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PRIVATE ADOPTION AGENCIES
Non-profit or for-profit agencies licensed by the state that charge fees and/or accept donations to facilitate adoptions. Private agencies place infants or children born locally or in other countries, while some work with public agencies to place children who are in foster care.
PUBLIC ADOPTION AGENCIES
State and county agencies responsible for placing children in foster care or institutional settings with adoptive families.
OPEN ADOPTION
In an open adoption, the birth parent/s choose the adoptive family and both agree to have regular communication about the adopted child. The birthparent/s and the adoptive parents work together to create a legally enforceable open adoption agreement and together decide the number of visits the birthparent/s will have and how often letters and pictures will be exchanged.
SEMI-OPEN ADOPTION
In semi-open adoption, communication is more limited than in open adoption. Last names, addresses, and telephone numbers usually are not exchanged, and communication often takes place through a third party.
CLOSED ADOPTION
No identifying information about the birth family or the adoptive family is exchanged and the families do not communicate. The adoptive family usually receives non-identifying background information about the child and the birth family before placement. After adoption, the records are sealed and typically are not available to the adopted child.
IDENTIFIED ADOPTION
When the birth mother has identified the family whom she wishes to adopt her child.
INDEPENDENT ADOPTIONS
Independent adoptions are arranged through an intermediary, such as a lawyer, rather than through a licensed adoption agency. The intermediary may find the birth mother, who plans to place her child for adoption, or may help the birth mother locate a family interested in adopting her child. NOTE: Independent adoptions are not legal in all states; check with your state department of social services.
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS
Adoptions of children who were born in or are nationals of other countries.
PRE-PLACEMENT
The period of time after all parties have agreed to adoption but the official placement has not yet occurred.
PLACEMENT
Placement is the term used when the adoptive parents legally take custody of the child. Until placement has occurred, the birthmother can legally change her mind about the adoption and may decide to parent the child. The laws regulating consents, relinquishment, irrevocability, physical and legal custody vary greatly from state to state.
FOSTER/ADOPT PLACEMENT
When a child is placed with the foster/adopt family before the birth parents' rights have been legally terminated so there is still a possibility that the child may be reunited with his or her birth family. If the birth family's parental rights are terminated, the foster/adopt family will be considered the adoptive family for the child.
POST-PLACEMENT
The time after the child has been placed in your home before finalization. The social worker doing post-placement supervision will visit your home several times during the 6 to 12 months between placement and finalization to provide support for you and your child and to help you get other professional assistance, if needed, to make the placement successful. A certain number of visits are required by the courts before the adoption can be finalized.
FINALIZATION
When the court takes the necessary action to make the child a legal member of your family. Usually, your whole family will go to court with your adoption worker or lawyer.
POST-ADOPTION
This is not a specific period of time. Instead, it is the active and rewarding process of living as a family after the adoption has been legally finalized.
HOME STUDY
This is the process of assessing and preparing prospective adoptive families. A home study may include a range of evaluative activities, visits to the families' residence, and a background investigation (including a criminal history check and the review of financial information, doctor reports, reference letters and autobiographies).
INFORMED CONSENT
Informed consent requires that a pregnant woman is given information about all options available to her and is not forced into making a particular decision by external person(s). Informed consent requires knowledge, voluntariness and competency.
RELATIVE ADOPTION
If a birthmother chooses to place her child with a relative, it is still a good idea to retain an agency or attorney to provide necessary legal services in order to formally complete the adoption. An agency will also be able to provide counseling to all parties as necessary, which will ensure the best possible outcomes for the child, parent, and family members. |
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