Fee Schedule

Please review our Fee Schedule below (revised November 1, 2025).

Note: The fees associated with each step/service are non-refundable and due at the time of service. All fees must be paid prior to advancing to the next subsequent step as outlined below.

STEP ONE

  • Step 1:

    Initial Inquiry Form + Christian Covenant Form

  • Associated Fee:

    $0

  • Additional Note:

    N/A

  • Step 1 (Continued):

    Introduction to Spirit of Faith Adoptions:
    Voices of Adoption Zoom Seminar

  • Associated Fee:

    $0

  • Additional Note:

    N/A

STEP TWO

  • Step 2:

    Application for Child Placement

  • Associated Fee:

    $1,375.00

  • Additional Note:

    N/A

STEP THREE

  • Step 3:

    Home Study Assessment

  • Associated Fee:

    $3,300.00

  • Additional Note:

    This fee includes both a foster care home study and an adoption home study.

  • Step 3 (Alt):

    Welcome to SOFA

  • Associated Fee:

    $2,650.00

  • Additional Note:

    This applies only to a foster/adoptive family from an Ohio licensed adoption agency with currently approved home study.

  • Step 3 (Continued):

    180 Day Late Fee

  • Associated Fee:

    $500.00

  • Additional Note:

    Due if home study paperwork is not received within 180 days from date Application of Child Placement has been received.

  • Step 3 (Continued):

    365 Day Late Fee

  • Associated Fee:

    $750.00

  • Additional Note:

    Due if home study paperwork is not received within 365 days from date Application of Child Placement has been received.

  • Step 3 (Continued):

    Large Family Assessment

  • Associated Fee:

    $750.00

  • Additional Note:

    Required for families with (4) or more children.

  • Step 3B:

    Pre-Adoptive Infant Foster Care Preplacement Training

  • Associated Fee:

    $0

  • Additional Note:

    Applies to all pre-adoptive infant foster families.

STEP FOUR

  • Step 4:

    Activation into Domestic Infant Matching Program

  • Associated Fee:

    $5,500

  • Additional Note:

    Required for all families entering the programs or re-entering. N/A for targeted adoptions.

  • Step 4 (Continued):

    Adoptive Family Profiles

  • Associated Fee:

    TBD

  • Additional Note:

    Paid directly to Shutterfly.

STEP FIVE

  • Step 5:

    Matching and Coordination

  • Associated Fee:

    $2,000.00

  • Additional Note:

    Due at the time the biological family and adoptive family mutually agree to become matched.

  • Step 5 (Continued):

    Deposit of Living Expenses for Expectant Mother

  • Associated Fee:

    $6,000.00

  • Additional Note:

    Due at the time of a match. In the event that a match does not end in an adoptive placement, any unused funds will be refunded per Director’s discretion.

  • Step 5 (Continued):

    Medical Expenses

  • Associated Fee:

    Varies

  • Additional Note:

    In the event that an expectant parent does not qualify for medical coverage during pregnancy, adoptive parents will be financially responsible for those bills.

STEP SIX

  • Step 6:

    Facilitation of the Permanent Surrender and Adoptive Placement

  • Associated Fee:

    $12,500.00

  • Additional Note:

    Due within (30) days of placement. $2,000.00 additional charge in the event of twins/multiple births. Reduced by 50% for targeted adoptions.

  • Step 6 (Continued):

    Legal Representation for Expectant/Biological Parent(s)

  • Associated Fee:

    $750.00 - $2,000.00

  • Additional Note:

    SOFA requires independent legal representation for biological parent(s) at the time of surrender.

STEP SEVEN

  • Step 7:

    Post Placement Supervision

  • Associated Fee:

    $3,150.00

  • Additional Note:

    Minimum of 7 face-to-face visits with foster/adoptive family required by law until adoption is finalized in court. There will be an additional charge of $450.00 per additional visit beyond initial 7.

  • Step 7 (Continued):

    *Additional Post Placement Supervision

  • Associated Fee:

    $450.00 each

  • Additional Note:

    Charged per additional visit beyond initial 7 visits.

  • Step 7 (Continued):

    Adoption Finalization

  • Associated Fee:

    Varies

  • Additional Note:

    At least (6) full months after placement, families will be required to finalize their child’s adoption in court. SOFA strongly recommends finalizing in Lucas County where the agency is located. Estimated legal fees will be payable directly to the attorney and can exceed $2,000.00 in some cases.

STEP EIGHT

  • Step 8:

    Maintain Your PreAdoptive Infant Foster Care License

  • Associated Fee:

    $725.00

  • Additional Note:

    Every (24) months, (1) assessment and home visit is required to maintain your current preadoptive infant foster care license.

  • Step 8 (Continued):

    Post Placement Support for Families

  • Associated Fee:

    $3,000.00

  • Additional Note:

    Due (4) months after the adoptive placement of your child.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

  • Additional Service:

    Interstate Compact (ICPC)

  • Associated Fee:

    $500.00

  • Additional Note:

    Charged at the time a family with an approved home study requests assistance with an out of state adoption.

  • Additional Service:

    Home Study Assessment

  • Associated Fee:

    $250.00 - $500.00

  • Additional Note:

    Click here to report a change in your household (after home study is approved). If a home visit is required, the fee will be $500.00.

  • Additional Service:

    Continuing Training Opportunities

  • Associated Fee:

    $0

  • Additional Note:

    We offer 12+ training hours and support for foster and adoptive families. SOFA stands for Support of Families Always throughout the lifelong journey of adoption.

We offer ongoing training and support for all foster and adoptive families. SOFA stands for Support of Families Always throughout the lifelong journey of adoption, and we're here for you every step of the way.

FAQ’s Concerning Fees

1. Are there any exceptions to the above fee schedule? No.

2. Are the above fees complete? The above fees may be adjusted in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as homestudy fees. If additional investigation is required as a result of new information that should have been relayed to the home study assessor during the normal home study process, the applicants will be charged $125.00 per hour for assessor time (including portal to portal) plus expenses (including but not copies at .10 cents a page, mileage at the standard Federal Rate per mile). Placement fee: An additional $2000.00 per child shall be charged for multiple births.

3. What are the total adoption costs? All adoption fees are listed above. The total cost for a domestic infant, in-state adoption can vary depending on circumstances. Some examples of circumstances that can vary include: a targeted adoption, whether or not an expectant mother qualifies for health insurance or Medicaid coverage, and/or a household that qualifies for the sliding fee schedule. For families with total household income of $65,000 and below, a sliding fee schedule will apply, reducing your fees by 2.5-5%. Please note: the fees associated with each step are due at the time of service and must be paid prior to advancing to the next subsequent step.

4. How often are the fees modified? The fees are modified as circumstances dictate. Each time the fee schedule is modified, the schedule must be forwarded to the Ohio Department of Child and Youth for review. Also, any time the fee schedule is modified, our hopeful waiting families will be notified.

5. Is it possible that fees will be raised once I have submitted an application to “Spirit of Faith Adoptions”? Yes, the fee schedule may be modified as noted above. You will be sent the new fee schedule, requesting your consent to the new fees your desire to remain on the agency’s Step 4 Matching Program.

6. If fees are increased and I choose not to consent to the new fees, will I receive a refund? No.

7. Who do I call if I have concerns about fees? Please contact the Director, or if unavailable, the Chief Executive Administrator, Phillip Wurster (419-843-5355) for any such questions.

8. When will fees be due? Fees are due and payable upon completion of each step in the process as specified above, and an invoice will be sent directly to you with the option to pay electronically or to mail a check. All fees must be paid in full to the agency in order to proceed with a scheduled finalization hearing. Until all fees have been paid, monthly post placement visits will continue to be provided by Spirit of Faith Adoptions until the finalization of the adoption has occurred in a court of law.

9. What if any of the fees are refundable? No fees are refundable except any unused portion of the biological mother's living expenses.

10. Will there be traveling expenses charged? We have SOFA team located throughout Toledo, Columbus and northeast Ohio (Akron, Cleveland, Canton and Mansfield). For foster/adoptive families who reside more than (100) miles round trip from our nearest team member and/or office location, families will be charged the federal government rate per mile above the first 100 miles for each home visit.

11. What is a “targeted” adoption? A targeted adoption consists of an adoptive family and a biological parent who already know one another prior to coming to Spirit of Faith Adoptions and request to be matched with each other and request Spirit of Faith Adoptions to provide adoption services to both parties.

Support for birth mothers is allowable by law up to $6,000.00 and Spirit of Faith will work with the biological family to seek out and obtain all available services and/or support from her community resources first.

The ability to pay a fee shall not influence the choice of the most appropriate family or parent(s) for a child.

This fee structure shall be applicable and non-discriminatory to all persons who have adopted through Spirit of Faith Adoptions.

Spirit of Faith Adoptions works diligently with the parties involved in every adoption to ensure that all needs are met in the most supportive and economical way. The staff makes every effort to negotiate fees with collaborating professionals whenever possible.

Looking for information on Financial Resources? Click HERE.