Today I met with the domestic infant coordinator at CASI. I got lots of great information and will definitely be moving forward with a home study, which I will be able to use anywhere no matter how I decide to adopt.
I have two concerns: First, actual placement fees are based on the agency that has the baby, so I won't know until birth parents select me how much the adoption will cost. (CASI networks with 15 states and acts as the "networking" agency, not the placing agency, in out-of-state adoptions.) Refund policies also depend on the placing agency and can be as low as 40% when the birth mother changes her mind. Obviously that's not a financial risk I could take, so those low-refund agencies would have to be cut from my list.
Second, she said it takes 2 - 3 years for single parents to adopt through CASI, which is longer than what national statistics show.
Tomorrow I'm meeting with an adoption attorney who has completed several successful single-parent adoptions, so it will be good to hear his rates and methods of matching children with parents.
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