​Our Children’s Homestead helps families adopt children within the foster care system anywhere in the United States. OCH works with other agencies/states to assist with the matching process and assess the needs of the child to determine whether the child and family make an appropriate match. Interstate adoptions also require specific approval from the state of origin’s Inter-State Compact Unit, as well as the Illinois Inter-State Compact Unit. An OCH adoption coordinator will handle all necessary contact for the approval process.
At Our Children’s Homestead, we not only assist with the matching process of children found by the families, but we also provide resources and referrals to help you through every step of the adoption process. We help families attain financial subsidies for the children, when applicable. We work with adoption attorneys, making sure they receive all necessary documentation needed to maximize the efficiency of their representation of the family. When the child is placed in your home, we monitor the placement for the first six months, prior to adoption finalization, ensuring all necessary services are in established which help to ease the transition process. We try to cushion the child and family so both flourish in their new arrangement.

Steps to Interstate Adoption:
•    OCH application
•    OCH completes licensing process for families residing in Illinois, per DCFS requirements
•    Home Studies are completed to thoroughly investigate and evaluate the family and is used as the basis for approval for the family to adopt
•    OCH works with other agencies to match families with children awaiting homes
•    If a child is located outside of Illinois, your OCH Adoption Coordinator will help make the necessary arrangements and support the family during  their initial visit 
•    OCH works with DCFS Interstate Compact Unit for families interested in children residing outside Illinois
•    OCH provides resources and referrals to assist the families and children in successful transitions, minimizing the risk of an adoption disruption
•    OCH monitors the child in placement for the first six months, prior to the adoption finalization
•    OCH reviews financial subsidies provided to the family by the child’s monitoring agency (if applicable)

Requirements for Interstate Adoption:
To adopt a child through Our Children’s Homestead, one must:
•    be 21 years or older
•    be single or married
•    fulfill DCFS Illinois family licensing requirements
•    prove the ability to financially provide for the child
•    have no severe criminal background
•    indicate a specific, written backup plan for guardianship

Costs for Interstate Adoption: 
The total cost, which includes the application process and all steps of the adoption process, is $5,209.00- $6750.00. (See Fee Schedule below) 
*It is possible that some additional expenses may be incurred on an individual basis at an extra cost. Adoption attorney fees and all travel expenses are the responsibility of the adoptive family.
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Interstate Adoption Fee Schedule

Service Provided	Service Details	When Fee is Assessed	Amount
Registration Fee	Registration fees are required for all interstate adoptions.  This fee covers review and verification of all initial documentation submitted to the Adoption services team, the establishment of an Adoptive Family Case Record, and the preparation and processing of all Adoption-related matters.	​This fee is due after you complete IL DCFS PRIDE Training.	$250.00
Home Study Fee	​A home study is to prepare your family for the adoption process and assess whether your family can provide a safe, nurturing environment for a child.  The home study process consists of a minimum of three in-home visits by an Adoption Coordinator.  These visits will include discussions surrounding your motivation to adopt, full family social history for adoptive mother (if applicable) and adoptive father (if applicable), interviews of all children currently residing in the home, physical and mental health status, martial and/or significant relationship status, review of matching tool completed during the foster home licensing process, views on parenting, experience with children, attitude of family and friends being supportive of adoption, financial information, type of child preferred, community and housing status and child-specific trainings (after child is identified) Home Studies are required to be updated annually by IL DCFS Adoption standards.  After a period of a year if a match does not occur, a fee will be assessed (20% of the Initial Home Study Fee) to provide an update of the home study.  An updated Home Study will ensure the uninterrupted continuation of your adoption process.	Prior to Initial Home Visit by the Adoption Coordinator	$1,875.00

Program Fees These fees can be conveniently scheduled for your budget with a payment agreement. Please ask your Adoption Coordinator for assistance.

Service Provided	Service Details	When Fee is Assessed	Amount
Pre-Adoption Counseling Services Fee	Pre-Adoptive Counseling is conducted by your Adoption Coordinator to ensure your family is knowledgeable and well-prepared for the various educational, emotional, financial, social and familial matters that may arise during and after your adoption process has been completed.	​After homestudy is completed	$1,542.00
Pre-Placement Transition Counseling Fee	Pre-Placement Transition Counseling is also conducted by your Adoption Coordinator and occurs once a child is matched with your family.  When contacts and transitional visits are conducted with your family, visit coordination and monitoring services are provided.  In addition, the Adoption Coordinator will assist your family in identifying and locating any services that may be needed once the identified child is permanently moved to your home.	After homestudy is completed	​$1,542.00
​	​	Total	​$5,209.00

In the event Our Children’s Homestead is unable to contract directly with the sending state for placement monitoring services, families will be charged a placement monitoring fee (see below). *Additional cost if child is a part of a sibling group. 

Service Provided	Service Details	When Fee is Assessed	Amount
Placement Monitoring Fee	Placement Monitoring begins immediately after a child is placed in your home prior to the adoption being finalized.  Illinois DFCS requires a child be placed in your home at least 6 months prior to finalizing an adoption to ensure the home is a suitable placement for your family and for the child.  Monthly in-home visits (at a minimum) will be conducted in addition to counseling services based on your family’s needs.	​After homestudy is completed & If needed	​$1,541.00*
​	​	Total w/ placement monitoring	​$6,750.00