In a shocking announcement on June 17, 2014, LDS Family Services declared they would no longer facilitate adoptions.
For potential adoptive LDS (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) couples, LDS Family Services was the go-to organization. Minimal fees (ranging from $4,000-$10,000), credibility, established success rates and personal staff time are just some of the reasons why couples chose to build their families through LDS Family Services.
When news of the change spread, many couples were devastated, feeling their opportunities to adopt would end. As most private agencies cost upwards of $30,000 per placement, couples felt adoption would no longer be affordable.
The Vision
As numbers of placements have declined over the last several years, LDS Family Services made the decision to change their focus. Instead of providing services to adoptive couples, many of which can be provided by the community, they decided to focus more on single expectant parents.
LDS Family Services will continue to provide options counseling for women with unplanned pregnancies. Expectant mothers will continue to receive parenting help if they choose to parent and grief counseling if they choose to place.
Changes for Adoptive Couples
LDS Family Services adoption changes can be a benefit for couples seeking to adopt. It will not require couples to adopt through a private adoption agency, though they can certainly choose to go that route. In many cases, couples can have a private adoption through an attorney and private social worker provider.
How so?
Expectant parents will continue to work with LDS Family Services. If they choose to place, they will be directed to a website of couples with approved homestudies. Couples can get approved homestudies through private providers at a fraction of the cost of a private agency.
Once matched by an expectant mother, a couple can hire an attorney to facilitate the birth parents relinquishments. Couples can then hire a social worker to conduct post placement supervisory visits. These costs can all be less than a private adoption agency.
Role of Arise
As LDS Family Services changes, they will be referring couples to private providers.
Arise counselors are approved to provide adoption services for those seeking a private adoption. We can write homestudies, provide updates, provide post placement services as well as birth parent services.
Adoption can still be affordable and can still be an option for families to be built.
For more information see Adoption Services.
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Take Care,
Kristel Scoresby
