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.
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: $4,800
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,300
Services:
- Coordinating with other agencies for home study review, document submission, and ongoing case support
- ICPC Coordination (Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children)
Fee due upon finalization of Home Study: $500
*This fee is waived for families who submitted their
Phase I fee prior to 9/30/2024
Traditional Adoption Placement (TAP) Program
The total fees for our TAP Program are $39,800 for new applicants and $38,700 for returning ACI applicants. For a breakdown of these fees by phase please use the options below.
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: $4,800
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,300
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: $6,500
Fee due at the time of placement: $28,500
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 1.5 full placement fees.
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 non-cash grants to prospective adoptive parents who demonstrate financial need.
Prospective adoptive parents have the option of applying for FBFA prior to submitting their Phase I fee by submitting a non-refundable $250 fee. 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. If any amount of FBFA is awarded, it will be applied to the Phase III placement fee. At the time of placement, your financial aid grant letter will act as cash towards your payment of the placement fee. This program is only open to US citizens and US residents. Additional information can be found here.
Agency-Assisted Placement (AAP) Program
The total fees for our AAP Program (excluding BP Expense Fund) are $10,800 for new applicants, $10,100 for returning ACI applicants, and $9,000 for applicants with current Home Study. For a breakdown of these fees by phase please use the options below.
Services:
- Initial meeting and assessment with expectant parent
Fee: $400 + mileage and travel expenses
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: $4,800
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,300
Fee for applicants with current Home Study: $3,000 (Fee only applies to applicants who are using another agency to provide home study and post placement services).
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 $7,800 for new applicants and $7,300 for returning ACI applicants. Total fees do not include travel expenses. For a breakdown of these fees by phase please use the options below.
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: $4,800
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,300
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)
Services:
- Document Review & Consultation – Once initial email questions are answered, we will review your adoption documents and if they appear to be in good order, we will then ask you to submit an application for our Primary Provider Services and pay the Phase I fee.
NOTE: If the document review stage has not progressed within 12 months from date of first contact due to lack of communication or not submitting required documentation, we will close your file. You can then restart the process at any time with newly scanned documentation and an additional $250 review fee per child.
Fee: $250 per child (non-refundable)
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 an $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 $1,100 per child ($815 for each child will be send directly to CEAS for Monitoring and Oversight)
Fee: $3,100
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
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: $4,800
Fee for returning ACI applicants: $4,300
Hague Outgoing Primary Provider (International Only)
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: $4,000
Services:
- Ongoing communication and/or supervision of other ASPs
- Preparation of all required preliminary documents in compliance with the Hague convention.
Fee: $4,500
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: $4,500
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.
- Background Information Form
- Adoptive Home Safety Checklist
- Affidavit of Criminal Conviction and Arrest History Statement
- Fingerprint Applicant Form
- Financial Assessment Form (.xlsx)
- Financial Assessment Form (PDF)
- Guardianship Plan
- Child Abuse Clearance Form
- CFS 600 Certificate of Child Health Examination
- CFS 604 Medical Evaluation of an Adult in a Foster or Adoptive Home
Financial Resources
- Financial Resources
- Family Based Financial Aid Application
For a comprehensive list of fees for additional services, third-party fees, and our refund policy, please download