Please avail yourselves of these resources if you are planning to adopt privately. Whether you are adopting internationally or privately, Pennsylvania adoption law requires you to have a family study done and submitted to your international agency or your private attorney. Adopting through an agency means that the agency assumes much of the responsibility that you have to do yourself if you are adopting privately. It can also mean that your child s birthfamily is offered extensive counseling and support services. The agency will provide you with your family study as well as extensive education about different adoption issues.
Agencies also have an attorney to do the termination of parental rights.
If you choose to use the services of an adoption agency, it is best to phone several agencies to see which one best suits your needs. Some agencies provide foster care for the baby immediately after birth while the birthfamily struggles with their decision to parent or place their baby with you. Foster care serves as a safety net to protect both birth and adoptive families and is a wonderful service that some agencies can offer to you. Many agencies can also place the baby with you directly from the hospital. Some local agencies have web sites that can provide you with information about their services.