Independent Adoption Center
Is This Your Business?1.7
1.7
Author: Kalicia Bateman
Independent Adoption Center is fully licensed in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, and Texas. The agency can work with birthparents and adoptive families in almost every other state in the U.S. when working in tangent with a cooperative agency in that state. The agency has been operating for over 34 years, has placed over 4,300 newborns since that time.
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The Good
- Income-based fee structure
- LGBTQ inclusive
- Wait time statistics by family type
- Post-adoption support
Income-Based Fee Structure
IAC is unique in that it offers fees on a sliding scale correlated to income. The average fees paid to the agency range from $11,350-25,065. The following fee breakdown includes the range from the lowest income bracket to the highest bracket (visit the agency's website to see detailed charts).
- Application fee: $250
- Initial join fee: $8,350-17,785
- Birthparent services: $1,500-3,640
- Fee due at birth: $1,500-3,640
- Total agency Fees: $11,350-25,065
- (average: $18,208)
Additional expenses include medical expenses, pregnancy-related birthmother expenses (such as housing, food, and clothing), travel expenses and legal fees. The average total for these additional fees is $12,050 for instate (where IAC is specifically licensed - CA, CT, FL, GA, IN, NC, NY, TX) and $18,800 for out of state. Total average fees, agency+ third-party: $30,258 for instate, $37,008 for out of state. Despite the standard fee amounts listed, the agency gives clients the rights to establish financial limits. Expenses are generally spread out over a 9-18 month period, but a 6 month payment plan is also available. The client pays $2,000-3,500 at contract, then 5 monthly payments of $1,270-2,587. IAC alumni have a separate fee structure.
LGBTQ Inclusive
IAC is welcoming to all types of adoptive families. There are no exclusions regarding race, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. They make a special effort to embrace LGBTQ individuals and couples. The agency includes LGBTQ parenting terminology in their Google advertising campaign, provides a lifetime membership to their online support group, and sends all LGBTQ family profiles to birthparents unless they are specifically asked not to. IAC does not use a waiting list, so adoptive families are eligible to match as soon as they are approved.
Wait Time Statistics by Family Type
IAC provides statistics about different wait times based on family type and racial/cultural background, as well as overall mean and median wait times. These wait times are defined as the date family is "live" on the website to placement. Wait time averages vary slightly by family type adopting, as well as ethnic and racial backgrounds of the adoptive family. While not definitive or indicative of a particular family's expected wait time, these numbers can be helpful nonetheless. Wait times based on family type:
- Families with children: 14.5 months
- Single parent families: 15 months
- Heterosexual couple families: 16.5 months
- Gay male couple families: 17 months
- Lesbian couple families: 18 months
Post-Adoption Support
IAC offers lifetime support for birth families and unlimited support for adoptive families for one year after placement. Adopted children can receive up to two counseling sessions per year until they are 18 years old. The agency also offers online support groups, available indefinitely.
The Bad
- Open adoptions only
- Wait time
Open Adoptions Only
IAC only does open adoptions. They believe it is the "healthiest form of adoption for everyone involved" because it removes the secrecy surrounding adoption and creates an accepting and loving alternative to anonymity. The extent of openness of the relationship and future contact is discussed and agreed to prior to the birth of the child. Regardless of what may or may not be best for an adopted child, there are birthparents and adoptive parents alike who prefer a closed adoption, which rules out this agency.
Wait Time
While IAC is certainly not the only agency to expect this from, clients should be aware that wait times can be substantial despite what the company advertises. The agency lists several different wait times (12 months, 15 months, and 16.5 months as "the average wait time") on various parts of their website and packet information materials, so consistency is a concern. The most precise wait time statistics are as follows: Average wait time: 16.5 months Median wait time: 14 months 42% of families place within 12 months 93% of families place within 36 months However, many families wait much longer, up to three years or more. Though the agency placed 135 children in 2015 and consistently places about 150 children each year, there are over 500 families currently waiting in the system.
The Bottom Line
Independent Adoption Center is unique in that it charges fees according to what adoptive families can reasonably pay, making adoption feasible for parents who cannot afford to adopt through another agency. IAC is all about helping parents know what to expect in specific terms, whether it's their fee breakdown or wait time statistics by family type. While many agencies specialize in one or two states, IAC provides full adoption services in 8 states, with various services throughout the country. Their post-adoption support is excellent and they are as inclusive as an agency can get as far as eligibility requirements. However, with inclusivity comes a large pool of waiting families, increasing average wait times overall.
