| re approximately 3,000 adoption agencies in the | | | | Types of adoption |
| United States and around 100,000 children put up for | | | | Many children are put up for adoption each year. |
| adoption. At this great number, hundreds of | | | | Some adoptive parents prefer newborns while others |
| thousands of prospective adoptive parents are still | | | | would like older children. Adoption agency can vary in |
| thinking of adopting a child. If you have an unplanned | | | | the type of adoption they specialize in, such as |
| pregnancy and considering of placing your baby for | | | | placement of international children, children with |
| adoption, finding an adoption agency is the surest | | | | special needs, bi-racial children, or children of another |
| your baby will find a home as soon as he/she is born. | | | | ethnicity. Other agencies may purely specialize in |
| Types of adoption agencies | | | | assisting the adoption of infants while others are |
| There are two types of adoption agencies: public and | | | | especially selective in the type of adoptive parents |
| private. A public adoption agency usually works with | | | | and birthparents with whom they work with. |
| the foster care system to assist children who were | | | | It’s best to ask for assistance from an |
| given up for adoption. Public adoption agencies | | | | adoption agency that can specifically entertain your |
| receive full funding from and are run by the federal | | | | adoption needs and allows you to actively participate |
| government or the state in which they operate in. | | | | in the process. This is important for many |
| A private adoption agency operates in a certain area | | | | birthparents who want to ensure the qualifications of |
| under a state license although it is privately run. | | | | their child’s adoptive parents. |
| Private adoption agencies may include churches, | | | | A good adoption agency should not only assist |
| charity institutions, and the like that actively assists | | | | birthmothers in the adoption process. Rather, they |
| many forms of adoption. | | | | must provide all types of support needed to alleviate |
| If you don’t know where to begin with, | | | | the tension and effects of adoption on the child and |
| seeking help in an adoption agency often offers | | | | both parents. Counseling can immensely help a |
| many benefits. For instance, a public adoption agency | | | | birthmother get through the emotional ordeal of |
| provides more support services to birthmothers, | | | | giving up her child, even though it might not seem to |
| including pre-adoption education, homestudies, | | | | be the best choice. |
| counseling, post-adoption services, and referrals. A | | | | Placing a child for adoption is a heart-wrenching |
| private adoption agency may not provide the same | | | | experience that can change a woman’s life |
| services as government-run but it may typically | | | | forever. |
| require lesser adoption costs. | | | | |