Adoption Agencies

There are many adoption agencies in the United States that are licensed and provide services to prospective parents and birth mothers. Domestic adoption agencies help those in the United States and many international agencies specialize in one or more countries. There are also agencies that handle both domestic and international adoptions alike.

Adoption agencies are classified as public or private, and most agencies are licensed by the state in which they are located. Public agencies are usually non-profit groups, which are affiliated with a government agency. Private agencies are generally affiliated with a religious or other social service organization, and may be privately owned and operated. Private agencies may be non-profit or for-profit. Both public and private agencies offer assistance to birth parents and adoptive families by state licensed social workers.

A variety of services are offered by adoption agencies. These include completion of a home study, information on the birth parents (medical and biographical), and assistance in the placement of a child. Also, supervision during placement and prior to the final adoption hearing.

Service from a private adoption agency can vary, depending on the provider. As many as three attorneys may be involved in an adoption; one covering the legal aspects of an adoption, another filing papers and representing the adoptive family in court, and a third who may have assisted in the match of the birth parents and an the adoption couple.

Adoption agencies costs can vary greatly. The most inexpensive tend to be those of state and county agencies who are desperately seeking adoptive families for children in their care. Religious organizations, such as Catholic and Jewish Social Services will often work with prospective families, basing their fees on a family's annual income.

Before making a final decision on a particular adoption agency it is a good idea to obtain and contact references. Find out if any complaints have been registered against the agency or individual by checking with the licensing agency, the Better Business Bureau, and State Bar Association.

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