Foster Care Agencies in Iowa

When you are deciding how to grow your family through adoption, you have three options:

• Domestic infant adoption

• International adoption

• Foster care adoption

When it comes to foster care adoption, you’ll work with local foster care agencies to grow your family.

To get more free information about foster care agencies near you, fill out this form.

Foster Care Agencies

Foster care agencies facilitate foster care adoptions but differ from other adoption agencies because they are state-run. When it comes to adoption, foster care adoption agencies are vassals of the state in terms of coordinating foster care.

These state-run agencies have the authority to license adoptive families and issue certification.

The goal of foster care is to provide temporary are for a child until they can be reunited with their biological family. If they can’t return to that family for whatever reason, they will become available for adoption.

Local foster care adoption agencies in Iowa have different parameters for the adoption requirements than private adoption agencies:

The Child’s Age

Private Adoption: Infant

State Adoption: Less than 1 year old to 21 years old

Private adoption agencies can work to place older children on a case-by-case basis but the majority of adoption agencies typically only place up to the age of 4 because that’s where most of their services are geared toward.

It is possible to adopt a baby through a local foster care agency, but the median age in Iowa for foster care adoption is 8 years old.

The Adoption Costs

Private Adoption: $50,000-$70,000+

State Adoption: Free to minimal

Cost is a common concern when it comes to adoption and growing your family. Private adoption costs can vary depending on the professional you choose to work with.

Adoption with an agency can incur agency fees ranging from matching and marketing fees to agency operating costs. That doesn’t even factor in variable adoption costs such as medical expenses, legal fees, travel, living expenses and more.

Adoption with us means never losing your money. We know how big of an investment adoption is, emotionally and fiscally. That’s why we offer financial protection through our Risk-Sharing program.

Foster care agency adoptions can cost very little, comparatively. In terms of cost, there’s your time and sometimes the cost of the home study. But in Iowa, there is no cost to you to adopt a child from their foster care system.

The Iowa Department of Human Services provides you with orientation, training, licensing and support services for free.

Contact us online to learn more about foster care agencies and the impact they can have on your journey.

The Adoption Wait Times

Private Adoption: Average of 12 months

State Adoption: As little as 9 months

We will do everything we can to make your dreams of becoming parents come true as quickly as possible. Our wait times are transparent and honest, you’ll never have to wait longer than necessary to begin life with the family you’ve been dreaming of.

Where to Find Foster Care Agencies Near You in Iowa

When it comes to the best foster care agencies near you, here are your options:

• Four Oaks – (Ankeny, Bertram, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Grinnell, Independence, Iowa City, Marion, Mason City, Otumwa, Waterloo)

  • 319-364-0259

• Lutheran Services in Iowa – (Ames, Charles City, Clinton, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Denison, Des Moines, Dubuque, Manchester, Maquoketa, Marshalltown, Mason City, Muscatine, Sioux City, Spencer, Storm Lake, Waterloo, Waukon, Waverly)

  • 319-352-2630

Use our online form to get more free information about the best foster care agencies near you in Iowa. 

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.