Local vs. National Adoption Agencies: What’s the Difference?

Adoption is an incredible blessing for many families, both parents and children alike. While it can seem like an overwhelming process, hopeful adoptive parents can take comfort in knowing that there are great resources out there to help. Adoptions With Love is a non-profit, private, domestic adoption agency providing services to adopting families across Massachusetts. It is our goal to help you through the adoption process and ensure that it is a positive, favorable experience for your family. It is our mission to find the best possible home for each child, and to make that home in Massachusetts.

Once you have decided to grow your family through adoption, one of the first and most important decisions you will make is choosing which type of adoption you would like to pursue. Massachusetts families have the option to adopt internationally or adopt domestically, through a private adoption agency or through foster care.

Many waiting families looking to adopt a newborn will choose private adoption. Through a private adoption agency, they can receive a lot of medical and personal information about their child’s birth family. Often with private adoption, adoptive families can also meet their child’s biological parents.

If you would like to move forward with private, domestic adoption, you will now need to select an adoption agency to help you through the adoption process. There are many options to choose from, and it can be tough to determine which is best for you. Here we explain the differences between local adoption agencies and national adoption agencies.

What is the Role of Adoption Agencies?

Adoption agencies help both birth and adoptive families with every step of the adoption process. These adoption professionals can help you be matched with your child’s expectant parents and arrange all contact between adoptive and birth parents. This will depend on the expectant/birth parent’s wishes. Adoption agencies can also provide legal support. At Adoptions With Love, our team of adoption attorneys ensure the adoption process is carried out legally and safely. These highly trained professionals will ensure that your rights as an adoptive parent are protected. They will also take the time to answer any questions you may have about the adoption process.

Adoption agencies can also oversee other aspects of the adoption, such as the hospital visit. In working closely with the expectant/birth parent, they can guide you toward the best approach as you enter the hospital or birthing center. They will explain to you the birth mother’s wishes and help you navigate this new relationship.

Adoption agencies will also ensure that your adoption is a smooth transition as you bring the baby home. They will stay connected with you and offer ongoing support as needed. Adoption is a lifelong journey. It does not end once the paperwork is signed. Whether you need guidance in speaking with your child about adoption or support in maintaining a relationship with your child’s birth family, Adoptions With Love is here for you.

What is a National Adoption Agency?

A national adoption agency is an organization that works with birth parents across the country. Adoptions With Love, for example, offers adoption plans for birth mothers in each state of the U.S.

Difference Between Local vs. National Adoption Agencies

National adoption agencies work with adoptive parents and birth parents across all 50 states. They are large agencies with offices throughout the country. Local adoption agencies, on the other hand, are small, personalized agencies that are typically dedicated to working with adoptive families in one state, such as Massachusetts. However, like national adoption agencies, many local agencies can still work with expectant and birth mothers across the United States.

Whether you are working with a national adoption agency or a local adoption agency, the process to adopt a baby is sometimes similar. There are a few differences in the process, depending on the professional team you choose, such as:

• Local adoption agencies tend to offer more personal, one-on-one time for parents with social workers. This means more attention to your adoption and extra care to ensure a smooth and happy experience. Adopting families typically do not meet with national adoption agencies face-to-face unless they are willing to travel. A local adoption agency gives you the opportunity for an intimate and personal experience.
• National adoption agencies may require additional demands to meet approval of different state adoption laws.
• National adoption agencies tend to cost families more money than local adoption agencies.
• Local adoption agencies are licensed and state-monitored organizations, and therefore have greater accountability than law firms, law centers, or adoption facilitators.
• While national adoption agencies are generally thought to have more availability and shorter wait times (because of the larger pool of selection), a local adoption agency like Adoptions With Love can also help match families with children across the country.
• With a local adoption agency, you are one of a handful of applicants; with a national adoption agency you are in a much larger pool of applicants.

Advantages of Local Adoption Agencies

Private, full-service local adoption agencies are popular for those looking to adopt.

Studies show that open adoption offers many benefits for everyone involved in the adoption triad. Children of open adoptions report feeling happy with their circumstances. Adoptive parents have a direct connection with their child’s birth parent(s), so they can go straight to the source when looking to learn about their child’s background and medical history.

Local adoption agencies offer open adoption as an option for expectant/birth parents. At Adoptions With Love, every adoptive family must agree to have an open or semi-open adoption. There are also plenty of testimonials reporting the positive outcome of such adoption plans.

Personalized Services from Local Adoption Agencies

With a full-service adoption agency, like Adoptions With Love, every aspect of the adoption process is handled. The services include:

• Comprehensive marketing and matching with expectant/birth parents
• Full legal services, including termination of birth father’s rights
• Home study services
• ICPC and adoption finalization services
• Pre-adoptive educational seminars to prepare for your baby’s arrival
• Post-adoption education and counseling for you and your child
• Post-placement letter and picture program

Understanding State Adoption Laws

A full-service local adoption agency is dedicated to working with hopeful adoptive parents through placement of their baby at home. These professionals will offer legal support to ensure that every aspect of the adoption is handled properly and that state laws are followed. Adoption laws vary by state, so it is important to work with an experienced adoption attorney who understands the complex laws of your home state.

Easier Communication and Accessibility

Anyone looking for a personal, trusting relationship with their adoption agency should consider a local adoption agency. Caring and one-on-one connections are key differences between local and national adoption. At a local adoption agency like Adoptions With Love, local parents in Massachusetts can enjoy the custom attention that their adoption deserves.

Considerations of National Adoption Agencies

There are some advantages to working with national adoption agencies. For some, there may be a wider range of choices and access to additional resources. However, while these agencies have access to a broader range of resources, they lose the personalization factor that comes with a local adoption agency.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Local and National

Agency Fees

National agencies tend to have higher agency fees. This is because they tend to have higher overhead costs. With a local, nonprofit adoption agency like Adoptions With Love, there is often a lower rate to help match birth and adoptive families together.

Wait Times

National agencies often deal with a broader pool of prospective adoptive parents and birth parents, which can result in longer waiting periods for matches. Local agencies may have a more immediate pool of potential matches.

At Adoptions With Love, the wait time for adoption is typically anywhere from six to twelve months following completion of the home study.

Availability of Post Adoption Services

The size of your chosen adoption agency may determine the post-adoption services and resources available to you.

Key Takeaways for Prospective Birthmothers

If you are an expectant/birth mother considering adoption, you may be searching for “local adoption agencies near me.” Or you may be researching national adoption agencies. There are advantages to each, but a local adoption agency that works with expectant/birth mothers across the country may be the perfect balance for you. Adoptions With Love offers every type of supportive service you could need, including counseling, legal support, medical coverage, financial assistance, support in designing an adoption plan that meets your needs, and post-adoption contact. It can also offer the personalized, one-on-one attention of a local adoption agency. Adoptions With Love can offer you counseling and legal support wherever you reside. No matter what, your adoption agency should offer you respect, understanding, and unbiased support throughout – and beyond – your pregnancy.

Key Takeaways for Prospective Adoptive Parents

Adoption is a life-changing experience. If you are looking to adopt and researching national adoption agencies, you may want to consider what a local adoption agency can offer, as well. With a nonprofit organization like Adoptions With Love, you can be matched more quickly – as our expectant/birth mothers come from all over the country and are only placed with Massachusetts parents. This gives you a bigger pool and shorter wait time for your adoption.

You can also lean on the supportive services and personalized care offered by a local adoption agency. Above all, you should choose an adoption agency that will work with you, listen to your needs, and offer you the assistance you deserve throughout the adoption process.

Getting Started with AWL

Adoptions With Love works with expectant/birth parents across the country. We want to help local families in Massachusetts complete their forever family. We aim to connect adoptive parents with expectant/birth mothers to create a healthy and happy environment among all involved. Studies show that children of open adoptions are the happiest of adopted children! There are also many added benefits of open adoption for both adoptive parents and expectant/birth parents.

If you are a hopeful parent looking to adopt a child in Massachusetts, please reach out to Adoptions With Love. Our compassionate staff is here to help you navigate the process and grow your family. Call Adoptions With Love at 617-964-4357 today.

Or, if you would like more information about open adoption and the Massachusetts adoption requirements, please download our free Guide to the Massachusetts Adoption Process.