Whatis the difference between agency adoption, independent adoption, and international adoption?
In an agency adoption, a licensed public or private adoption agency or a CDSS adoptions district office places the child for adoption. The birth parent’s parental rights are terminated either by court order or by the filing of a relinquishment. The adoption agency becomes legally responsible for the care, custody and control of the child. The agency studies and approves adoptive parents before placing a child in their home for adoption, and supervises the placement for six or more months before the adoption is finalized. In an independent adoption, birth parents choose the prospective parents and place the child directly with them. When making this decision, a birth parent must have personal knowledge of certain facts about the adopting parents. The birth parent placing the child for adoption must receive an advisement of rights, responsibilities, and options from an Adoption Service Provider (ASP). The birth parent must also sign an Independent Adoption Placement Agreement (AD 924), w