MyFertilityGuide

An adoption agency is defined as any organization, public or private, whose primary purpose is to place children in adoptive homes through interview, screening and follow-up services. Though private adoptions are an option—that is, adopting from a woman or couple who are willing to give up their baby or child without the facilitation of an outsider service—it is more often a less risky proposition financially and emotionally to utilize the services of an agency.

Types of Adoption Agencies

There are about 3000 adoption agencies in the United States and each of them has their own specialty: domestic or international, newborns or older children, religious or nonsectarian, public or private. Some have a specific ethnic or cultural focus or outlook and all range in size from very small homes with minimal staff with a placement case load of about 10 children per year to large rambling facilities with an annual caseload placing hundreds of children.

Characteristics To Look For In An Adoption Agency

Licensure is the first characteristic to ascertain. Every agency is required to be licensed for adoption in the state in which they practice. A few agencies may be licensed in more than one state and agencies that handle interstate adoptions generally work with agencies in other states.

Competent staff with degrees in social work, child psychology or family law are another positive characteristic for adoption agencies. The desire to place children in loving families is admirable but it’s important that those who work for the agency you choose have the education and experience to see the process through to the end. Supervisors should have a graduate degree.

Adoption Agency Services

Most adoption agencies offer a variety of services to assist prospective parents through the entire process of adoption from start to finish. These include:

• Counseling and support groups for prospective parents and birth parents
• Assistance with medical care for birth parents
• Home or family study of the prospective parents to ascertain competency and stability
• Classes on the adoption process for prospective and birth parents
• Temporary home placement of the baby or child during the adoption process
• Post-placement counseling and follow-up for years after the adoption

For More Information

For domestic adoptions, evaluate private agencies as a business. For an objective view of their business practice, check out the Better Business Bureau online and find the location nearest to the agency. They also have a tip sheet on adoption agencies and how to use them online.