How to Find Adoptive Parents
After making the difficult decision to allow your baby to be adopted, a birth parent faces a trying task--finding adoptive parents. There are thousands of prospective adoptive parents, but you want to find ones that are suitable not just emotionally and financially, but also legally. Here are the best resources for finding adoptive parents.
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Instructions
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Contact licensed adoption agencies. Agencies are required to meet state standards that include rules about researching and qualifying families for adoption. Licensed agencies thoroughly investigate prospective adoptive families--conducting criminal background checks, verifying employment and financial information, checking health, performing interviews and visiting homes. They complete an approved home study for each qualifying family. Furthermore, most agencies have required adoption education that ensures families understand adoption and parenting an adopted child. But beyond that, licensed adoption agencies can also inform birth parents of their legal rights and provide assistance in selecting and meeting prospective adoptive families.
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Talk to an adoption lawyer. Though a lawyer won't be able to provide the emotional support an adoption agency social worker can, she is able to provide the legal assistance, which is paid for by the adoptive parents. Because many adoptive couples contact adoption lawyers as part of their search for a baby, lawyers can be a good resource for finding adoptive parents.
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Use your social network. Your friends or family might know someone who is actively looking to adopt a baby. By letting your trusted friends and family know of your plans, they will be able to let you know about and help you connect with these families.
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Search the Internet. Many women prefer this choice, because it allows them to search outside their community. However, searching for adoptive parents on-line is also a risk; not everyone who wants to adopt is suitable. Choose reputable adoption resources such as Adoption.com to search for adoptive parent profiles. Before making contact with a family, check that they have a completed approved home study and/or a lawyer. If you won't be using an agency, make sure you have your own lawyer (don't use the same lawyer the family uses). If you choose a family out of state, your lawyer or agency needs to understand the laws regarding Interstate Compact, which regulates the adoption of children across state lines.
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Tips & Warnings
Adoption is a loving, caring choice, but it's also a legal decision. All states have laws that determine how birth parents can relinquish their rights, how much time they have to change their mind, what can be accepted as financial support and what adoptive parents need to do in order get an adoption decree. It's vitally important these laws be followed to ensure a safe, secure placement for the baby. For that reason, using a licensed agency or lawyer is your best option for finding qualified adoptive parents.
