What factors enter into a decision whether to use an adoption agency or pursue an independent (private) adoption if an adoptive family wishes to adopt an infant?
In an independent adoption, the adoptive family is responsible for locating an expectant mother. This can be done through personal networking, print/internet advertising, or a combination of the two. Independent adoption is favored by adoptive families who wish to be free to locate an expectant mother seeking to place a child, and to interact with her without the intervention of an adoption agency. Finally, independent adoption is favored by those who wish to avoid adoption agency fees and who are willing to assume the responsibility of locating a birth family. Agency adoption is favored by families who do not wish to go through and time and trouble of creating a networking campaign and who do not wish to screen phone calls from possible expectant mothers. Further, families who wish the extra “layer” of professionalism and services of an adoption agency will choose this path.
