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Adoption Services
Some common questions we encounter from potential adoptive families include:
Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption?
- What kind of children are available for adoption?
- What does it cost to adopt a child?
- How long does it take?
- What are some of the requirements for adoptive parents?
- How do I find out more about adoption?
- FCA is a member of what adoptive organizations?
Fairbanks Counseling & Adoption?
Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption (FCA) is a private, non-profit agency located in Fairbanks, Alaska. FCA has been providing adoption services since 1977 and is licensed by the State of Alaska, Department of Health and Social Services. Our Adoption Department assists families and individuals who are interested in adopting a child, and we provide a variety of post-placement services. If you are interested in placing your child for adoption, please visit our Pregnancy Counseling page.
Back to top.What kind of children are available for adoption?
Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption places and facilitates the placement of both healthy and special needs children of all ages and racial backgrounds. We are a small agency and directly place only three to seven children each year. Most are healthy infants. Special needs children are those who, because of their age, race, sibling status, disability, or history of abuse, are less likely to be adopted, and often require more effort from the adoptive parents to be incorporated successfully into the family system. FCA also assists with international adoptions, and recently we have worked with families adopting from Russia and China.
Back to top.What does it cost to adopt a child?
For local, healthy infant adoptions, FCA's fee is $8,500. For special needs and/or interstate/international adoptions, FCA's fee runs between $2,325 and $2,875. Families who adopt an Alaskan special needs child may be eligible for up to $2,000 reimbursement from the State of Alaska. Military personnel can apply for a $2,000 reimbursement from the Federal government. FCA adoption fees typically include the homestudy, child research, case management, post-placement follow-up, and support services. For domestic adoptions, applicants should anticipate additional legal and medical expenses. For international adoptions, anticipate fees to the cooperating agency, as well as travel and related expenses. Presently there is a tax credit of $5,000 available to families adopting children from the U.S. and internationally. A $6,000 tax credit is available to families adopting U.S. special needs children. Also, FCA offers monthly payment plans. (All fees listed are approximate and web page updates are often delayed.)
Back to top.How long does it take?
For local and in country infant adoptions, the time from application to placement cannot be predicted. In most cases birthparents select the adoptive family so it is not possible to know when that will occur. In the past, waits have ranged from six months to three years, with an average wait of one to two years. For minority families, the wait is usually less than one year. For international/interstate adoption, waits vary depending on the country and the cooperating agency, with an average wait of one to two years.
Back to top.What are some of the requirements for adoptive parents?
All applicants are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. FCA does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, marital status, religion, employment, or financial status. For married families, most international programs require at least one year of marriage. There are many minority children available for adoption and we strongly encourage minority families to apply.
Adoptive families are usually selected by the birthparents. Often there is some level of "openness" with FCA adoptions, i.e. some contact between the birthparent and adoptive parents before and after the placement of a child. Each adoption is unique and is arranged according to the wishes of the birthparents and adoptive parents. FCA acts as a facilitator and mediator in the process.
Most of the birthparents helped by FCA prefer to place their child with Alaskan families. However, we occasionally have a request for an out-of-state family, and we accept completed out- of-state homestudies and family profiles to share with our birthparents.
Back to top.How do I find out more about adoption?
Call or stop by Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption and request an Adoption Information Packet. We're located at 912 Barnette Street and our phone number is (907) 456-4729. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 71544, Fairbanks, Alaska 99707. Email: fcaalaska.org
