Many families begin this journey unsure how to build their families. We work with families who are just discovering their options and making the decision on how to bring children into their homes and lives. To make the right decision for your family, know your choices, how that process goes, and how JFS’s Adoption and Foster Care programs can help.    

Infant Domestic Adoption-bringing a baby home from the hospital: 

In this plan, an adoptive family works with an agency, attorney, or facilitator to connect with a birth parent seeking a family to parent their unborn child. In this case, JFS could assist through completion of the home study and post -placement visits and report after placement  Since most placements occur in other states, you must have a licensed agency in PA complete your home study.   

Kinship Adoption:

If you have custody of a child who is related to you (or with whom you have a prior relationship, such as Godparent), and you are adopting, you MAY need a home study.  Please contact your attorney to learn if you do.  JFS is happy to work with families completing kinship adoptions through home study services and support. .

International Adoption-bringing a child or siblings home from a foreign country:

International adoption numbers have dropped over the past ten years for many reasons, but there are still countries seeking American families to adopt children from orphanages and foster care systems.  Each country has it’s own regulations about who can adopt and the types and ages of children available for adoption.  Most countries have signed onto the Hague Convention for Intercountry Adoption, and follow the rules of this convention regarding pre-placement training and home study processes, as well as post-placement reporting to the country of placement.  If this is your journey to adoption, please find an accredited agency that works with your country of choice.  JFS could assist through completion of the home study and post-placement visits and report after placement. 

Foster Care and/or adoption from the foster care system: 

If you believe your family’s journey is to provide a home for a child who has experienced abuse, neglect, loss and trauma, and you are ready for the challenge, then we welcome you to join with us to provide either temporary or permanent care for children in Pennsylvania’s foster care system.  P.S. We call these “Resource Families.” 

In either process, you will begin by meeting with someone from the JFS Adoption and Foster Care program.  There are three steps prior to approval to care for children:

1. Training-all Resource Families must complete thirty (30) hours of training, including broad training about the system, the impact of abuse and neglect on child’s development and behaviors, parenting, relationships with birth parents, and resources.  Each Resource Parent is also required to compelted training as a Mandated Reporter of child abuse.  
2. Assessment-this include interviews of all members of the family and references from friends and relatives, as well as a safety assessment of the home. 
3. Provision of documentation and completion of the home study (aka Family Profile).  This is the myriad documents required for approval under state regulations. We also require clearances from all adults in the home over age eighteen (18) to insure they do not have a history of violent crimes or child abuse.

A home study is a legal document that meets state requirements to license a family as foster care providers or approves that family to adopt a child.

If you have chosen what avenue to adoption you will use, the first step is finding an agency with whom you are comfortable working. Feel free to contact us at [email protected] and we will set up an orientation to our program. If you are not sure which avenue is best suited for your family to adopt, begin by reviewing the different avenues to adoption. See FAQ “How should I adopt?” Or contact us for more information at [email protected].

Adoption costs vary greatly. Below is a general comparison of costs depending on the type of adoption you are considering. Also included are JFS Adoption Program’s costs and links to other resources. For more information contact us at [email protected].

Comparison of Costs and Time Frames for Adoption

Infant Domestic Adoption:

$30,000 – $50,000 and up that is paid to agency or lawyer for infant adoption. It takes on average 2-4 years from submission of home study to identification and matching with a birth mother and placement.  It may be shorter if you are open to a minority child or one who is exposed to illegal substances prenatally. Remember that birth parents retain the legal rights to the child until those rights are terminated under their home state’s laws.

Kinship Adoption:

If your attorney determines that a home study is required for your kinship adoption, JFS is happy to provide the needed home study services. Fees for legal services are set and paid to the attorney.  

International Adoption:

$30,000 and up paid to an international agency, plus cost to travel to the child’s country of origin. The wait between submission of home study and dossier to the child’s country of origin can vary from one to five years. Some countries require two trips to the country of origin.

If you are adopting privately or internationally and are using JFS for the home study and post placement reporting, please see the JFS fee schedule in the form section

SWAN Adoption:

If you are adopting a child from foster care, then all costs for the home study, training, and placement fees including legal fees for the adoption, will be paid by the county who has custody of the child. You may be asked to pay fees for the physcial exam required for approval and in some agencies for the required criminal and child abuse clearances.  

Fees:

Home Study (as of 2020) $1,800

Home Study Update (annual) $250

Home Study Update (after three years or if closed)$750

Home Study (if another agency wrote the original)$750

Post Placement supervisory visit and report $350

• Administration for Children and Families (General Information)
• Internal Revenue Service Publication 968 (Tax Information)

1. Agency Selection
   • Depending on the type of adoption, different agencies are experts in different avenues of adoption. JFS has a positive working relationship with many other agencies.
2. Application Process
   • After selecting an agency, you will complete an application to begin the adoption process. You will participate in an orientation session. The orientation process describes realistic expectations of adopting a child.
3. Completing the Home Study
   • The Home Study is a legal document created through a series of meetings between you and an adoption professional. These meetings will give you an opportunity to gain better insight into the challenges of adopting a child. Your family must be approved by the home study agency before the matching process can begin.
4. Matching Process
   • The approved Home Study is used to share information about your family with agencies responsible for the waiting children.
5. Pre-Placement Visitation-for foster care adoptions only. 
6. Placement of children in your primary care.
7. Placement Supervision prior to the adoption hearing.
8. Adoption Finalization Hearing.

Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg serves all families– including LGBTQIA+ families, individuals, and partnered but unmarried couples. We believes these families have special strengths. JFS uplifts and supports all families that want to give youth and children a loving home.