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Key Points:

• 12% of women experience difficulties getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term.
• There are many causes of infertility among women in the U.S.
• Surrogacy is an alternative family-building option that can help fulfill your dreams of becoming parents.

Whether you are a hopeful parent struggling with infertility or one who simply wants to keep their family-building options open, know that there are several options that are available to you.

Different ways of building a family have developed and become more popular, giving hopeful parents many paths to pursue. But, how do you decide which one is right for you?

For some families, adoption could be the best option. Sometimes, though, it’s knowing who to talk to and where to get information about adoption that can make that first step challenging.

That’s where adoption agencies come into play!

You can learn more about working with an adoption agency to build your family by reaching out online to speak with an adoption professional.

What are Adoption Agencies?

Adoption is the process through which hopeful parents add a child, who is usually genetically unrelated, to their family. There are different types of adoption, including:

• Private domestic infant adoption
• Foster care adoption
• International adoption
• And more

No matter what type of adoption you choose, adoption is a great way to grow your family.

The type of adoption you choose will also determine the adoption agency you work with. There are several types of adoption agencies, such as:

• Private adoption agencies
• Foster care agencies
• International adoption agencies
• National adoption agencies
• Local adoption agencies
• And more

Although there are many different types of adoption agencies, their primary goal remains the same in helping you start or grow the family you’ve always hoped for.

What Do Adoption Agencies Do? [Benefits and Services]

Adoption agencies offer a many services, which is something to be aware of when you’re deciding which type of adoption agency you should work with. Here are some of the services you may need an adoption agency to provide:

Contact mediation

While adoptions used to be closed and secretive, this isn’t a scenario that’s considered ideal today. Instead, most adoption professionals now recommend at least some degree of openness, or communication with the birth parents, as this benefits all members of the adoption triad. Some adoption agencies offer assistance with communicating with birth parents – both before and after placement – and this may be something you need in terms of adoption services.

Counseling and education

Any adoption professional you work with will do their best to make sure you understand exactly what’s happening at every phase of the process, but that doesn’t mean the information should stop there. Some adoption agencies offer counseling to birth mothers, often around the clock, to help them work through one of the most difficult times of their lives, and this isn’t a service to underestimate. If a potential birth mom doesn’t feel comfortable with her adoption situation, this isn’t good for the adoptive family or the future child either.

Speak with a specialist

Financial protection

There’s a lot that goes into adoption, and it can be expensive. Before committing to working with any adoption agency, ask what will happen in the event of an adoption disruption. A disruption is when you’ve matched with a potential birth mother who changes her mind about her adoption decision. While most adoption agencies try to prevent this scenario, it does occasionally happen. Different adoption agencies handle the financial aspect in different ways; some keep your money, some apply it automatically to a different adoption situation, and others give it back to you so you can decide how to proceed.

Legal Services

When choosing an adoption agency, ask if you’ll be provided with a trusted adoption attorney, and whether or not that service is included in the total adoption cost estimate.

Matching services

If you don’t already know who you would like to adopt, choosing an adoption agency that offers matching services is extremely important. Some adoption agencies have better systems than others, so you’ll want to understand the matching process before moving on to the next step of the adoption process. It may also be beneficial to work with an adoption agency that emphasizes advertising; the more clients the agency works with, the most likely you’ll have a shorter wait time for your match.

Screening services

Before selecting an adoption agency, you may want to ask what kind of screening process they employ for birth parents and adoptive families. It’s important that everyone be fully committed to adoption, just as it’s important that the birth mom and her baby be healthy and safe and that the adoptive family be capable of providing a safe home for a child.

Remember to look for adoption agencies that offer the services you need for the type of adoption you want. Not all adoption agencies provide the same services and benefits, so working with an adoption agency that offers what you need will better serve you and give you a more positive experience overall.

Ultimately, you are in charge of your adoption, so it is up to you to find services that best fit your family’s needs. It’s definitely worth the time and effort. After all, your informed and careful decisions will one day lead to the family you’ve always dreamed of.

To learn more about working with an adoption agency if adoption is the route that you’re considering to build your family, reach out today. Speaking with an adoption professional can help you get answers to your questions and the information you need to start the process when you feel ready.