Independent (private) Adoption Types of Children Placed: Mostly white infants, although some infants of color are placed privately. Cost: Usually a few thousand dollars to $15,000 but can be higher if there are extremely high medical bills. Services Provided: Legal services, sometimes counseling by social worker. Pros: More babies are placed through independent-adoption than through agencies, because those who choose this route often succeed in less time than typical agency adoption. You can play an active role in your adoption by searching for a pregnant woman who is considering placing her unborn child for adoption. You can add your name to this lists of several adoption attorneys at the same time thus increasing your chances to succeed quickly. Attorneys may have a higher or non-existent age limit for prospective parents, and they may accept singles. Cons: Most of what an agency handles (verifying the pregnancy, obtaining signatures, etc.) is your or the attorney’s responsibility. This can be a costly way to adopt, depending on the state where the birthmother resides and what her needs are. You must consider problems that could develop (the baby is stillborn or born with a handicapping condition) and how those problems will be resolved (you may still be responsible for all expenses). If the birthmother decides to parent her baby, you are usually responsible for all expenses incurred. Sometimes a baby is placed in your home before the birthparents have transferred their parental rights. This then becomes a legal-risk placement. If the birthparents change their mind and want the baby back, they have the legal right to have the child. If a particular situation does not work for you, you must start the entire process all over again. Approximate Waiting Time: Up to two years. |
Identified Adoption Types of Children Placed: Infants, usually Caucasian. Cost: May be as high as $10,000 to more than $15,000. Services Provided: For birthparent(s)-homestudies, counseling, post-placement services. Pros: Identified adoption, also known as agency-assisted, designated, or target, resembles independent adoption in that you can search for a birthmother considering an adoption plan for her baby, you and the birthparent(s) (and sometimes an intermediary) contact an agency for exploration of a possible adoption. The agency confirms the pregnancy and provides all of the services needed by you and the birthmother. Identified adoption works for parents who locate a birthmother but do not want to be involved in a private adoption. Although there are risks, an identified adoption generally protects you from the risk of having to return the baby to the birthmother after placement because parental rights have not been surrendered. With agency involvement, the release of parental rights usually comes before a baby is placed in your home. Identified adoption plays a crucial role in states where independent adoption is prohibited or intermediaries are disallowed. Identified adoptions may be open or confidential. Cons: In identified adoption, you are financially responsible for all of the birthmother’s expenses (medical and other expenses when legal in state where she resides) and, in some cases, agency fees, no matter what the outcome of the pregnancy. Some agencies insist their personnel must make the final decision after interviewing the birth parents and the prospective parents. So they will not guarantee that the baby identified will be placed with the designated prospective parents. Before referring a potential birthmother to an agency, always check with the agency regarding its policies. Get a description of services in writing. Your emotional risk is high since you are aware of the child before he or she is born and the wait is difficult. There is the possibility that the birthmother decides to parent the baby. If that happens, there is no other baby to wait for since you are not on the agency’s regular waiting list. You must start again. Approximate Waiting Time: Usually under a year, but can take longer depending on circumstances |
Public Agencies Types of Children Placed: Infants of color, toddlers, older children, other children with special needs (sibling groups, cocaine babies, etc.). Cost: Usually none or minimal (may have attorney fees to finalize adoption). Services Provided: Homestudies, post-placement services, counseling, adoption subsidies. Pros: Public agencies often have more flexible parent requirements than private agencies regarding such things as your age, income, number of children already in the home, marital status, and religion. Adoption subsidies are available for some children. You can participate in the adoption of waiting children by viewing photo-listing books and videos that identify them, then inquire about the children that you are interested in. You also can list your family with adoption exchanges. In other words, you can help to locate a child to adopt. Adoptions completed through a public agency generally involve no fee, or only a minimal fee, a major plus for families who are not able to afford the often high costs of adopting through a private agency. Cons: Personnel at public agencies are often overworked and understaffed, thus they may not be able to begin working with you immediately. In addition, public agencies usually place only children with special needs, thus you must prepare for a child who has been abused, neglected, or faces medical problems. Love is important, but realistic preparation is equally necessary. There may be a wait of several months to a few years just for a homestudy. It sometimes takes an aggressive and determined family to put an adoption together. If after six months on a public agency’s waiting list you have not met at least one child, you will need to take a more active role and search for a child on your own. The most common complaint heard from singles is that public agencies save the infants and toddlers for couples and urge them to accept an older child with special needs. Some families who have adopted children through public agencies have not received full disclosure of information on the child or have received incorrect information. Make every effort to obtain all the information available on the child, ask questions, and consult with specialists before accepting a placement. Children often have spent several years in foster care before being legally freed for adoption. Approximate Waiting Time: Often one to two years. |
Foster-Adoption Types of Children Placed: Infants, toddlers, older children, sibling groups, other children with special needs. Cost: None or minimal. Services Provided: Homestudies, counseling, post-placement services. Pros: If you do not have sufficient funds to adopt through a private agency or for an independent adoption, or you don’t wish to adopt a child with special needs, the foster-adopt program at a public agency may be the answer. As foster parents, you may specify that you want only younger children (under the age of 3 or 4 years, for example) placed with you, children who may be released for adoption. The agency may then place a baby or toddler with you. (Some suggest requesting infants who were abandoned.) If the child is freed for adoption, you usually can apply to adopt the child. Prospective parents have the opportunity to live with the child for years and know firsthand what parenting the child is like. Cons: If adopting an infant, particularly a healthy white infant, is your goal, this is not a good method of achieving success since few healthy infants are placed in foster-adopt programs. Also, there is always the possibility that a child placed in your home may be returned to his or her birthfamily or placed with relatives. it also may take years before relinquishment papers are signed. Foster-adoption is sometimes called a legal-risk placement. Foster-adoption may not even be a consideration for some families since several states are opposed to the foster-adopt program believing the goal for the child is to eventually reunite with the birthfamily. They may also want to reserve their foster families for foster children. Approximate Waiting Time: Varies by agency and the type of child you request. Actual adoption could take one to five years from placement of the foster child. Making Choices There are children who need adoption around the world through all kinds of adoption agencies and programs. As prospective parents, take control and become informed. Read books on adoption and talk with families who have adopted the type of child you are seeking. Take advantage of orientation meetings offered in your area by local adoption agencies. Then, make your telephone calls and write your letters knowing that you have taken positive steps that will make your journey less stressful from start to finish. |
