An adoption agency is a business that places infants or children into permanent homes with adoptive parents. An adoption agency can be either for-profit or nonprofit, but has to be licensed by the state or states it works. Often an adoption agency will provide services, such as the preparing of adoption home studies for multiple states. The adoption agency has to be licensed for each type of adoptive placements it handles and can do multiple types of adoptions from private to international. If licensed to do international adoptions, the adoption agency has to comply with the regulations of the country as well.
Adoption agencies partner with the expectant mothers as well as the prospective adoptive parents.
Public adoption agencies work within the state or county government and are usually part of the state's social services and is funded by state and federal funds.
Private adoption agencies are independent businesses and are funded by fees charged to its clients.
