If you are considering adoption, usually the first step is to decide which type of adoption to pursue based on what is right for you and your family. Often certain factors, such as cost and desired age of the child, can dictate the type of adoption that fits best so it’s important to consider those factors when making your decision. Below is a basic overview of the three main ways that children are adopted in California.
Agency Adoption
Agency adoption is the adoption of a child when an agency is involved and it consists of two types of adoptions: (1) public agency adoption through the California Department of Social Services; and (2) private agency adoption through a licensed adoption agency.
Public agency adoption involves the adoption of children through the foster care system. In a public agency adoption, the agency (typically the California Department of Social Services or the delegated county adoption agency) chooses the prospective adoptive parents based on the needs of the child and the ability of the parents to meet those needs.
Private adoption agencies must be licensed and follow certain procedural requirements. When a private agency is involved, the birth parents often relinquish their parental rights directly to the agency who will later consent to the adoption by the prospective adoptive parents in court. Many agencies encourage the birth parents to choose the prospective adoptive parents based on profiles of waiting families, but some may make the match decision through their social workers or staff.
Independent Adoption
Independent adoptions are adoptions that are completed without an agency and they usually involve the adoption of an infant. The birth parents may work with a facilitator or attorney to identify and choose the prospective adoptive parents, and then the child is placed directly with the prospective adoptive parents after birth. The facilitator/attorney does not take legal custody of the child like an agency would. In an independent adoption, the birth parents sign a placement agreement consenting to the placement and adoption of the child by the prospective adoptive parents, which later must be approved by the court.
International Adoption
Also referred to as “intercountry adoption,” an international adoption is the adoption of a foreign-born child who will be brought to the United States. Because international adoption also involves issues of immigration, it can be a complicated and lengthy process. Further, each country has its own eligibility requirements and process. Much more detailed information about international adoption can be found on the U.S. Department of State’s website.
For additional general information about adoption, the California Department of Social Services has an informative FAQ page, which can be found here.