[sak9645]

There are really three types of domestic adoption: agency, private, and state.

Domestic agency adoption is generally used by families wanting to adopt newborns or very young infants. In such cases, the agency identifies a woman seeking to make an adoption plan for her baby, and matches her to the prospective parents. The wait for a healthy newborn or infant tends to be long, as there are relatively few such children, compared to the number of people wanting to adopt. And the fees for agency newborn adoption tend to be quite high, because agencies spend a great deal of time and money on recruiting and assisting birthmothers.

On rare occasions, however, an agency may have a situation in which a birth family is relinquishing an older child or in which an adoptive family is choosing disruption/dissolution of an older child adoption. You would pretty much have to call a lot of agencies and ask about disruptions or relinquishments of children in the age range that interests you, but finding a good placement would be a matter of luck. Do remember that many disruptions/dissolutions and relinquishments occur because a child has special needs, especially emotional/behavioral special needs, although some may result from changes in a family's circumstances.

Private adoption is also used, most commonly, by families seeking a newborn or very young infant. In private adoption, the prospective parents identify a situation on their own, and use a social worker and an attorney to complete the various legal requirements.

Again, on rare occasions, a prospective parents "might" become aware of a situation in which a family is going to place an older child for adoption. The parent may be relinquishing because of his/her own problems, or because of a child's special needs. However, it is very difficult to find such a situation, and most such placements result when the relinquishing party is a relative or close friend of the prospective adoptive parents. As an example, you might become aware that an unmarried sister with worsening mental health problems would rather relinquish her six year old to you, than have the state take custody of the child.

State adoption is the most common route for families wishing to adopt an older child domestically. There are many older children, but relatively few infants, in the domestic foster care system. Many, but not all, of the older children will have emotional/behavioral issues resulting from situations in their birth family -- e.g., abuse or neglect -- or from a history of multiple foster home placements. Many, but not all, will also have other special needs.

The greatest need, in state adoption, is for families willing to adopt school aged children, and especially boys. (Americans overwhelmingly prefer to adopt girls.) Families open to all races and to known special needs are particularly welcome.

Sharon