About two-thirds of all adoptions are arranged by private or public adoption agencies. A public agency is a state or county agency which places children and is supported by your tax dollars. Most private agencies are nonprofit organizations. Private adoption agencies may have a religious sponsorship. Some agencies specialize in finding families for infants while others see their mission as placing children with special needs.
Many agencies place children with and without special needs.
Adoption agencies screen adoptive parents and provide counseling to them. Some agencies assist families with questions or issues which arise after the adoption is legally finalized. Agencies also help pregnant women or others who are considering placing their children for adoption. Agencies even counsel the children themselves, if they are old enough at the time of the adoption or later on, when the children or adopted adults may have questions. Although the majority of adoption agencies, attorneys or others involved in the adoption process are honest and helpful, there are a few which have questionable practices.