The adoption agency difference

At The Cradle, adoption is more than just "a legal transaction." The adoption process involves many experiences and feelings by all involved: expectant parents, adoptive parents, and children. Our special expertise is in assisting and supporting all who are involved before, during, and after the adoption. This is generally not available in an independent or private adoption. In an independent adoption, the parties work with someone, usually a lawyer, to facilitate the adoption. Also, an independent adoption resource is usually employed by and for the benefit of the adoptive parents, leaving the expectant parent without an objective advocate. As a private adoption agency, The Cradle maintains a separate department for expectant parents, training our counselors in how to best assist you in this time of need.

Adoption agencies screen adoptive parents before the placement is made to ensure that the child will be placed in a loving, stable home. Cradle parents take many hours of educational classes so that they will be prepared to deal with the normal experiences that come with being an adoptive family. Independent adoptions have no such requirements. In independent adoptions, adopting parents are typically screened after the child has already been placed in their home. If it is discovered that the prospective adoptive parents are unfit, the child will be removed from their home and another home will have to be found. Moving from one set of parents to another may be difficult for the child.

Adoption agency counselors provide support to birthparents after the adoption. Help after the placement is as important as before placement. An experienced adoption agency counselor will prepare birthparents for the feelings of grief and loss after the placement. They are there to provide support whenever the need arises. They can also put birthparents in touch with other birthparents who have made a plan of adoption for their child. Independents rarely spend time with the birthparents after the adoption takes place.

Adoption agencies are required by law to keep records for 99 years. Independents have no such law requiring them to keep records.