New Hope adoption agency to close

Citing rising overhead costs, the New Hope Child and Family Agency announced it will close within a few months.

The Seattle adoption agency said it has placed 3,000 children in families since its founding in 1974.

Officials cited "changing societal values" with more pregnant women opting to raise their children, along with "increasingly expensive overhead," as reasons to close the agency. They said they'll continue to serve current families with referrals to complete their adoptions, but won't take any new applications or provide pregnancy counseling.

"Over the last decade, the overhead involved in operating an adoption agency has increased significantly," said Diane Lostrangio, director, in a statement.

In 1993, New Hope affiliated with Crista Ministries of Seattle but officials of that faith-based organization said its support wasn't enough to keep New Hope afloat.

"The larger adoption agencies may be the only organizations able to survive in this arena. Time will tell," said Tim Beltz, executive vice president of Crista Ministries, in a statement.