Frequently asked questions about adoption and “Spirit of Faith Adoptions”
 
1. Why Adopt?
At Spirit of Faith Adoptions, we believe that God intended all human beings to experience family love. Our families are intended to provide us with care, comfort, nurture, a sense of belonging and, perhaps most important, a setting in which to learn and grow spiritually. Adoption enables children who might not otherwise know the love and care of a family to participate in God’s plan for life. When done for the right reasons, adoption is pleasing to God. Choosing adoption can be one of the most rewarding purposes in life. If you are seeking discernment as to whether or not God is calling you to adopt or to simply pray for others who are considering adoption, we recommend “Adopted for Life” by Russell Moore. 

2. Why Should I Consider a Domestic Adoption?
A domestic adoption can enable an adoptive family to receive a newborn infant which is usually not the case in an international adoption. A domestic adoption does not require international travel and is typically less expensive than an international adoption. In addition, a domestic adoption offers the possibility of more complete information concerning the medical and social information provided by the birth family. For more information on domestic adoption, click here.
 
3. Why Should I Consider an International Adoption?
An international adoption offers the possibility of adding a varied cultural experience to your family. International adoptions are usually closed and this fact combined with the financial limitations in most countries where international adoptions occur make it unlikely that an adoptive family will be contacted in the future by the child’s birth family. For information on our international programs, click here.
 
4. Why Should I Select Spirit of Faith Adoptions?
Spirit of Faith Adoptions is dedicated to personal attention and care for those persons involved in every adoption. Spirit of Faith’s administrator and founder is an adoptive parent and has been involved in the adoption field for over a decade. There are many excellent adoption agencies but Spirit of Faith Adoptions is committed to serving its’ clients in a Christian manner that demonstrates that their adoption is a very personal and intimate experience that has been prayed over and blessed by God. 

5. How much does it cost to adopt?
Typically, the cost of a domestic adoption is approximately $7,500–$20,000. The cost of an international adoption can range from $17,000–$35,000, depending on the country form which the adoption will occur. A fee schedule will be provided to all families when the initial inquiry form is submitted to Spirit of Faith Adoptions. This includes a sliding fee scale for the home study and agency fees as well as an approximation of additional fees that might apply depending on the specifics of your adoption.
 
6. How long does it take to adopt?
No adoption agency can guarantee how long it will take to adopt, and any particular adoption can encounter obstacles. In the case of an international adoption, political and regulatory issues can emerge that may delay or hinder adoptions. That said, a rough rule of thumb is that an international adoption may be completed in about six months to four years, depending on the country selected. Spirit of Faith Adoptions works closely with applicants to complete the home study and accompanying paperwork as efficiently as possible, usually within 30-120 days from the time of application. Once the home study is completed, the time frame for a domestic adoptive placement can vary from a few months to up to 1-2 years. In both domestic and international adoptions, older children or children with special needs may be adopted more quickly.
 
7. What Does Adoption Mean?
Legally, adoption means that a child has the same rights and status as a child born biologically to parents. Once an adoption is complete, there is almost no risk that a child can be returned to his or her biological parent(s) except in the case of a procedural error or mistake, which is extremely rare. In the case of a domestic adoption in the state of Ohio, there can be no challenge to an adoption of a child after one year following finalization of an adoption. Legal challenges to adoptions are rare and very difficult for a challenging party to win. In the case of an international adoption, the risk that a child could be returned to his or her biological parents is virtually nonexistent. Emotionally and spiritually, adoption means that the adoptive parents have assumed the responsibility of guiding, providing for and loving the child that God has placed in their care and, in return, will receive the challenges and joys that accompany every parent/child relationship.
 
8. What is a Home Study and Do I Need One?
A home study is an assessment of a prospective parent(s)’ capability to provide a secure, safe and loving home for a child and it must be conducted by a licensed social worker or professional counselor that has completed state mandated Adoption Assessor training. All adoptions, domestic or international, must be preceded by a home study.
 
9. Am I Eligible to Adopt?
In an international adoption, individual countries establish the rules concerning what persons are eligible to adopt. These rules are described more completely in our “International Programs” page. For a domestic adoption, there are few restrictions, provided that a valid home study has been approved. Spirit of Faith Adoptions is a Christian agency and believes that children should be raised in homes where God’s principles regarding family relationships are promoted.
 
10. How is an adoption funded?
Many people wonder why adoptions are costly. Some fear that “baby selling,” or other unethical activities are involved. Spirit of Faith Adoptions condemns unethical practices such as these. Nevertheless, there are many legitimate and necessary costs that contribute to the overall adoption process. These costs include services provided by Spirit of Faith Adoptions to the prospective adoptive parents and to the birth parents, as well as administrative costs, such as advertising and licensing. There is no charge to birth parents for services provided by Spirit of Faith Adoptions. The fee for each service is paid for by the adoptive family and are payable at the time of completion of that service. An estimate of total fees for each adoption will be provided by the Administrator prior to the completion of the adoptive placement. Spirit of Faith Adoptions is a non-profit, 501 C-3 adoption agency. Spirit of Faith Adoptions welcomes tax-deductible contributions from family and friends of a designated waiting family. In addition, there is an Ohio Tax Credit and a Federal Adoption Tax Credit that is available to adoptive families in the year in which your adoptive placement is finalized in court. Waiting families get creative with raising funds to cover their adoption expenses. Some have hosted spaghetti dinners at their churches, held car washes and/or sent out letters of support to family and friends. In addition, some employers offer adoption benefit programs. More information about this can be found at www.davethomasfoundation.org .