(0 items)
- Home
- » Adoption
- » How to Adopt
- » Adoption Choices
- » Adopting Infants Domestically through a Licensed Private Agency or an Attorney (Independent Adoption)
Adopting Infants Domestically through a Licensed Private Agency or an Attorney (Independent Adoption)
While this option has become less common, some pregnant women and expectant parents choose to place their infants for adoption. This is sometimes called voluntary relinquishment. Birth mothers may relinquish their infants to a private or public agency, attorney, or adoption service provider. The exact numbers are not known since States are not required to report this information to the Federal Government, and there is no systematic collection of statistics regarding the voluntary placement of children for adoption. This section contains information on the adoption of infants within the United States.
National Foster Care and Adoption Directory
Offers a database of licensed private and public adoption agencies. Prospective adoptive parents can search for agencies in their State and sort results by city, zip code, services offered, or languages spoken by staff.
Adoption Advertising: Finding Birthmothers in the Classified Ads
Adopting.org
Provides tips on using classified advertising to reach potential birth mothers.
The Adoption Planner (PDF - 202 KB)
Adoptive Families Magazine (2005)
Offers a guide for prospective adoptive parents through their adoption journey.
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
Lists attorneys with expertise in adoption, including a directory with referrals to adoption attorneys in all 50 States.
Domestic Adoption
Adoptive Families Magazine
Provides resources to help prospective adoptive parents start the adoption process, with a focus on infant adoption.
| Getting Started: Adoption General Information Packet 1 | |
| Series Title: | General Information Packets |
| Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability: | View Download (PDF - 1,890KB) |
| Year Published: | 2010 - 26 pages |
| This collection of factsheets provides an overview of the adoption process. | |
| How to Assess the Reputation of Licensed, Private Adoption Agencies | |
| Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability: | View |
| Year Published: | 2004 - 1 page |
| Because there are more than 1,700 licensed private agencies in the United States (with more than 700 listed as having intercountry adoption programs), it is difficult for Information Gateway to stay up-to-date on the operations of all agencies. Prospective adoptive parents should research the background of an agency before beginning the adoption process. The steps provided in this fact sheet will help prospective adoptive parents assess the reputation of licensed, private adoption agencies. | |
Mental Health, Attachment and Breastfeeding: Implications for Adopted Children and Their Mothers
Gribble
International Breastfeeding Journal (2006)
Reviews the evidence in physiological and behavioral research indicating that breastfeeding can play a significant role in developing the attachment relationship between child and mother.
| Obtaining Background Information on Your Prospective Adopted Child | |
| Series Title: | Factsheets for Families |
| Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability: | View Download (PDF - 248KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
| Year Published: | 2003 - 6 pages |
| This fact sheet explains why it is important to obtain background information about a prospective child. It discusses where a family might find background information, what questions to ask about the child's medical, family, social, and placement history, and why information may not be available. It includes a list of resources for more information. | |
Parent Profiles
Adopting.com
Provides a website where prospective parents pursuing adoption can post their profiles.
| Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placements: Summary of State Laws | |
| Series Title: | State Statutes |
| Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability: | View Download (PDF - 284KB) |
| Year Published: | 2009 - 29 pages |
| Some people choose to adopt, and some birth parents choose to place their children for adoption, without the involvement of an agency. These placements are known as private placements or independent adoptions. Private placement is often preferred by people who want to adopt newborn infants domestically and utilize the services of an attorney or adoption services provider or manage the process more on their own. The challenge for prospective adoptive parents in a private placement is locating a child who is appropriate for their family or finding birth parents seeking to place their child for adoption. Some parents choose to ... | |
| Voluntary Relinquishment for Adoption | |
| Series Title: | Numbers and Trends |
| Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability: | View Download (PDF - 195KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
| Year Published: | 2005 - 4 pages |
| Voluntary placement of children for adoption is relatively rare in the United States. This paper examines some of the more recent statistics and trends regarding the relinquishment of children by birth mothers. | |
Writing a Terrific Birthmother Letter
Adoptive Families Magazine
Offers suggestions for prospective adoptive parents.