Frequently Asked Questions
What types of programs are offered at Lutheran Family Services?
A variety of adoption services are offered at Lutheran Family Services of Colorado. Domestic, international, and designated adoptions are the three most frequently practiced types. We aim to assist families in finding the program that best meets their desire to grow their family.
Domestic Adoption
Our domestic adoption program is an infant, open adoption program. Open adoption is based on assumptions of respect for all parties and the capability of an honest, loving commitment by birth families and adoptive families for the best interest of their child.
It is our expectation that open adoption is characterized by the following tenets:
- Birthparents choose and meet the prospective adoptive family for their baby
- There is full disclosure of identifying information between birth and adoptive parents
- There will be a significant, ongoing, life-long relationship between birth and adoptive families
International Adoption
Lutheran Family Services of Colorado has ongoing working relationships with Lutheran Adoption Network, Holt International, Little Miracles, Los Ninos, Children’s Hope International, and many other international adoption agencies. This gives your family a wide selection of countries and programs from which to choose a child. We then work collaboratively with the international agency of your choice to provide all of the services needed in order for you to become an approved adoptive family in Colorado.
Designated Adoption
A designated adoption is typically one in which the adoptive family is connected with a birth family prior to agency involvement. LFS becomes involved in order to provide the mandatory relinquishment counseling for the birth parents and the education, training, home study, and post-placement services to the adoptive family. LFS can work with birth parents, adoptive parents, or both.
How long is the wait?
Domestic Adoption
The wait to enter our domestic open adoption program is based on the current number of placements we are facilitating and the number of approved and waiting families we have in the ‘pool’. We add families to our waiting list on an as-needed basis. Therefore, we encourage you to contact the LFS office in your community in order to schedule a one-on-one orientation to learn more about our program and to address your questions, issues, and concerns.
Once accepted into our program and approved as an adoptive family, the “wait” is an arbitrary time period. Because birth parents select the adoptive family with which they wish to place their child, we have had families wait for as little as three days and for as long as four years.
International Adoption
There is no wait to enter this program. Once a family has identified the international agency of their choice, LFS can begin the education, training, and home study process upon receipt of an application.
Once approved as an adoptive family, the wait is contingent upon the country you are adopting from. Generally, we are seeing wait times around 18 months from beginning the process to final adoption.
Designated Adoption
There is no wait to enter this program. Upon receipt of an application, LFS can begin training, education, and the home study of the adoptive family.
What are the criteria for each program?
Domestic Adoption
Lutheran Family Services welcomes married couples of varying faiths and backgrounds to investigate domestic adoption. The state of Colorado requires that adoptive applicants must be 21 years of age or older and Colorado residents.
International Adoption
Each country has its own guidelines for prospective adoptive applicants. These guidelines address age of applicants, length of marriage or single applicants accepted, divorces allowed, number of children currently in the adoptive family, and other criteria. Contact your international agency or the LFS worker in your community to learn the specific guidelines of your country of interest.
Designated Adoption
The only criterion for a prospective adoptive family in a designated adoption is that the family must reside in Colorado.
What is the cost?
Domestic Adoption
Application and adoption education fee: $5000
At completion of homestudy/acceptance into program: $5000
Match fee: $5000
Placement and post placement: $3000
TOTAL: $18,000.00
International Adoption
Application and Home Assessment: $2,500.00
Post-Placement Services: $1,500.00
*Plus Fee from International Agency
TOTAL: $4,000.00
Designated Adoption
Adoptive Family Fees
Application and education fee: $2500
Placement and post placement fee: $1500
Pregnancy Counseling/Birth Parent* counseling fee: $5000
TOTAL: $9,000.00
*Birth Parent Fees
The adoptive family will also cover the cost of pregnancy counseling services provided to the birth parents. A total fee of $5000.00 will cover all services including, but not limited to, pregnancy counseling, legal consultation and services for relinquishment and/or termination of parental rights, and the contact and communication between Adoptive Family and Birth Parent Counselors.
Other
Because we understand that each family and situation is unique, we want to be sure your questions and concerns are addressed appropriately. We ask that you contact us directly in order to set up an individual orientation session free of charge. We hope to assist you in building your family through adoption and look forward to working with you.
Lutheran Family Services of Colorado also has a Foster Care Program. If you are interested in Foster-to-Adopt, please direct your questions and concerns to the Foster Care section of this web site or the Foster Care Program Director in your area.
For additional information about our services, please call or e-mail
us at
Denver Office:Kate at 303-217-5850
Southern Colorado Office (Colorado Springs):Linda at 719-314-0221
Northern Colorado Office (Fort Collins):Karen at 970-232-1159
adoption@lfsco.org
