adoptive parents

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information for adopting parents

What is independent and private adoption? How is that different from agency adoption?

A private adoption involves arrangements made directly between the birthmother and the adopting parents. Because a an agency is not used, all parties have greater control over the process, and the adoption usually is faster and easier. More than half of all domestic adoptions are now done independently.

Agencies have noticed the trend toward independent adoption and have begun to change their policies to be more similar to independent adoption.

Most independent adoptions involve caucasian newborns. Agency adoptions often involve a higher number of minority placements, particularly public, rather than private, agencies.

Independent adoptions allow both the birth parents and the birth mother to establish a relationship and adoption they want, without the unnecessary bureaucratic interference of an agency.

Birthmothers can select the adoptive parents themselves, rather than relying on an agency to find what the agency feels is a match for them.

The adoption process take less time, and a child can be placed with adoptive parents faster than when using an agency.

In an agency adoption, the birthmother relinquishes custody to the agency, then the agency transfers custody to the adoptive parents. Independent adoptions allow adoptive parents to gain custody immediately.