Alternatives to Lund for Vermont Adoption: Your Full Set of Options

Lund Family Center is Vermont's largest and most well-known adoption agency, but it is not the right fit for every Vermont family — and for some adoption types, it is not necessary at all. The best alternative to Lund depends on your adoption pathway: if you are pursuing private infant adoption, you may want to work directly with a national out-of-state agency while using a local Vermont provider for home study services. If you are pursuing foster care adoption, DCF is the primary route. If you are doing a stepparent adoption, adult adoption, or confirmatory adoption under H.98, no agency involvement is required. Here is how to think through your real options.

Why Families Look for Alternatives to Lund

Lund is Vermont's oldest full-service agency and an essential institution for the Vermont adoption community. It provides infant adoption services, foster care adoption through Project Family in partnership with DCF, home study and post-placement services for independent adoptions, and post-adoption support services. For many Vermont families, Lund is the right choice.

But there are legitimate reasons to look elsewhere:

Wait times for infant placement. Because Vermont has a small in-state birth parent pool, domestic infant placements through Lund are infrequent and wait times can be long. Families with a strong preference for infant adoption and a defined timeline often pair a Vermont home study provider (which can be Lund or an independent provider like Friends in Adoption) with a national out-of-state agency that has a larger birth parent network.

Geographic access. Lund is based in Burlington. Families in southern Vermont or rural areas may find an independent licensed social worker or a provider like Friends in Adoption in Middletown Springs more accessible for home study visits.

Program fit. Lund's infant program is designed for a specific profile of domestic placement. Families pursuing special needs adoption, older child adoption, foster-to-adopt, or international adoption may find other resources better suited to their pathway.

Cost structure. Agency fees vary. For families pursuing foster care adoption through DCF, agency fees are minimal. For families whose pathway is stepparent, adult, or confirmatory adoption, agency involvement is not part the process.

Vermont Adoption Options by Pathway

Alternatives to Lund by Use Case

For Home Study Services (If Not Using Lund)

Friends in Adoption — Based in Middletown Springs, Vermont. Specializes in independent home study services for families working through any adoption pathway, including families matched with out-of-state agencies. Friends in Adoption has a particular focus on inclusive adoption practices and birth parent support. For families who are already matched with a birth mother or out-of-state agency and need a Vermont-licensed home study provider quickly, Friends in Adoption is a primary alternative.

Licensed independent social workers — Vermont allows home studies to be conducted by licensed clinical social workers who have been vetted by DCF, not just by agencies. An independent social worker can be more flexible on scheduling and geographic reach for rural families. Ask any independent social worker you contact to confirm their DCF-approved status for adoption home studies before engaging.

For Foster Care Adoption (If Not Going Through DCF Directly)

DCF Family Services Division — This is the direct route for foster care adoption. DCF manages the pool of waiting children, runs foster parent licensing, and coordinates finalization. Project Family, a partnership between DCF and Lund, recruits and supports families for children in state custody — but you can also work directly with DCF without going through Project Family.

As of recent data, approximately 1,436 children are in Vermont foster care, with roughly 265 waiting for adoptive families. These children are typically school-aged or in sibling groups. DCF adoption assistance subsidies range from $522 to $826 per month depending on child age and need level, and Medicaid continues after finalization for eligible children.

For Private Infant Adoption (The Out-of-State Route)

Most Vermont families pursuing private infant adoption work with a national agency based in another state — not because Lund is inadequate, but because the in-state birth parent pool limits the number of domestic placements available in Vermont. National domestic adoption agencies commonly used by Vermont families include American Adoptions, Adoptions With Love, and various regional agencies in states with larger birth parent networks.

Using a national out-of-state agency means your placement will require ICPC — the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. You will still need a Vermont-licensed home study provider (Lund or Friends in Adoption are the most common choices) to serve as your receiving-state contact. Vermont's ICPC office is small; having a Vermont-licensed provider who is responsive and familiar with your file before the match occurs makes the ICPC process substantially faster.

Costs for out-of-state private infant adoption run $35,000–$65,000 all-in, including agency fees, home study, ICPC stay costs, birth mother expenses, Vermont attorney fees, and court costs.

For Stepparent Adoption (No Agency Required)

Vermont stepparent adoption is attorney-led, not agency-led. The process involves:

• Consent from the custodial biological parent (Form 700-00139)
• Consent or termination of parental rights for the non-custodial biological parent
• Background clearances for all adults in the household
• Home study — which may be waived if the child has lived in the home for at least six months
• Petition to the Probate Division of the Superior Court (Form 700-00131B or 700-00131C depending on the specific situation)
• 180-day placement period before finalization (may be shortened for good cause)

A Vermont adoption attorney is the primary professional needed for stepparent adoption. No agency involvement is required, and Lund is not a necessary part of the process.

For Confirmatory Adoption Under H.98 (No Agency Required)

The 2025 H.98 Confirmatory Adoption Act created a fast-track pathway for parents who are already legally recognized under Vermont's Parentage Act. This pathway requires no agency, no home study, no background checks, and no waiting period. It is a direct petition to the Probate Division using Form 700-00131D.

H.98 applies primarily to LGBTQ+ families and families formed through assisted reproduction where parentage has already been established but the additional protection of an adoption decree is desired. A court order under H.98 is protected by the U.S. Constitution's Full Faith and Credit Clause, meaning it is recognized in all 50 states — more durable protection than a state parentage order alone.

Neither Lund nor any other agency is part of the H.98 process.

What the Vermont Adoption Process Guide Covers

The Vermont Adoption Process Guide includes an appendix specifically addressing Vermont's four licensed agencies: their locations, specialties, fee structures, and the questions to ask before committing. It also covers the ICPC navigation strategy for families using out-of-state agencies, the H.98 confirmatory pathway for families who do not need an agency, and the stepparent adoption process for families in that specific situation. The guide's agency comparison is designed for families trying to understand whether Lund, Friends in Adoption, or a different route is the right fit for their pathway — before they start making calls.

Who This Page Is For

• Vermont families who are aware of Lund but uncertain whether it is the right option for their specific pathway
• Families pursuing infant adoption who have researched Lund's wait times and are considering out-of-state agencies
• LGBTQ+ families who want to understand the H.98 confirmatory pathway and realize no agency involvement is required
• Stepparents who have been told they need an agency and want to understand whether that is accurate for their situation
• Rural Vermont families who need a home study provider that can reach their location without requiring Burlington-area proximity

Who This Page Is NOT For

• Families who are already enrolled in Lund's program and satisfied with the fit — this page is not an argument against Lund
• Families pursuing foster care adoption who are already working with DCF — Project Family and DCF are the right resources
• Families in other states — Vermont-specific agency structure does not apply to other jurisdictions

Tradeoffs

Working with Lund: Full-service support, experienced Vermont-specific guidance, established relationship with Vermont's ICPC office, post-adoption support services, trauma-informed care expertise. Limited in-state infant placement volume means wait times for domestic infant matching.

Using an out-of-state agency with a Vermont home study provider: Access to larger national birth parent networks, potentially shorter wait times for infant placement. Adds ICPC complexity. Requires coordinating two providers (out-of-state agency and Vermont home study provider). Communication with Vermont's small ICPC office is more dependent on the Vermont home study provider's responsiveness.

Attorney-only pathway (stepparent, adult, confirmatory): No agency fees, simpler process for the right situation. Only available for pathways that do not require agency involvement — cannot replace an agency for infant or foster care adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lund the only agency in Vermont that does home studies for adoption?

No. Friends in Adoption also provides independent home study services for Vermont families across pathways. Licensed independent social workers approved by DCF can also conduct home studies. For families working with out-of-state agencies, either Lund or Friends in Adoption are the most commonly used Vermont receiving-state home study providers.

Can I use an out-of-state adoption agency for a Vermont adoption?

Yes. Vermont families regularly work with national adoption agencies for domestic infant placement. You will need a Vermont-licensed home study provider as your receiving-state ICPC contact, and finalization occurs in Vermont's Probate Division. The out-of-state agency does not need to be Vermont-licensed.

Does Friends in Adoption do the same thing as Lund?

Their services overlap but differ in emphasis. Lund is a full-service agency with its own infant placement program, foster care involvement through Project Family, and residential and community services. Friends in Adoption specializes in independent home study services and has a particular focus on inclusive adoption practices and birth parent support. For families whose primary need is a Vermont-licensed home study provider to support an independent or out-of-state placement, both can serve that function.

Do I need any agency for a stepparent adoption in Vermont?

No. Stepparent adoption in Vermont is an attorney-led process. An adoption attorney handles the petition, consent, background checks, and court process. A home study may be required unless the child has lived in your home for at least six months (in which case the court may waive it). No agency fee or agency involvement is part of a standard stepparent adoption.

What is the H.98 confirmatory adoption pathway and does it require an agency?

H.98 is a 2025 Vermont law that allows parents who are already legally recognized under Vermont's Parentage Act to obtain an adoption decree through a fast-track process that waives the home study, background checks, and waiting period. It applies primarily to LGBTQ+ families and families formed through assisted reproduction. No agency is involved in the H.98 pathway. The petition is filed directly with the Probate Division of the Superior Court using Form 700-00131D.

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