An estimated 120,000 children are adopted annually in the U.S., according to the American Family of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The people who choose adoption have come to the decision for a number of reasons. A couple may be unable to conceive, or perhaps they simply have a deep desire to parent a child in need of a good home. Adoption agencies work to place a prospective parent with a child whose biological parents for one reason or another have chosen to terminate their rights.
Considerations
Children who are waiting to be raised by an adoptive family range from infants to adolescents. An adoption agency must obtain a license in the state in which it conducts business. To become licensed, an agency must adhere to a number of requirements, including staff qualifications, and be explicit about the services it provides.
Public Agencies
State or county operated adoption agencies (Social Services) handle the adoptions of children who have been placed in foster care. Public agencies will help prospective parents find a child, conduct home studies and provide education and legal services. If you are adopting a child with special needs, public agencies will oversee the disbursement of state and federal assistance payments.
Private Agencies
Private adoption agencies operate similarly to public agencies in regard to how they work to place children with adoptive parents. They often provide counseling services for both the pregnant woman who is giving up her child and for the soon-to-be adoptive parents. Some private agencies have an educational program that includes newborn care and parenting classes.
Types of Adoptions
The two primary types of adoptions that are handled by a private adoption agency are domestic infant adoptions and international adoptions. Private agencies are sometimes licensed to conduct placements for children who live in other countries. Public agencies, on the other hand, are restricted to the U.S.
References
It is a good idea to contact the references provided to you by an adoption agency. Adoption Information.com suggests that you also conduct an independent reference search via Internet blogs and sites as well as in your own adoption community. This is because the agency will likely make available the references of adoptive parents who it is confident will give a glowing report about its services.
Fees
The total cost of adopting a child from a privately run adoption agency can range from $5,000 to $40,000 depending on the agency and its location. Public adoption agencies are typically less expensive. The maximum fee is usually $2,500 and, in some cases, its services are free.
