How Adoption Consultants Work (And How They’re Different from Agencies)

Starting the adoption process can feel overwhelming, leaving many families wondering where to even begin. Between navigating costs, home studies, and the legal requirements of different states, the journey is often complex. This is where adoption consultants and agencies come in, though they serve distinctly different roles in the process.

What is an Adoption Consultant?

Christian Adoption Consultants (CAC) exists to assist, educate, and advise couples throughout their entire adoption journey. They act as a personal guide and advocate, helping to streamline and simplify a process that can otherwise feel insurmountable. 

The main responsibilities of a consultant include:

• Education and Planning: Providing resources on adoption basics, positive adoption language, and various adoption pathways like domestic, international, or embryo adoption.
• Personalized Agency Lists: Creating a customized list of recommended, vetted agencies and attorneys based on a family’s specific budget, preferences, and situation.
• Profile Design: Assisting with the creation of a high-quality family profile book or online profile, which is the primary tool used to introduce adoptive families to expectant parents.
• Financial Guidance: Helping families create a financial plan by identifying grants, loans, and creative fundraising options to make adoption more affordable.
• Risk Assessment: Reviewing specific adoption situations to help families identify potential legal, medical, or financial risks before they commit.

How is a Consultant Different from an Agency?

The most important distinction is that Christian Adoption Consultants is not a licensed adoption agency. While agencies are licensed child-placing entities that handle the legal transfer of parental rights and the actual placement of a child, consultants focus on the support and navigation side for the adoptive family.

Key differences include:

• The Multi-Agency Approach: Most agencies only show you situations within their own program, but a consultant uses a "multi-agency approach." This allows families to apply to multiple ethical agencies at once, widening their net and typically resulting in a shorter wait time—averaging 7 to 12 months for CAC families.
• Undivided Support: Agencies must balance their time and resources between serving expectant/birth parents and adoptive parents. A consultant is hired specifically to support the adoptive family, providing one-on-one attention and guidance through every high and low.
• No Conflicts of Interest: Ethical consultants, like those at CAC,  never accept referral fees or "kickbacks" from agencies or attorneys. They recommend professionals based on their track record of ethics and service, not because of a financial incentive.
• Broad Expertise: While an agency is an expert in its own state’s laws and its specific programs, consultants often have a team of professionals—including licensed social workers and adoptees—with experience across multi-state adoptions and various pathways.

Why Expertise and Ethics Matter

Choosing between a consultant and an agency isn't an "either/or" decision; rather, it's a "both/and" as a consultant helps you choose the right agencies. Christian Adoption Consultants has spent years vetting agencies to ensure they meet strict standards for ethical practices and birth parent care. This includes ensuring that expectant parents receive proper counseling and that all fees are transparent and reasonable.

Ultimately, the goal of a consultant is to equip and empower you to make knowledgeable decisions for your family. By providing a gold standard of support and a transparency promise, they ensure you are never "going it alone" on your path to building a family.

Adoption can be a complex journey, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Christian Adoption Consultants, we would consider it an honor to play a small role in the plans God has for your family. Whether you're just beginning to explore your options or are ready to dive in, we are here to provide the hope and expert guidance you need.

Ready to take the first step? Email me at susan@christainadoptionconsultants.com and I'll send you a free adoption information packet!

Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Adoption Agency

We know not all adoption agencies are built the same. Finding an agency you can truly trust for ethical, high-quality services has become harder than ever. Not all adoption agencies operate with the same level of ethics, transparency, and care — and families are feeling the difference. In today’s adoption landscape, discerning which agencies truly operate with ethics and excellence requires more wisdom than ever.

I’ve put together this guide to help you identify the most important questions to ask so you can choose an adoption agency with confidence. Practically speaking, you’ll want to schedule calls with each potential agency, take detailed notes, and even create a simple spreadsheet to compare their answers side by side. Look for consistency, transparency, and clarity. Then, after you’ve done your due diligence, take time to pray and seek peace about moving forward.

Adoption Guide: Questions to Ask Adoption Agencies

Confirm Licensing & Accreditation (Non-Negotiable)

Start with the basics:

• Fully licensed in its home state

• In good standing with the state licensing authority

• Authorized to place children across state lines (ICPC experience)

Ask: “In what states are you licensed, and how long have you been licensed?”

Red flag: Vague answers or reliance on “facilitators” instead of licensed professionals.

Ask About Ethics & Birth Parent Support

Strong agencies prioritize ethical practices and informed consent. Look for:

• Independent options counseling for expectant parents

• Clear explanation of parental rights and timelines

• No pressure on birth parents to choose adoption

• Post-placement support for birth families

Ask: “What counseling and support do you provide to expecting parents before and after placement?”

Red flag: Agencies that focus only on adoptive parents or minimize birth parent needs.

Demand Fee Transparency (In Writing)

Reputable agencies provide:

• A clear, itemized fee schedule

• Explanation of what is refundable vs. non-refundable

• Disclosure of typical total cost ranges

• Clear explanation of birth parent expense policies

Ask: “What is the typical total cost, and under what circumstances could costs increase?”

Red flags:

• Guaranteed placements

• “Low-cost” promises without explanation

• Pressure to pay large non-refundable fees upfront

Understand Realistic Timelines (No Guarantees)

The agency should:

• Explain average wait times, not best-case scenarios

• Clarify how matching works (birth parent choice)

• Be upfront about factors that may extend a wait

Ask: “What is your current average wait time, and what factors most often cause delays?”

Red flag: Promises like “You’ll have a baby within a year.”

Assess Communication & Support

Adoption is emotional and unpredictable. A good agency:

• Responds promptly and clearly

• Offers education and preparation

• Provides consistent updates during waiting and matching

• Has a clear point of contact for your case

Ask: “How often will we receive updates, and who will be our main contact?”

Red flag: Long response times during the inquiry phase.

Research Their Reputation

Talk to past clients. Ask for:

• References from recent adoptive families

• Testimonials that describe both positives and challenges

When speaking with others, ask:

• Did costs match expectations?

• Were timelines realistic?

Check:

• State licensing databases

• Better Business Bureau (patterns matter more than one complaint)

• Independent reviews and adoption forums

Tip: Focus on how issues were handled, not whether issues existed.

Bottom Line When Looking for Agencies

Major Red Flags to Avoid

• Guaranteed placements or timelines

• Pressure tactics or fear-based sales

• Lack of written contracts

• Unclear handling of failed/interrupted matches

• Organizations acting as “matchmakers” without clinical or legal oversight

What a Good Adoption Agency Feels

• Honest, not sales-driven

• Clear about risks and realities

• Respectful of all parties

• Organized and well-coordinated

• Willing to say “this may not be the right fit”

But by now you're realizing how long this might take. Finding agencies that do more than a few adoptions a year, and then calling them one by one to ask all of these questions and verify their responses.

Adoption already requires emotional energy — it shouldn’t require endless hours researching which agencies can be trusted. That’s where Christian Adoption Consultants comes in. We fully vet agencies, ask these detailed questions, and evaluate ethics, transparency, and practices upfront. CAC carefully screens, interviews, and evaluates agencies before recommending them to families. We ask the difficult questions about ethics, transparency, financial practices, and support — because your peace of mind and your child’s future are too important to risk. In a multi-agency approach, trust matters — and we make sure it’s well placed. In a multi-agency approach, you gain broader reach — without sacrificing time or peace of mind. We’ve done the homework, so you can focus on building your family.

You don’t just need more options — you need the right ones. At the end of the day, families shouldn’t have to become investigators to feel confident in their adoption journey. Adoption is too important to leave to guesswork. CAC thoroughly vets each agency, evaluates their practices, and asks the hard questions — so you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. 

Adoption decisions carry weight — and you deserve guidance you can trust. If you’re ready to explore a vetted, time-saving multi-agency approach, feel free to reach out. I would be honored to walk this journey with your family!

Adoption Costs and How Using a Consultant Can Help

How much does it cost to adopt?

Why is it so expensive?

How do families afford adoption?

These three questions are some of the most common I'm asked as an adoption consultant. And really, the underlying, real question behind all of it: How can we ever step into adoption if it costs so much? So many families feel called to build their family through adoption, but too often the costs are the biggest barrier.

At Christian Adoption Consultants, transparency and support are at the heart of everything we do. This guide walks you through the full range of adoption costs, including agency, legal, and travel expenses, and helps you explore grants, loans, and federal adoption tax credits that can help make adoption more affordable.

Typical Fees for Adoption in 2026

Currently, the average costs for domestic infant adoption in the U.S. are anywhere from $30,000 to $70,000. Typically, agencies able to complete an adoption between $30,000-$45,000 are small, non-profit agencies whose fees are subsidized by donors. However, for agencies doing many of the adoptions in the U.S., costs begin at $45,000.

Where do the fees go?

There are many legitimate costs to adoption to ensure that the adoptive family, birth family, and the child are getting quality care throughout the process. Here's a breakdown of where the money goes: 

Agency Fees

This includes administration fees, reports that are required (home studies and post placement visits) and marketing and networking costs. 

Birthparent Care

This is comprised of vital counseling for the expecting/birth parents (both before and after birth), possible living expenses, transportation, maternity clothing, utilities, etc. A good agency will always access community services that are available before asking the adoptive parents to assist with these fees.   

Medical Expenses 

If a birth mother is not fully covered by insurance for prenatal care and labor and delivery, these fees are a part of the adoption process to ensure both the birth mother and baby have proper healthcare. 

Legal Fees

Legal expenses include hiring an attorney for the adoptive parents and often the birth parents to ensure the adoption is handled legally and ethically for all parties involved. It also accounts for court filing costs and representation.  

Why is there such a significant range of fees?

There are several factors that contribute to the range of costs for each individual adoption. Some of these include:

• Geography and the cost of living 
• Specific needs of the expecting/birth family 
• Legal services required
• If the adoption is in-state or interstate 

While it's helpful to see how all of these fees add up, the critical question for hopeful adoptive families is still how to make adopting possible with these expenses. It's rare that families begin their adoption journey with tens of thousands in the bank waiting to be spent on adoption.

How can you make adoption affordable?

Families need to know there are options available to significantly lower the cost of adoption. Here are a few:

Adoption Tax Credit

For 2025, the maximum federal adoption tax credit is $17,280 per eligible child, with up to $5,000 of that amount being refundable. This credit helps cover qualified adoption expenses (fees, court costs, travel) for domestic adoption.

Employer Benefits

Many employers offer adoption benefits such as financial reimbursement, paid adoption leave, or access to employee assistance programs to significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Grants

There are many grant organizations established to assist families with the cost of adoption. Adoption grants are financial awards given to adoptive families to help cover adoption-related expenses, and they do not need to be repaid. They are typically offered by nonprofit or faith-based organizations and may be based on factors such as financial need, family circumstances, or commitment to adoption.

Loans

Adoption loans are designed specifically for adoptive families and often offer low interest rates and flexible repayment terms. These loans can help families move forward while waiting for grants, tax credits, or reimbursements.

Creative Fundrasing

Many families raise funds through online crowdfunding, community events, and other creative and meaningful ways to share their story. Employer matching gifts, church support, and family-led campaigns can also make a meaningful impact.

Avoid Unnecessary Costs

There are pitfalls in bad agencies, unethical attorneys, risky situations, and unnecessary bills due to ignorance. Families who walk into adoption "blind" with no one to help them through the process often end up losing thousands of dollars this way. You can see that it's critical to find agencies and attorneys that provide ethical and excellent services to both the birth family and the adoptive family. To know that your adoption finances are well stewarded is of the utmost importance.

Affording adoption is not impossible. I've never had a family match with a situation and not have the money available. But that's not to say they didn't do the hard work of saving, fundraising, and financing for their adoption. And when you get down to it, is there any better investment you can make financially than investing in a child?

This is why I love what I do. As an adoption consultant, I help people through the complex task of finding quality agencies, ethical attorneys, and situations that are a good fit for their family. I also connect people to helpful grants and coach them on financing and fundraising. Christian Adoption Consultants has walked with thousands of families through the process of adoption.

The path to adoption isn't an easy one, and there are significant and very real costs both financially and emotionally. But ask any adoptive family if it was worth it for their son or daughter.  I'll bet they'll tell you they would have paid ten times more if they had to, now that they're on the other side and see the infinite value of their child.

Adoption is worth the cost.

Ready to learn how Christian Adoption Consultants can support you on your journey?

Contact me for a free info packet and consultation at susan@christianadoptionconsultants.com. I would love to chat about your hopes and dreams to build your family and help make it happen!

Adoption Story: Tyler + Molly

"We are full of hope and are excited for what the future holds. We know God’s timing is perfect and we are leaning into that as hard as we can and doing our best to be patient as we continue through this season of waiting."

That was from an email Tyler and Molly sent me in August. None of us knew then that there was a baby already born who would be their daughter. Just weeks after their declaration of hope and trust in God's goodness, they welcomed a little girl into their home. Today Tyler and Molly share their adoption story.

Through our adoption journey, God has taught us patience, faith, and perseverance, which is no surprise. As any of you who have started down the adoption path have discovered, it is challenging, difficult, and a lot of work! Being on the other side now, though, we can tell you that it is so worth it. It is beyond what we could have even imagined. God's timing is always perfect, even when we cannot see it or feel it in the struggle of the process. About a year into our adoption journey, we thought we were finally reaching a happy conclusion to our story. Ultimately, we ended up going through a sudden and completely surprising failed adoption. We were at one of the lowest points of our lives in the aftermath, wondering what was next: do we even want to continue with this, and would having a child ever become a reality for us? Little did we know, while we were in those dark days, there was a baby being born that would ultimately be coming home with us a couple of months later. Of course, God knew all of this; He was perfectly orchestrating our story and could see to the other side. While we were in the lowest valley, we never lost hope in Him. Now that we have seen the rest of the story and the happy ending for our family, it is amazing to look back and see how God was refining and preparing us. God doesn't plan for bad things, but allows them to happen. He then creates beauty from those trials and hardships we face. We just want to encourage all of you who are in the middle of the storm, feeling trapped, or like there is no end in sight. Keep your faith and eyes on the Lord. Keep loving each other well, praying, and do not give up. Jeremiah 29:11 offered us so much encouragement: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

We also want to send a huge shoutout and thank you to Susan, our consultant at Christian Adoption Consultants. It is hard to put into words how much help Susan and the entire CAC team were for us in this adoption journey. From creating our profile, finding a reliable home study provider, to selecting and getting us on the lists of the various adoption agencies, it was a wonderful experience. There is no doubt, we could not have done it without them. The process has an extremely high workload at times, and our stress level was reduced by a large amount, having Susan and the whole CAC team there to guide us along step by step. The Adoptive Parent Guide was another great resource for us to be able to go look at on our own. When we did reach out to Susan, her communication and response time were so incredible. She was always thoughtful, understanding, very caring, and willing to do anything she could to help us out. If you are considering adoption and looking at going the consulting route (which we highly recommend!) then you cannot do any better than Susan and her entire team at CAC. 

Want to start your own adoption journey and story of hope, contact me here!

Embryo Adoption Story: Matthew and Kati

Today I'm thrilled to share a first. This past Spring. Christian Adoption Consultants welcomed our first-ever baby through embryo adoption! I was blessed to work with his parents, Matthew and Kati, as they walked through the process of adopting sweet Josiah as an embryo, going through the frozen embryo transfer, and carrying his pregnancy. I was in awe watching them prayerfully and thoughtfully go through each step so intentionally and today Kati shares a bit about their journey.

Matthew and I adopted Josiah when he was a 5-day-old embryo in August of 2023. He was placed in the care of a medical facility anonymously, which means that his genetic parents did not want to disclose identifying information or have a relationship with his adoptive parents. Many such embryos are placed alongside their genetic siblings, also in frozen, embryonic state. Josiah, however, was on his own. It is not uncommon for singletons like him to be adopted with less frequency than genetic sibling groups. According to the paperwork, he was truly alone.

And yet nothing could be further from the truth. Josiah has always had, and will always have, the best of fathers: Jehovah himself. The Father who says to each of us, “I have called you by name; you are mine”. No amount of genetic assurance or nuclear family members could ever assuage the longing in our hearts to be truly known and loved. Only our Creator can do that. One day, Jesus will call us to our true home in Heaven.

In the meantime, we rejoice daily that God brought each of us together. He united Matthew and me eight years ago. He has also entrusted us, despite all our shortcomings, with three precious kiddos. Josiah’s older siblings Isla (just 6) and Callum (almost 4) tend to him with unrivaled tenderness and zeal. Since the moment he was born, Matthew and I find ourselves saying to each other, “He may have only joined us a few months ago, but it feels like he has always been a part of us.”

Questions to Ask When Hiring An Adoption Consultant

There are a lot of critical decisions to make when it comes to adoption. Domestic or international? What about foster care? Agency or private adoption? Go it alone or hire a consultant to help guide you on your journey?

But once you decide on domestic infant adoption and that you want a consultant to walk with you, how do you decide which consultant group to work with? With several consultant firms to choose from, how do you know which one is the best fit for your family? 

I've compiled a list of questions to ask when you interview potential consultants. Use this list to get the most information, educate yourself on the specific services available, and how things work with each consulting firm.

Services

• How long is your contract? Is it good through match or successful placement? 
• Do you offer profile creation or review services? Do you have stats showing how helpful your profile services are? Do you offer online profile and video services?
• What kind of ongoing support and communication is available throughout the length of our contract? 
• What are your stats: number of successful adoptions, percentage of failed adoptions, average wait times, etc.?
• Do you offer any adoption training or courses that provide training certificates?
• Do you offer assistance with agency applications and adoption financing?

Consultants and Staff

• What kind of training do your consultants go through to provide adoption services?
• What professional experience and education does your staff have? So you have any licensed social workers on your team?
• Do you have birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive parents on your team?
• What controls and oversight do you have to ensure quality of care and ethics?

Recommended Agencies and Attorneys

• What are your standards for the agencies and attorneys you recommend?
• What kind of services do the agencies and attorneys offer for expectant and birth families?
• What kind of vetting does an agency/attorney go through to be a part of your recommended agency list?
• Do we have access to the agency information (name, address, contact info, and application information) and can we reach out directly with questions?
• Does your company receive any “kickbacks” or financial gains or have any financial ties to any adoption agencies or attorneys you recommend?

Situations

• Are there requirements to saying yes or no to presenting?
• How much time do we have to decide if we want to present?
• Will we know when we see a situation what agency or attorney it's from?
• Do we know when we are being presented? How can we be sure?
• Do we need to pay a fee to present to situations?
• How much information are we given to review for each situation? Is there a fee schedule included? Do we have access to social/medical history, information on the birth father, prenatal records, etc.?

A few other things to consider:

• It should be easy to get a hold of a consultant. Communication is key when you're adopting and being able to easily reach someone in a timely manner matters!
• In the same vein, you should feel like they are happy to answer your questions and knowledgeable about the entire adoption process. Ask about their professional and personal experience in adoption.
• Don't hesitate to ask for references and search for online reviews of other adoptive families who have used their services.

Ultimately, you want to feel confident and comfortable with the consultant and consultant group you choose. They will be walking with you during your adoption journey to guide you, advocate for you, and educate you. But they will also be there to be a listening ear, possibly a shoulder to cry on, and to pray with you as you work to add a baby to your family. Finding someone you trust will be invaluable.

If you want to find out more about Christian Adoption Consultants and our consulting services, feel free to email me for a info packet. I'll be happy to answer these (and any) questions you have! 

CAC's New Embryo Adoption Program

I'm thrilled to announce CAC is offering a brand new service. In addition to our Domestic Infant Adoption Program, we are now walking with couples adopting embryos.

Did you know there are more than one million embryos currently in frozen storage in the U.S. alone ? 

In response to these babies needing homes, Christian Adoption Consultants has launched an Embryo Adoption Program as a life-affirming solution.

What is Embryo Adoption?

Embryo adoption is the term most often used when describing the legal process of adopting donated embryos that have been frozen during in vitro fertilization (IVF). Embryo adoption allows the adoptive parents to carry their baby through pregnancy and give birth to their adopted child. (If you have embryos in storage and would like to know more, visit CAC’s Embryo Donation Program page.)

Why are adoptive families needed?

For over 50 years, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproduction technologies have helped build many families. However, the success of these programs has created a surplus of frozen embryos. When a couple goes through the IVF process, there are often remaining embryos. Those embryos are stored for future use, destroyed, donated to science, or can be donated to an adoptive family. 

How can working with an Adoption Consultant help?

Our Embryo Adoption Consulting Program offers all-inclusive consulting and adoption support services. Your personal CAC Adoption Consultant will advise you through your adoption journey from start to finish: including finding a reputable home study agency and prepping for the process, creating a unique and creative profile and donor letter, selecting an embryo adoption program and clinic, information to finance your adoption, and advising you through the donor match and openness agreements. We can advise you through the process of adoption and serve as your “adoption coach,” saving you time and money.

Why choose Christian Adoption Consultants?

As one of the oldest, largest, and most experienced consulting teams, Christian Adoption Consultants can offer a lot of added benefits. We've helped with over 3,700 adoptions and have a support team of 20+ adoption professionals. We place a high value on all voices of the adoption constellation and our staff includes birth mothers, adoptive parents, and adoptees. CAC is founded on Christian principles and standards, and we believe in ethical adoption practices and the highest level of care for all parties in the adoption triad.

Want to learn more?

I would love to help! Feel free to email me at susan@christianadoptionconsultants.com and I'll get you more details to see if our Embryo Adoption Program is a good fit for you! 

(And as always, if you're interested in how I can help with Domestic Infant Adoption, I'm happy to send you information on that as well. Just let me know which program you're interested in learning more about!)

Adoption Story: Matt and Hillary

Matt and Hillary have a unique adoption story. When they started in 2019, they had one daughter, Ada. By the time they walked through adoption in 2021, they added another daughter, Corrie Grace, and their son through adoption, Shepherd! Hillary shares today how their family and hearts grew in the last few years.

After adopting our oldest daughter Ada in 2018, Matt and I knew that we wanted to adopt again. She is such a little miracle and we love being her parents. 

Our friends had adopted their twins through Christian Adoption Consultants (CAC) and recommended Susan to us. It was really important to us that the adoption agencies we worked with were vetted to be ethical by CAC. It can be hard to know how to choose agencies and move forward in private domestic infant adoption. Susan walked us through the whole process and gave us all the information and resources we needed to be successful. 

We had previously pursued fertility treatments but they did not result in a pregnancy at that time. We started the process in 2019 with CAC, but found out that we were pregnant naturally a few months into the process. We chose to put our adoption journey on hold for 18 months to enjoy our daughter, Corrie Grace and adjust to having two little ones. 

In March of 2021, we dove into the adoption process again with Susan. It took a few months to get to the presenting phase as we updated our home study, updated our profile, and became active again with agencies. We presented to our first situation in June of 2021. We spent that summer praying and presenting. 

The wait can be brutal. Matt and I tried to remember that each “No” we received was someone else’s “Yes.” We wanted to rejoice with the family that had gotten their miracle today while we prayed that someday it would be our turn.  

September 2021 was our "Yes!" Our son’s birth mom, "K," chose us two weeks after we presented our book to her. She wanted to be sure about her decision!  That two weeks of waiting was emotionally difficult for us as we felt so out of control. A dear friend sent me the song Just as Good by Chris Renzema and we listened to it on repeat those two weeks!

I work as an RN in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I got the call that K had chosen us while I was at work! I went into an extra room and just sobbed with joy as I called Matt to tell him the news. I came out to the nurses’ station and all my co-workers celebrated with me; it was a really special day. In fact, all the important phone calls in our adoption journey happened while I was in the NICU! I spoke with K for the first time over the phone at work. We found out that she was expecting a boy in October, while I was at work, of course! 

The next few months were all about preparing, hoping, and praying. I wrote a note to K every week that we were matched which I found to be a really important part of our process. She is such an amazing person and getting to grow our relationship over that time was a true gift. 

In January while working a night shift, I got the call that he had been born, 3 weeks early! K called me from the Labor and Delivery department and I heard him crying over the phone! I raced home at 1:00 in the morning and we booked plane tickets for the next day. The next two weeks we spent in Arizona, bonding with our son and with his birth mother. They were intensely emotional but also really full of gratitude for him, our newest miracle.

In the adoption process, it is really easy to forget that all this hard work- the paperwork, the heartache, the questions - can end with an amazing child in your arms. Shepherd was worth it all! We are so grateful that God placed him in our family!