Adoption is about forming a brand new family. While many people only think the process is only about a couple adopting a baby, the fact is there are several different types of adoptions available for all types of parents and children.
Adoptions are generally handled by two types of agencies:
- Public agencies, which typically take care of adoptions of children who are wards of the state. These foster kids are all ages and may have been affected by abandonment, abuse, neglect or parental death.
- Private adoptions, such as those operated by charities, religious organizations and independent businesses, generally place children who are brought to them by a parent or begin working with them while pregnant.
Even within these frameworks, there are different arrangements. Some private adoptions are coordinated directly between the birth and adoptive parents. In other situations, both sets of parents may use an intermediary, such as an attorney, to connect them and iron out details separately with each party.
Open Arms Adoption Agency is a private agency working to connect moms-to-be with prospective adoptive families. Let’s take a look at some of the options to consider:
Closed and open adoptions
A closed adoption is when the birth family has no future contact with the child after birth. The birth parents and adoptive parents do not know each other.
Open adoption welcomes birth parents to be a part of the child’s life. Children grow up knowing their personal story and health history. They may receive cards, letters, gifts and visits from their birth parents throughout the years. However, they have no say in how the child is raised.
Domestic and international adoptions
A domestic adoption is one that takes place within the United States although you and the birth parents don’t have to live in the same city or even the same state.
An international adoption involves adoptive parents working with an overseas agency to adopt a child from a foreign country. Those interested should work with an agency or attorney familiar with international adoption law.
Relative and identified adoptions
An identified adoption is when birth and adoptive parents find each other and ask for assistance from an adoption professional to move the process forward. Sometimes this happens when an adoptive family places ads in newspaper, for example.
Relative adoptions involve the adoption of a stepchild, grandchild or niece/nephew in cases where their birth parents are unable to properly care for the child.
Same-sex couples and single parent adoptions
With same-sex couple adoptions, couples may adopt together or one person may adopt the child of the other partner. Guidelines and regulations vary from state to state and even from agency to agency. Do some research to see which agency will work best for you and your family.
Single parent adoptions are also becoming more common. The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System announced that almost 15,000 single women and nearly 2,000 single men adopted children from foster care in 2017.
Considering adoption? We would love to speak with you! Reach out to our Director today through the chat button, email info@openarmsadoptionagency.com or call (206) 492-4196.
