A public or private entity authorized to assume legal guardianship and to facilitate the adoptive placement of children. Licensing of adoption agencies is through state mandate. Hence, qualification requirements and other guidelines vary according to jurisdictional standards. Contract Social Workers. Direct and Interagency Adoptions.
Direct placements involve a single agency.
Interagency adoptions refer to cooperative efforts between several agencies. This latter form is particularly common in intercountry adoptions. The dissolution of an adoptive placement following the issuance of a final adoption decree. Home studies are designed to meet two functions. They are first used as a method of evaluating the fitness of prospective adoptive families.