At the last agency I worked for (1990 through 1995), the average cost per adoption to the agency (when the adoption budget was divided by the number of adoptions) has been about $13,400. This cost included maternity counseling costs for the 80+% of maternity clients who did not follow adoption plans for their child. Part of this expense was covered by United Way support and by donations to the agency. The average cost to the adopting family was about $12,000. The exact fee for a non-special needs placement was determined by a sliding fee scale based on the formula of $7,500 plus 10% of the families average annual income for the most recent two years with a maximum fee of $17,500. Since a credit of $1,000 was allowed for most outreach expenses, this fee also included such expenses for more than 70% of all families.