Are differential fees permitted, and how must they be applied?

• A. Yes, all adoptions must have the same fees.
• B. Yes, differential fees are allowed; sliding scale may be used; parameters must be specified and equally applied.
• C. Only for hard-to-place children.
• D. Only if approved by Licensing.

Answer: (B)

Differential fees are permitted when an agency uses a clearly defined sliding scale that is published and applied consistently. This approach lets fees reflect objective criteria such as services provided or case complexity, while keeping charges transparent and fair for all adoptive families. The crucial point is that the parameters used to determine where a family falls on the scale are documented in policy and applied equally to everyone in similar circumstances, preventing arbitrary or discriminatory charges.

Options that claim all adoptions must have the same fees, or that differential pricing is limited to hard-to-place children, don’t fit how a transparent, equitable fee structure works. The idea that licensing approval is required to implement a sliding scale isn’t the rule here; what matters is having a written, consistently applied policy.