Adoption agencies are equipped and prepared to assist adoptive parents from their initial information session to the day when they hold their adoptive child in their arms. Adoption agencies are State Authorized and are supervised by the State and Regional office of Children and Family Services. Adoption agencies are often much more than "agencies that practice adoption," but many offer client services above and beyond adoption.

Parents

Parents are normally required to have a certain level of education in order to adopt a child. Parents need to be financially and emotionally equipped to provide an atmosphere that is optimally conducive to that special child's growth and development. Parents-to-be must have a net worth of at least US$80,000 and an annual income of at least US$10,000 per person in the household, including the prospective adopted child. Potential adoptive parents are informed of special needs or significant problems which the child may have or encounter.

Families

Adoption agencies are not going to place children in families which have a criminal history. Children need families free from crime and threats of violence. There is a growing number of lesbians and gay men are becoming parents and are living as families every day, irrespective of what the policymakers do or say. Although stereotypes and misconceptions still perpetuate policy and practice, from a child-centered perspective, the willingness of adoption agencies to accept gay and lesbian adults as parents means more and more waiting children are moving into permanent, loving families.

State

State by state laws are changing to allow adult adoptees their civil rights. State laws vary widely on whether adopted children can have access to the names of their biological parents. State adoption agencies are notoriously understaffed, bureaucratic, and inefficient by nature.

Private

Private agencies may be privately owned and operated businesses or may be affiliated with a religious or other social service organization. Private agencies can be for-profit or non-profit entities. Private adoption agencies usually have a dedicated mission and operate with that concept.

Private adoption agencies are usually non-profit, in structure, but still costs money. As financial disputes with adoption agencies are the most common complaints received from adoptive parents, knowing the agencies policies and the minimum standards regarding adoption fees can help to prevent a problem of this nature. Adoption agencies are understandably cautious about placing children for adoption and work hard to get the right match between parents and child.