What is an Adoption Center?

And Why You Should Work With an Agency Instead

There are several different types of professionals who can help you begin the adoption process, but the number of choices can be overwhelming. Depending on what you’re looking for in an adoption professional, you may have heard about adoption centers.

Although an adoption center can seem like a good choice, there are several factors to consider before you decide to work with one.

We’ve created this guide to help you understand what adoption centers are and why working with an adoption agency is the better option.

As one of the best adoption agencies in the U.S., we know what it takes to consistently create the best experience for our families.

What Is an Adoption Center?

Adoption centers are organizations that are owned by licensed attorneys, but the center itself is not a licensed entity.

Sometimes, adoption centers are referred to as “adoption law centers” or “child adoption centers,” but it all refers to the same thing.

Adoption centers are similar to adoption facilitators, meaning that they solely focus on finding an adoption opportunity for adoptive families and birth mothers.

For all the services you will need during your adoption journey, an adoption center will refer you to another adoption professional to complete the legal side of your adoption.

When you work with a full-service agency like American Adoptions, we can provide you with all the necessary services throughout your entire adoption journey.

Adoption Centers vs. Adoption Agencies

One of the key differences between adoption centers and adoption agencies is the services they provide. Many adoption centers operate like adoption facilitators in that they’re solely focused on finding you an adoption opportunity.

This can be beneficial if your main goal is to try and find an adoption opportunity as quickly as you can.

After an opportunity has been found, it’s up to you to find another adoption professional that can help you finish the process.

However, because adoption law centers are not licensed and may not employ licensed social workers, the match you receive could have a lower chance of success.

Adoption agencies, on the other hand, typically provide all the essential services to complete an adoption. Very few agencies can provide all the necessary adoption services in one place.

At American Adoptions, we arrange, coordinate and oversee your adoption from start to finish. That’s why we provide services such as:

Financial protection to protect your financial investment in case of a disruption
Shorter adoption wait times because of our widespread marketing and outreach
In-house home study services to help you complete this crucial step in the states we’re licensed in
Adoptive family video profile services to increase your chances of finding an adoption opportunity

Disadvantages of Adoption Centers

Although an adoption center can be a good choice for families to adopt quickly, you can still find an adoption opportunity in a short amount of time when you work with our agency.

Here are a few things to consider before working with an adoption center:

An adoption center might not have a qualified social services department. When you work with American Adoptions, our trained staff is available 24/7 to answer any questions and offer support during your entire journey.

The best adoption agencies will be completely transparent with their fee estimates before the adoption takes place. When you work with an adoption center, you might be shocked to find out the cost is much higher than originally quoted especially if they need to refer you to another adoption professional for services such as counseling and legal work.

Adoption centers aren’t regulated as strictly as other adoption agencies. Because of this, there is no guarantee that working with an adoption center will ensure your adoption meets legal and ethical standards.

Advantages of Adoption Centers

Although an adoption center might not be able to meet all your needs, there are two benefits to consider. Here are a couple of advantages of working with an adoption center.

Large advertising budget: Because an adoption center’s main goal is finding you an adoption opportunity, they often have larger advertising budgets. This makes it much easier to find an adoption opportunity as many adoption centers advertise nationally to make sure their clients find an opportunity as quickly as possible. Keep in mind that national adoption agencies also provide nationwide advertising while providing many more services.
Shorter wait times: Compared to some adoption professionals, adoption centers can offer lower adoption wait times. But, short wait times are also possible (and more trustworthy) with licensed, regulated adoption agencies.

How to Find an Adoption Center Near Me

When you’re searching for a good adoption center, ask a lot questions throughout the process. Your adoption professional will have a significant impact on your entire adoption experience.

So be sure to do as much research as you can. As a full-service national adoption agency, we can help you find the right opportunity for your family.

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

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