6 Adoption Options

Adoption agencies can be public or private. Agencies are regulated by the state and licensed to place children with prospective adoptive parents. Public agencies are state run, and the children they place are predominantly foster children of elementary or high school age. Social service organizations often run private agencies, which generally have more infants available for adoption, and birth parents often have a say in who adopts their child.

Independent adoption involves a direct arrangement between the birth mother/parents and the adoptive parents. This type of adoption is common and legal in most states, but you should check state laws or even consider legal advice, as this option can be heavily regulated.

Adoption through identification is a blend of independent and agency adoptions styles. Usually, prospective parents locate a birth mother, and then both sets of parents request that an agency step in to provide counsel and handle the adoption process.

International adoptions involve a citizen of one country adopting a child who is a citizen of a different country. Agencies specializing in international adoption can help you with this option.

This option involves some communication among the adoptive parents, the birth parents and the child. The adoptive and birth parents decide how much communication will occur and how much identifying information is shared before and after the adoption. Therefore, no two open adoptions are the same.

Children become available for adoption through foster care when reunification with the birth family isn’t possible and a court terminates the biological parents’ rights, usually due to abuse or neglect.

Prospective parents can adopt from foster care in two ways. The first is direct foster care adoption, where families apply to adopt a child who is with a fostering family. The second option is called foster to adoption, where families who have been fostering a child choose to legally adopt the child.

Learn about how Military OneSource adoption consultations can help military families with all aspects of adoption and foster care, including understanding the different types of adoption available, connecting to resources and contacts throughout the process, and understanding benefits, including the adoption reimbursement policy, leave time and tax credits.