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| |    Different Types of Adoption by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed and revised by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. The experience of adopting--its cost, time frame, frustrations, risks, and the child who is ultimately adopted--varies greatly depending on the type of adoption chosen. The decision to adopt through a public agency, a private agency, or a lawyer is one that parents make early in the process, but the implications of this decision can be lasting. Public adoption Public adoptions are run through county child-protection agencies. There is no shortage of children available for adoption through these offices. They pay for all legal and other costs and in some cases offer stipends to help with medical or other expenses for the children. However, the children available through public agencies are less attractive to many adoptive parents for several reasons. The children typically have been put in foster care because of neglect or abuse, and they only come up for adoption after the child protection agency has determined that the biological parents are beyond recovery as parents. That process can take a long time, which means that typically the children have been in the foster-care system for years. Few are infants. Many have emotional problems related to their history of abuse or neglect, or to their years in foster homes. And they are relatively unlikely to be white. For many adoptive parents, however, these characteristics are not a problem. Many children who are adopted out of the foster-care system are very glad to have permanent families. Most learn to love their adoptive parents, and they often overcome their emotional and learning problems with the help of committed and caring parents. Prospective parents can find out more about public adoptions in their regions by contacting their local county child-protection agency. Private agencies Private agencies provide a range of services, including counseling for prospective parents, home studies, placements, and post-placement monitoring. Many are also involved in supporting pregnant women who have decided to place their infants up for adoption. Reputable agencies are licensed and follow strict ethical standards. Private parties can usually offer a wider variety of children to be adopted. For families who are committed to the idea of adopting an infant, a private agency is much more likely to meet their needs than a public one. The costs vary but usually run between several thousand dollars and tens of thousands of dollars. Independent adoption Here, prospective parents work directly with a pregnant woman or through a mediator who is often a lawyer. Independent adoptions are not legal in all states, however, so it's very important that parents who choose this option work with a reputable lawyer who is an expert in their state's adoption laws. Otherwise, if it is later found that the law has not been followed, the adoption can be challenged and perhaps nullified, even years later. In some cases independent adoption shortens the waiting time, particularly if parents have a specific set of baby characteristics in mind that are harder to find. The cost, however, can be very high. In addition to lawyer's fees, prospective parents will still need to pay to have a home study done by a licensed agency, as well as court costs. Often the adoptive parents agree to also pay costs related to the child's birth, which can be great if there are complications. All told, the cost of an independent adoption frequently runs in the tens of thousands of dollars. International adoption The number of children adopted internationally has grown steadily over the past 15 years. The main advantage for many parents is the ability to adopt an infant, although older children also are adopted from overseas. International adoptions also can be quite costly ($10,000 to $30,000, roughly). For a fuller discussion, see "International Adoption: An Overview".
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