Private adoption agencies are authorized by the state in which they’re licensed to act as an intermediary between adoptive parents seeking a child and birth parents considering adoption. New York adoptive parents are only permitted to work with agencies licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. While New Jersey adoptive parents must have their home study performed by a “New Jersey approved agency”, they are permitted to work with any state licensed not-for-profit adoption agency for the match process. Adoption agencies have many resources for connecting with potential expectant parents which includes: newspaper advertisements, social medical outreach, and the relationships the agency has formed with various hospitals and shelters. The role of the agency is to educate and counsel the adoptive parents and potential birth parents through the important and emotionally complex decisions they’ll be making. Typically, an agency has a roster of waiting adoptive parents who they have screened and approved as qualified to adopt.
Private agency adoption is attractive because the agency does the “work” of matching adoptive and birth parents and because the agency provides a built-in support system for all of the parties. The cost of a typical private agency adoption can vary dramatically but fees typically range from $30,000 to $60,000.
Private adoption agencies vary widely with regard to their total fee, the structure and timing of payments, the services included in the agency fee, and adoptive parent qualification requirements. Agency policies also vary in terms of the amount of information you receive prior to the placement, whether you can meet the birth parent(s) prior to making a financial commitment and your ability to make a choice on the issue of post-placement contact. Some agencies may decline to work with adoptive parents based on their age, marital status or sexual orientation. Whatever agency you choose to work with, you are entitled to feel respected and emotionally supported by the agency throughout the adoption process. You should speak to a number of different agencies, ask for references, and check them out with the Better Business Bureau, prior to making a commitment to a particular agency.
In an agency adoption, the agency determines the adoptive parent(s)’ qualification to adopt. This involves the preparation of a home study report, obtaining criminal and child abuse clearance, and obtaining documentation to ensure that the adoptive parents are medically and financially capable of parenting a child. The agency should also educate the adoptive parents regarding the complex emotional aspects of the adoption process.
Once you’ve been approved by the agency, the agency will work to match you with a potential birth parent. The best practice is for the agency to obtain the expectant parent’s medical/social history and any available prenatal records prior to requiring you to make a commitment to an adoption plan. The agency should provide the expectant parents with needed adoption related services, including counseling. Once the child is born, the agency will reconfirm the biological/placing parent’s desire to place their child for adoption before asking them to execute the Agency Surrender documents. The legal effect of the Surrender is to transfer legal custody of the child to the agency. In turn, the agency transfers physical custody of the child to the adoptive parent(s). The agency remains the legal guardian of the child until the adoption is finalized by the court.
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