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Education & Resources

Adoption Agencies

The Clarke Co. Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) investigates reports of child abuse, finds foster and adoptive homes for children who have been abused or neglected, helps low-income families by issuing SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF, and provides many other support services to assist families in need in Clarke County.

Covenant Care Services is a Christian adoption and counseling agency based in Macon, GA that serves families and birthmothers across the state of Georgia. They work to show the love of Christ to the adoptive parents and birthmothers while placing children in two-parent, Christian homes.
Lifeline Children’s Services is a Christian, international and domestic adoption and foster care agency that seeks to equip believers to manifest the Gospel in the lives of orphaned or vulnerable children. They desire to place children in Christian families where they will become disciples and go on to make disciples and be part of transforming their communities.
Nightlight Christian Adoptions is a Christian adoption agency that provides domestic and international home study and post-adoption services, pregnancy counseling to birth parents, and domestic, international, and embryo adoption services. Nightlight assists families in all 50 states with licensed offices in eight states.

Financial Assistance

Amount: Varies Requirements: Affiliate agency, special needs children only, international adoption

  • Amount: Grants up to $8,000 (for international adoptions)
  • Requirements: Must be using a 501c3 agency, adopting internationally, must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen, agency recommendation form
  • Due Dates: 3-4 months prior to adoption trip
  • Amount: $1,000 – $15,000 (avg. award of $6,400)
  • Requirements: Approved home study from a Hague accredited agency (if international) or positively rated by the BBB (if domestic), must be a U.S. citizen. Additional requirements found on website
    • Amount: $1,000 – $30,000
    • Requirements: Approved home study, priority to couples without children, at least one applicant must be a U.S. citizen
    • Due Dates: January 3, March 7, May 2, July 4, September 5, November 7
    • Amount : $3,000
    • Requirements : Interview, complete home study, Christian, married
    • Due Dates : Within 45 days of placement of child for domestic adoption; 90 days before final travel for international adoption
    • Amount: Matching grant from $1,000 to $4,000
    • Requirements: Christian, demonstrate financial need, complete home study, domestic and international adoptions
    • Amount: Matching grant varies based on resources
    • Requirements: Families or singles who have a completed home study, have an agreement with a 501c3 licensed adoption agency, and are pre-placement
    • Amount: $500 to $4,000
    • Requirements: Must live in the state of Georgia, home study must be complete with a favorable recommendation from a licensed 501(c)(3) adoption agency, must be utilizing a non-profit adoption agency
    • Due Dates: First of every other month – January, March, May, July, September, and November
    • Amount: Varies, average of $8,000 to $12,000
    • Requirements: Christian, must be using a 501c3 agency, complete home study
    • Due Dates: March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31
    • Amount: Varies (average is $6,000 to $8,000), interest-free loan
    • Requirements: Christian faith, complete home study
    • Amount: Varies, up to $50,000, low-interest loan
    • Requirements: Christian faith
    • Amount: Varies, low-interest loan
    • Requirements: Completing an international adoption, complete home study, yearly household income below $150,000 Due Dates: 4 months prior to final adoption trip
    • Amount: Interest-free loan
    • Requirements: Detailed application, complete homestudy
  • Serving widows, orphans, and adoptive families, this organization helps people raise funds for orphans while serving widows through home improvement projects. See their website for more information.
  • Employers Assistance
  • Some employers have adoption assistance in their benefit packages. Ask your employer if they can help with adoption expenses, or call Adoption and the Workplace at the National Adoption Center at 800.862.3678 to find out how to request this help from your employer.
  • Fundraising
  • Collect donations from your family, friends, and church, make and sell a craft, hold a large garage sale, re-think your standard of living, and pray.
  • Military Subsidy
  • Active military personnel may be eligible for a one-time $2,000 subsidy per child for adoption, with a maximum of $5,000 per calendar year. The adoption must be completed.
  • The Federal Adoption Tax Credit of up to $17,280 is available to assist with qualifying adoption expenses. The adoption credit is an amount that you subtract from your tax liability. Families with significantly higher Adjusted Gross Incomes may receive smaller credits.

Legal & Financial Considerations

  • Georgia Adoption Eligibility
  • An adult over 25
  • An adult under 25 if you are married
  • At least 10 years older than the child you wish to adopt
  • A resident of Georgia for at least six months
  • Financially, physically, and mentally able to have permanent custody of the child (O.C.G.A. §19-8-3)

Upper age limits are determined on a case by case basis for U.S. adoptions and by country rules for international adoptions.

  • Types of Adoption:
There are several different types of adoption, but three major ways you can adopt are: agency adoptions, private adoptions, and state adoptions through the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
  • Costs:
  • In terms of cost, DFCS adoptions are generally paid for by the State and may involve monthly subsidies until the child is 18. Private adoptions require attorneys’ fees and home-study fees, while agency adoptions also include agency fees. There are grants and fundraising opportunities for couples pursuing adoption.
  • Location: DFCS adoptions can be in-state or interstate. Private adoptions and agency adoptions can be in-state, interstate, or international.
  • Legal Process:
  • All adoptions will involve a termination of the rights of the biological parents to the child. Depending on which type of adoption you choose to pursue, your process may be different, but the end result is that you will take the legal place of the child’s parents in the final court order. Most adoptions will require you to have a background check and home-study by a social worker to determine if the child will be safe and cared for in your home. Don’t be nervous—there are folks all along the way who will be happy to help you and answer questions.
  • Tax Credit Information:
    • State Tax Credit $2,000 per child per year beginning when adoption is final and continuing until age 18. Child must have been in the foster care system. No expenses need be proven.
    • Federal Tax Credit For adoptions finalized in 2025, a credit of up to $17,280 per child is available.
    • For more detailed information, visit IRS.gov or talk to a licensed CPA for the most current figures.
  • Helpful Websites
  • Serving widows, orphans, and adoptive families, this organization helps people raise funds for orphans while serving widows through home improvement projects. See their website for more information.
  • Employers Assistance
  • Some employers have adoption assistance in their benefit packages. Ask your employer if they can help with adoption expenses, or call Adoption and the Workplace at the National Adoption Center at 800.862.3678 to find out how to request this help from your employer.
  • Fundraising
  • Collect donations from your family, friends, and church, make and sell a craft, hold a large garage sale, re-think your standard of living, and pray.
  • Military Subsidy
  • Active military personnel may be eligible for a one-time $2,000 subsidy per child for adoption, with a maximum of $5,000 per calendar year. The adoption must be completed.
  • The Federal Adoption Tax Credit of up to $17,280 is available to assist with qualifying adoption expenses. The adoption credit is an amount that you subtract from your tax liability. Families with significantly higher Adjusted Gross Incomes may receive smaller credits.

Recommended Reading

Click Here for our favorite books for fostering and adoptive families
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