirements for adoptive parents. The couple must be married for at least five years to be eligible to adopt through St. Elizabeth Foundation, for example.

It is also important to note that in Louisiana, a birth mother may give her consent to adoption up to three days after the child is born through an agency or five days after the child is born if it’s a private adoption. If all of this is confusing or if you would like to know more, feel free to give us a call. We’re more than happy to explain the process.

Open vs. Semi-Open vs. Closed Adoption

If you’re new to the world of adoption, you may have an idea of what the process looks like already. However, there’s not just one way that adoptions can work. You have open, closed, and semi-open adoptions available to you. Depending on the state, only private adoption agencies can provide open adoptions. Let’s discuss the different types at our Louisiana adoption agency and see which one could work for your family.

Open adoption is the most common type of adoption these days. In this process, the expecting mother and the adopting parents are in close contact and communication with one another throughout the pregnancy and through the child’s life. 

On the other hand, if you aren’t sure how to navigate this process but want to keep in contact, semi-open adoption may be the best option. With this, St. Elizabeth Foundation helps facilitate better communication between the birth parents and adoptive families. Our agency specializes in semi-open adoptions. A majority of our adoptions are semi-open and give people the confidence that we’ll handle everyone’s boundaries professionally. 

Lastly, closed adoptions might be the best choice for those who don’t want any contact between the two parties after placement. For a closed adoption, the birth mother chooses the adoptive family from their family profile book, just as she would with open and semi-open adoptions. The family profile books all have the same limited information. She also can meet the family before the baby is born and communicate with them as much or little as she likes. The main difference in this plan is what happens after the child is born and placement occurs. 

If you still aren’t sure what choice is right for you, feel free to give us a call. We can discuss more about the process and about how private adoption works in Louisiana. 

Considering Private Adoption in Louisiana? Choose St. Elizabeth

When you’re ready to begin the process, you need an agency that’s on your side. Luckily, no matter if you’re expecting or are a family looking to adopt, St. Elizabeth Foundation is on your side. Get in touch with our private adoption agency in Louisiana and trust us to get everything sailing smoothly for you.

If you have a question or are looking to begin the process, reach us by calling 225-769-8888. We would love to answer any questions you have for us to ensure you start your family worry-free.

What Are the Requirements for Adoption in Louisiana?

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If you have decided to move forward with adoption, you should first make sure that you meet all requirements and qualifications for adoption in your state. In Louisiana, this entails a thorough review of your home, finances, and mental health. These tasks, though in-depth, prepare you to bring a new member into your home and provide them with the best quality of life possible! If you are considering adoption in Louisiana, St. Elizabeth Foundation is here to help you understand your benchmarks and get you started on the path to welcoming a new child into your home.

What Are Your Initial Qualifications?

At St. Elizabeth Foundation, any adopting family must first meet a few standards to be eligible to adopt. The adopters must be a married couple who have been married for a minimum of 5 years. The couple should be at least 24 years of age and legal citizens of the United States. While there are no requirements on how many children are in the home, it is important to note that part of St. Elizabeth’s mission is to help couples who are struggling or unable to have biological children. 

If you have a convicted felony charge from the past, this must be reviewed by a social worker and approved. Non-violent crimes and proof that you have progressed positively since its occurrence may still allow you to adopt. However, violent crimes—especially if a child was involved—do not make your chances for adopting likely. Mental and physical health is necessary to be deemed worthy of taking in a new child, as is financial stability. You will also be required to undergo training for adoptive parents to best prepare for the path ahead of you.

Since you will be welcoming a new child into your home, a screening of your living environment is standard practice. Pets will be observed for any aggressive behavior. If they prove to be a possible danger to the child, they must be rehomed or restricted to other areas of the house for safety. Aside from needing a working home or cellphone, you must also have functioning smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

What Are the Emotional Requirements?

Adoption is an emotional process, as one might already assume. This is why it is essential to be in the right state of mind and emotional health to be ready for this new adjustment. Some parents may come from past trauma, such as a miscarriage, infertility, or an abusive home. It is important that you have given yourself space to grieve and cope, whether that is through therapy, on your own, or with a partner. You should also develop a support system including family, friends, and your spouse who can join in the excitement and offer the emotional stability you need throughout your adoption journey. 

Be prepared for ups and downs throughout your process. This is a natural part of committing to adoption. But, remember that adoption is a beautiful, exciting, selfless experience. Whether you have children of your own or not, make sure that you can deliver the same joy and acceptance that your new child will need. 

Begin Your Adoption Process in Louisiana With St. Elizabeth’s

If you have met all necessary physical and emotional requirements for adoption in Louisiana, it’s time to begin the process. With St. Elizabeth Foundation, you can connect with birth mothers through open, semi-open, or closed adoption processes. Begin by applying for adoption. Then, we will move forward with a home study to ensure that your living environment is safe and secure for your new little one. Then, our birth mothers can choose the adoptive parents for their babies. Are you ready to learn more? Request information from our website, or call us at 225-769-8888. We look forward to helping guide you through this process!