Your Guide to Adoption Agencies in Wisconsin

Your Guide to Adoption Agencies in Madison


With Madison constantly being voted in the top 10 best places to live in America, it is considered a great place to start a family and adoption can be a wonderful way to do that. But, whether you are a lifelong native of Madison or have recently moved to the area, hopeful adoptive families may not know where to start the adoption process.

The same can be said about prospective birth mothers, finding the unbiased information, support and services you need to place a baby for adoption can be a challenge. Choosing an adoption agency in Madison can help provide clarity and direction for this process. This article will provide information hopeful adoptive families and prospective birth mothers may be hoping to find when searching for adoption agencies in Madison and will help you get in contact with the best adoption agencies in Madison for your needs.

Types of Adoption Agencies

When a potential adoptive family decides to work with an adoption professional, there are generally three choices of adoption agencies in Madison and nationally:

  • Domestic adoption agencies
  • International adoption agencies
  • Foster care agencies

The type of Madison adoption agency you choose will depend primarily on the type of adoption you want to complete. You can learn more about each of them below.

Private Adoption Agencies in Madison

If an adoptive family is interested in adopting an infant from the United States, researching domestic adoption agencies in Madison would be a great starting point. First, the family will need to decide if working with a local adoption agency in Madison or working with a national adoption agency will best suit their needs. Below are some of the pros and cons of choosing each:

 National Adoption Agency Pros:

  • National adoption agencies work with potential birth and adoptive parents across the country and have access to adoption resources nationally. Having access to 50 states of prospective birth mothers, helps increase the chances of a hopeful adoptive family finding an adoption opportunity quickly. This significantly increases your chances of your wait time Because their availability of prospective birth mothers is much greater, national adoption agencies are generally able to provide much a more accurate outlook on potential opportunities, wait times and costs.
  • National adoption agencies are fully licensed and regulated. State governments review and track national adoption agencies compliance with their state regulations, giving you confirmation that all adoption requirements are being completed correctly. Because national agencies are often licensed in more than one state, their records are reviewed multiple times annually, creating an added layer of protection for potential adoptive parents.
  • National adoption agencies generally have a large social services staff, meaning often times 24/7 support is available. They have specific resources assigned to the various stages of adoption, which help potential birth parents stay committed to their adoption plans and decreases the chances of an adoption ending in disruption, all while displaying a level of expertise and knowledge that is highly desired by all parties involved.

National Adoption Agency Cons:

  • Due to national adoption agencies’ ability to provide full services, their higher overhead, larger advertising budget and other factors, the total adoption cost can sometimes be higher compared to local adoption agencies.
  • National agencies have offices all over the United States. If you do not live in the state of the national adoption agency you choose, there is a chance you will never actually meet face to face with your adoption social worker. This can take away from the “personal” feel of the process.
  • Since the agency is national, odds are the perspective birth mother will not live in the same state as the adoptive family: National adoption agencies more often than not require the adoptive family to travel to the location of the prospective birth mother during the hospital stay for placement.

Local Madison Adoption Agency Pros:

  • Local agencies are often experts in applicable adoption laws based around Wisconsin. These agencies are licensed and mandated by the state government.
  • With the adoption agency being in your state and city, the likelihood of meeting your social worker face to face is significantly higher. The locality of the agency also helps decrease the potential travel required by national adoption agencies when birth mothers are out of state.
  • Local adoption agencies are able to provide full services throughout the Wisconsin adoption process, as opposed to an adoption attorney or facilitator who can only provide some, but not all areas needed.

Local Madison Adoption Agency Cons:

  • Local adoption agencies will have a smaller staff than a national adoption agency. Smaller staffing can sometimes lead to greater susceptibility to changes in laws, less ability to provide 24/7 support and more specific scheduling being needed.
  • The wait period is directly influenced by the number of prospective birth mothers an adoption agency works with. Only having the ability to choose from the single state lowers these numbers compared to a national adoption agency. This can provide an inaccurate estimate and, in most cases, an extended wait period for hopeful adoptive families.
  • Although adoption costs may appear lower than those of a national agency, many times, local agencies have various separate costs that are not initially calculated. Living, legal, advertising and medical expenses are often left out of the initial estimated cost.

Here are some of the private adoption agencies Madison has to offer:

National Domestic Adoption Agencies Serving Madison:

Local Domestic Adoption Agencies in Madison:

Madison Adoption and Foster Care Agencies

Each day in Madison, there are hundreds of children dreaming to be placed with their new family. Foster care agencies and professionals help make these dreams come true daily. Although there are comparisons between domestic and international adoptions, foster care has many individual characteristics that separate its process and overall outcome from the other types of adoption. The ideal goal of foster care is to reunite the child with his or her biological parents. Only after a judge determines that reunification is impossible can a child become eligible for adoption from foster care. This goal can sometimes create an uncertainty around this type of adoption, but it is still a fantastic option for those who are hoping to become an adoptive family.

If you would like more information or think you are ready to become a foster family, contact a Madison adoption and foster care agency below:

International Adoption Agencies in Madison

When hopeful adoptive families are considering adopting a child from a different country, an international adoption agency in Madison would be the best place to start. Although it is not a requirement, and an international adoption can still be completed through a non-Hague agency, reaching out to a Hague-accredited adoption agency in Madison is highly recommended. This agency will be able to provide any and all information on the process and requirements for an international adoption.

Adoption Agencies in Madison for Prospective Birth Mothers

When making such an important and brave decision, a woman considering adoption needs to be fully informed of the entire process and realize what her options truly are. Speaking with a representative from an adoption agency in Madison is the best place to begin. Finding an adoption agency that meets all of your needs and is able to provide financial assistance, legal representation and just as importantly, around- the-clock counseling and support , should be the ultimate goal. Contact any of the following agencies below, even if it is just to obtain more information or to discuss your options as a prospective birth mother.

Start Your Adoption Journey Today

As a hopeful adoptive family or a prospective birth mother, choosing to proceed with the adoption process is a life-changing decision. Having the right information and making an educated decision on which adoption agency in Madison you should choose is solely up to you. Know that you are not alone in this process and there are adoption agencies and specialist that are ready and eager to help today!


Ready to get started? Contact an adoption agency now to get free information.

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