Many people who are seeking a low-cost, relatively rapid adoption and who do not need to adopt an infant adopt through public agencies.

There are two types of state adoption systems, and it's important that you know how your state operates.

• In a state-centralized system, the policies and practices are controlled by a state Department of Social Services (DSS) or similar office, and are consistent throughout the state.

 

• In a county-centralized system, the state provides an umbrella organization, but each county has a certain amount of flexibility in setting policies and procedures, including subsidy payment options.

 

Identify the appropriate agency for your area by using The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families listing of all public agencies by state with contact names, telephone numbers, websites, etc. You can find the listing here. http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/general/nad/index.cfm

Apply to the public agency for an opportunity to adopt. They may do any of several things.

1.      Refer you to a private agency to conduct the home study and child-matching.

2.      Use an agency social worker for the same tasks (outsourcing).

3.      Provide you with lists, photo books and internet sites that identify waiting children so that you can make your own choices.

One helpful but overwhelmingly sad aspect of public agency adoption is the availability of photo listings of waiting children. It is hard to flip through pages of children’s pictures, looking for the little face that will speak to you, knowing that everyone in that book is silently saying, “Pick me. Pick me.”