Program Fees and Documents

First Step

The first step for all ACI programs is submitting an Application with the Program Phase I fee. Please review our Adoption Programs Overview and Fee Structure prior to completing the Application.

Visit our Application Page to get started.

Adoption Programs Overview and Fees

Home Study Only (HSO) Program

ACI can complete a Home Study (Domestic or International) for Illinois prospective adoptive parents who are working with other placing resources (agencies and/or attorneys). Our agency’s HSO Program for International Adoption does not include Primary Provider Services. Any family pursuing International Adoption must identify and retain a Primary Provider to oversee their International Adoption.

Phase I Fee: Comprehensive Home Study Services

Services:

  • Initial Application Interview
  • Orientation
  • Home Study
  • Adoption Education/Training (classes offered at our agency)
  • Up to 5 Post Placements Visits for one child
  • Court report
  • ICPC (Interstate Placement of Children) for Domestic

All domestic home studies must be updated annually for a $750 fee until placement occurs. All International home studies must be updated when prospective adoptive parents I800A/I600A will be expiring (if prospective adoptive parents have not filed an I800/I600 for a specific child).

Fee due with application: $4,700
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,100 

Traditional Adoption Placement (TAP) Program

The total fees for our TAP Program are $38,700 for new applicants and $38,100 for returning ACI applicants. For a breakdown of these fees by phase please use the options below.

Phase I Fee: Comprehensive Home Study Services

Services:

  • Initial Application Interview
  • Orientation
  • Home Study
  • Adoption Education/Training (classes offered at our agency)
  • Up to 5 Post Placements Visits for one child
  • Court report
  • FBFA Application (TAP Only)
  • ICPC (Interstate Placement of Children)

All domestic home studies must be updated annually for a $750 fee until placement occurs.

Fee due with application: $4,700
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,100

Phase II Fee: TAP Program

Services:

  • BPs outreach/advertising efforts
  • Emergency response service – staff on call 24 hours per day
  • Support/feedback in the creation of family profiles
  • Presentation of family profiles to Illinois BP’s
  • Family profile on our website
  • BP expenses paid by agency
  • Coordination of post-placement communication plan between APs and BPs

Fee due after acceptance into program: $6,000

Phase III Fee: Placement

Fee due at the time of placement: $28,000

Sibling Placements: When two or more children from the same birth parent(s) are placed at the same time through the TAP program, prospective adoptive parents will pay $42,000 (1.5 full placement fees).

Family Based Financial Aid (TAP Program Only)

Our Board of Directors created the FBFA program to support prospective adoptive parents from a wide range of economic circumstances in pursuing adoption. The FBFA program provides noncash grants to prospective adoptive parents who demonstrate financial need. Need is not determined strictly on an income-based sliding scale. This program takes into account a variety of factors including, but not limited to: household income, assets, age, extenuating circumstances, extraordinary medical expenses, and number of dependents. However, in reviewing financial aid grants awarded over the past 10 years, it is extremely rare that financial aid is awarded when the total household income of the prospective adoptive parents is over $135,000 unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Prospective adoptive parents have the option of applying for FBFA prior to submitting their Phase I fee by submitting a nonrefundable $250 fee payable to Adoption Center of Illinois. Prospective adoptive parents must otherwise apply for FBFA within 60 days of submitting their application and Phase I fee, with no additional FBFA application fee.

FBFA award amounts range from $1,000 to $13,000. If any amount of FBFA is awarded, $1,000 of the total award amount will be applied to Phase II fees. Financial aid grants can only be applied toward the TAP Program Phase II program fee and Phase III placement fee. At the time of placement, your financial aid grant letter will act as cash in your payment of the placement fee. This program is only open to US citizens and US residents.

Agency-Assisted Placement (AAP) Program

The total fees for our AAP Program (excluding BP Expense Fund) are $10,700 for new applicants, $10,100 for returning ACI applicants, and $8,600 for applicants with current Home Study. For a breakdown of these fees by phase please use the options below.

Assessment Only Fee

Services:

  • Initial meeting and assessment with expectant parent

Fee: $400 + mileage and travel expenses

Phase I Fee: Comprehensive Home Study Services

Services:

  • Initial Application Interview
  • Orientation
  • Home Study
  • Adoption Education/Training (classes offered at our agency)
  • Up to 5 Post Placements Visits for one child
  • Court report
  • ICPC (Interstate Placement of Children)

All domestic home studies must be updated annually for a $750 fee until placement occurs.

Fee due with application: $4,700
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,100
Fee for applicants with current Home Study: $2,600 (Fee only applies to applicants who are using another agency to provide home study and post placement services).

Phase II Fee: AAP Program Services and Fees

Services:

  • Emergency response service – staff on call 24 hours per day
  • Birth Parent counseling services to identified BP(s)
  • Coordination of hospital plan
  • Management of BP Expense Fund
  • Coordination of post-placement communication plan between APs and BPs

Fee due with submission of AAP Program Agreement:

Expectant Parent Counseling Services:  $3,000

Birth Parent Expense Fund: $3,000
These are funds deposited with our agency to be used for BP and related expenses. BP expenses may exceed this amount.

Total: $6,000

Waiting Child Services (WCS) Program

The total fees for our WCS Program are $7,700 for new applicants and $7,100 for returning ACI applicants. Total fees do not include travel expenses. For a breakdown of these fees by phase please use the options below.

Phase I Fee: Comprehensive Home Study Services

Services:

  • Initial Application Interview
  • Orientation
  • Home Study
  • Adoption Education/Training (classes offered at our agency)
  • Up to 5 Post Placements Visits for one child
  • Court report
  • ICPC (Interstate Placement of Children)

All domestic home studies must be updated annually for a $750 fee until placement occurs.

Fee due with application: $4,700
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,100

Phase II Fee: WCS Program

Services:

  • Pre-placement matching assistance
  • Obtaining information about available children
  • Coordinating process with the sending state
  • Child Specific Home Study
  • Identifying and locating services that may be needed (i.e. counseling, psychologists)

Fee due after acceptance into program: $3,000

Primary Provider (International Only)

Phase I Fee

Services:

  • Initial Consultation with other adoption service providers, in-country attorneys and/or foreign authorities as needed
  • Review of any adoption documents already obtained
  • Determination of the viability of providing primary provider services
  • Includes a $815 Monitoring and Oversight fee that agency will pay directly to CEAS, the accrediting entity, for the adoption of ONE child.
  • NOTE: If more than one child is being adopted.  Phase 1 will include an additional $1,350 per child ($815 for each child will be send directly to CEAS for Monitoring and Oversight)

Fee: $3,350

Phase II Fee

Services:

  • Ongoing communication and/or supervision of home study service provider, foreign supervised providers, foreign attorneys, foreign and US governmental agencies and Central Authorities.
  • Review of all documentation required to verify completion of all six-adoption services in order to allow prospective adoptive parents to apply for visa for child’s entry to United States. Support and assistance with USCIS and Visa application process.

Fee: $3,100

For Illinois Residents: Comprehensive International Home Study Services

Illinois residents may utilize FRC’s Primary Provider services and our International Home Study Services. These two services are independent and separate from one another and require separate fees.

Services:

  • Initial Application Interview
  • Orientation
  • Home Study
  • Adoption Education/Training (classes offered at our agency)
  • Up to 5 Post Placements Visits for one child
  • Court report

All International home studies must be updated when prospective adoptive parents I800A/I600A will be expiring (if prospective adoptive parents have not filed an I800/I600 for a specific child). Home study update fee $750.

Fee due with application: $4,700
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,100 

Hague Outgoing Primary Provider (International Only)

Phase I Fee

Services:

  • Review of current Home Study and Article 15
  • Orientation to the Hague Convention process
  • Communication with other adoption service providers (ASPs)
  • Determination of the viability of the possible adoption

Fee: $2,500

Phase II Fee

Services:

  • Ongoing communication and/or supervision of other ASPs
  • Preparation of all required preliminary documents in compliance with the Hague convention.

Fee: $2,500

Phase III Fee: Placement

Services:

  • Review and/or preparation of Child Background Study, Birth Parent consents, Article 16 letter, Article 17 letter, post-placement supervision reports, and documentation for Hague Adoption Certificate

Fee: $2,500

Home Study Process and Agreement

If ACI will be completing a Home Study for you, please review the following:

ACI Home Study Forms

Once your application is received and payment is processed, you will receive the following forms. Do not complete or submit any of the forms listed below prior to your initial interview.  

Financial Resources

For a comprehensive list of fees for additional services, third-party fees, and our refund policy, please download