Private Adoption vs. Agency Adoption ......

I receive many calls during my average day at work from families who are looking into adoption.  I have written posts about starting the adoption process  and what is required - so if you have questions look back through my posts....or just holler hey adoption lady!

Today, I would like to briefly discuss the differences between an agency adoption, and a private adoption. 

First, an agency adoption.  When an adoptive family does an agency adoption they work with a licensed agency to complete their adoption. The agency coordinates every aspect of the adoption from match until finalization, and they are there to walk the adopting family through each stage of the adoption process. 

 Agencies charge a fee for their services, and every agency has different requirements and procedures for their adopting families, and their adoption programs.  Make sure you understand how the program or agency you have chosen works. Asks lots of questions. Additionally, always check with the child licensing authority in the state where the agency is located to make sure they are a legitimate agency.

Also, remember the agency doing your placement may not be your home study agency -

(every adopting family, whether doing an agency or a private adoption, must be approved to adopt - the adoption approval document is called a home study or a Pre-placement Report.  Adopting families can work with one agency to do their home study, and a different agency to do the placement of a child if they choose)

Private adoption:  A private adoption is very different from an agency adoption. When doing a private adoption the adoptive family typically finds the birth parents on their own, and  works with an attorney, and the birth parents to complete the adoption process. Coordination for a private placement is typically handled by the attorney involved, or the adopting family.   In most private adoptions there is much less coordination as compared to an agency adoption. 

When an adoptive family chooses to do a private adoption they must be prepared that finding birth parents who wish to place their children for adoption may be a difficult and expensive process.  Some attorneys, the ones who do adoptions on a regular basis, may have available birth mothers, but that is not typical.  Typically, adopting families must advertise etc. to find their birth parents.  It is important to remember that laws vary from state to state regarding advertising etc., and adopting families need to be aware of what can and can not be offered to a birth mother as part of the adoption process because different states have different laws about this as well.

I get calls  all the time from adopting families who try to adopt on their own, without the help of an agency, and they have lost money because they paid expenses for a birth mother who changed her mind, and lost lots of money.

Do your home work, and if you have questions about agency or private adoptions - JUST HOLLER HEY ADOPTION LADY......