Caribbean Adoption

Spence-Chapin is proud to be able to assist families who are looking to adopt child internationally from the Caribbean. This program is for families who do not currently have an identified child/family member they are looking to adopt, but want to grow their family through adoption and feel the Eastern Caribbean would be a good fit for them.

With more than 110-years of experience in adoption, Spence-Chapin is able to guide you through every step of your adoption journey and provide lifelong support services to you and your family.

We know that the international adoption process can seem daunting at first. That’s where Spence-Chapin comes in. As your Primary Adoption Service Provider in the United States, we will work closely with government agencies and our in-country providers to ensure that the adoption process is smooth and seamless.

Spence-Chapin is currently providing international adoption, child matching services in St Vincent & The Grenadines and Grenanda. If you are interested in adopting from countries outside our country programs and need a home study, Spence-Chapin is pleased to offer international home study services to you and your family. Find out more here.

Start your journey now!

Countries With a Child Matching Process

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Grenanda

Meet Philippa

Philippa J. Street was born and raised in Jamaica; after 30+ years of working in intercountry adoption within the United States, including as founder and CEO of a reputable Hague-accredited agency, Philippa has happily returned to live in Jamaica where she continues her passion of working with adoptive families, in partnership with Spence-Chapin. Philippa has an unparalleled familiarity of the laws and processes required by US regulations and the regulations of each country where we work. Philippa firmly believes that every child has the right to be parented in a permanent, loving and caring family and views international adoption as a loving option.

What is the process?

UPDATED international adoption infographic (8.5 × 13 in) (1)

Children in need of adoption

These programs are designed to find adoptive families for children whom no adoptive family has been found within the country nor within the child’s extended family network.

  • Boys and girls 0-10, as well as sibling pairs, with special needs including but not limited to special medical, developmental or emotional needs. Families should minimally be open to a child ages 0-4 years.

Adoptive Parent Eligibility

  • Single men and women as well as heterosexual married couples living throughout the United States.
  • Unmarried couples and applicants 50 and older should consult with Spence-Chapin.
  • Mental health and medical conditions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any legal history will be thoroughly vetted; some criminal convictions are eligibility barriers in accordance with state law.

Fees

Spence-Chapin prides itself on transparency of fee disclosures. In any intercountry adoption process, families will incur professional services fees from their primary adoption service provider as well as third-party and travel costs. Spence-Chapin’s professional services fees reflect the work and support dedicated to your family. Spence-Chapin’s professional services fees are paid in installments as your case reaches new milestones.  

 

Spence-Chapin Fees 

Total Estimated Third-Party Fees  

Estimated Travel Expenses 

Total Estimated Cost of Adoption before the Federal Adoption Tax Credit* 

Local Families** 

Application Fee: $300 

 

Professional Services Fees: $14,815 payable in five installments across your adoption process (additional $815 if adopting two children) 

 

Home Study Fee: $2,500; Spence-Chapin provides any subsequent home study update at no additional charge. 

 

Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Fees: $500 

$3,355-$6,860 

$4,000-$11,000 

$25,470-$35,975  

Non-Local Families*** 

Application Fee: $300 

 

Professional Services Fees: $14,815 payable in five installments across your adoption process (additional $815 if adopting two children) 

 

$6,605-$13,560 

$4,000-$11,000 

$25,720-$39,675 

* The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here. 

**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families. 

***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families. 

 

Spence-Chapin Fees 

Total Estimated Third-Party Fees  

Estimated Travel Expenses 

Total Estimated Cost of Adoption before the Federal Adoption Tax Credit* 

Local Families** 

Application Fee: $300 

 

Professional Services Fees: $14,815 payable in five installments across your adoption process (additional $815 if adopting two children) 

 

Home Study Fee: $2,500; Spence-Chapin provides any subsequent home study update at no additional charge. 

 

Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Fees: $500 

$12,485-$17,275 

 

$4,000-$11,000 

$34,600-$46,390 

Non-Local Families*** 

Application Fee: $300 

 

Professional Services Fees: $14,815 payable in five installments across your adoption process (additional $815 if adopting two children) 

$15,735-$23,975 

$4,000-$11,000 

$34,850-$50,090 

* The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here. 

**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families. 

***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families. 

How does spence-chapin offset the cost of adoption?

Spence-Chapin is committed to reducing barriers to adoption and partners with the experts at Your Adoption Finance Coach to provide our families with free access to experts, tools, and content that can take the worry out of financing your adoption. This service is available at no additional cost to families. Additionally, the Federal Adoption Tax Credit can greatly offset the costs of adoption. The Adoption Tax Credit is up to $15,950 per adoption, taken in the tax year in which your adoption is finalized.

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