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Not
Sure Where to Start?
The following definitions may help!
(note:
these are only general definitions, there are ALWAYS exceptions
to the rule.)
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- Adoption
Agency:
An organization, licensed by the government (in the USA by States,
Canada by provinces) that provides services to prospective birthparents
(pregnant women), prospective adoptive families and children who
need families. Because they are licensed by a government, they
are able to perform the necessary leagl services required to complete
an adoption.
They
may provide a wide range of other services including seminars,
counseling, homestudies, legal services, post-placement follow-up
and more.
Adoption
Agencies may be Public or Private, for profit or nonprofit,
religeoius or secular. They may perform Domestic (USA) and/or
International adoption services.
Because
an agency typically provides a full spectrum of services it is
often the best place to start.
Take
me to the searchable directory of Adoption Professionals
- Adoption
Attorney:
A lawyer who provides the necessary legal services between a court,
prospective adoptive families and birthparents in order to complete
an adoption. May perform Domestic (USA) and/or International adoption
services.
Many
are often able to help arrange for homestudies, help find potential
birthparents and assist birthparents with support during pregnancy.
In the USA some states place limits on what additional services
an attorney can provide.
If
you are a "do-it-yourself" kind of person, an attorney is
often your best choice because of the smaller number of services
they may provide.
- Adoption
Consultants or Facilitators:
Individuals who generally act as "helpers" connecting
pregnant women and prospective adoptive families with the services
they need to proceed with an adoption.
Although
generally limited to providing domestic (USA) adoption services,
some may be able to assist in International adoptions especially
in the country of origin of the baby.
They
are not available in every state. may actually be illegal in
October 14, 2007l
services required for adoption.
Take
me to the searchable directory of Adoption Professionals
- Social
Workers:
Professionals who prepare home
studies for adoptive families. They also provide counseling
and/or adoption education to these families
or to pregnant women considering adoption.
Home studies
are the process by which potential adoptive families are
evaluated to determine their "suitability" to
adopt. A completed homestudy is almost always required
before an adoption can be persued.
In
some states, they are allowed to perform additional services.
Take
me to the searchable directory of Adoption Professionals
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