Deciding to settle down and start or grow your family is an exciting prospect, and Fort Lauderdale is a wonderful place to start that journey. If you’re considering adoption as a means to do this, Fort Lauderdale adoption agencies are here for you. 

If you’re new to the process, this guide will serve as a tool for you on your adoption journey. Use it to learn about the types of adoption and what adoption agencies in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, do.

What are Adoption Agencies in Fort Lauderdale?

Adoption agencies in Fort Lauderdale are licensed, regulated organizations that facilitate the adoption process and provide resources to prospective birth parents and adoptive parents.

The services provided vary slightly depending on the type of agency you choose, but ultimately, Fort Lauderdale adoption agencies want to make the adoption process easier for you, while keeping everyone’s best interests at the forefront.

Adopting independently is, of course, an option, but the risks involved should not be overlooked. Adoption agencies in Fort Lauderdale, FL, provide you with ample screenings to ensure the best match is being made and to prevent adoption fraud.

Private Adoption Agencies in Fort Lauderdale

One of the most popular forms of adoption is private infant adoption through private agencies. These organizations work with expectant parents to place their baby for adoption in Fort Lauderdale and connect them with hopeful adoptive parents.

This can be done through one of two types of private adoption agencies: local or national. Like the name suggests, national adoption agencies will work across state lines to help place infants with prospective adoptive parents across the country. Local adoption agencies typically operate in or near Fort Lauderdale and focus more on in-state placements.

Below you can find reputable national and local adoption agencies in Fort Lauderdale, FL:

National Adoption Agencies

• American Adoptions
• Gladney Center for Adoption
• Lifetime Adoptions

Local Adoption Agencies in Fort Lauderdale

• Adoption Star
• ACF Adoption
• American Adoptions of Florida

Fort Lauderdale Foster Care Agencies

Foster care agencies are a great option for families who are interested in adopting an older child from foster care in Fort Lauderdale, or fostering children and giving them a safe and stable home while they wait to be reunited with their birth family.

While foster care adoption is typically a lower cost option compared to infant adoption, it is more unpredictable. The priority of foster care is to reunite the child with their birth family once they can properly care for them. If, for whatever reason, this isn’t possible, fostering to adopt becomes an option.

Listed below are foster care agencies in Fort Lauderdale you can reach out to for more information.

• Florida Department of Children and Families
• Heart Gallery of Broward County
• Broward County Services
• 4Kids

International Adoption Agencies in Fort Lauderdale

Adopting within the U.S. isn’t your only avenue when it comes to adoption in Fort Lauderdale. International adoption is a longer, more complex process because state, national, and international adoption laws must be abided by. 

That’s where international adoption agencies in Fort Lauderdale come in. These adoption professionals are trained to handle the intricacies of intercountry adoption.

If you’re considering international adoption, feel free to contact these Hague-approved agencies:

• Nightlight Christian Adoptions
• Adoption Star

Home Study Adoption Agencies in Fort Lauderdale

Home studies are a necessary part of the adoption process to assess your parental readiness and your home environment. A home study might sound overwhelming, but it’s purely a precaution to make sure that the needs of everyone in the adoption are met.

Fort Lauderdale adoption agencies have many Florida-licensed professionals that will be by your side if you have any questions or concerns.

Because this tends to be the longest part of the adoption process, we recommend contacting a home study professional as soon as possible. Listed below are some possible providers for your Fort Lauderdale home study:

• American Adoptions
• Adoption Home Study Services
• Connecting Hearts Adoption Services

Adoption Agencies in Fort Lauderdale for Expectant Birth Parents

Though this article provides information to the prospective adoptive parents, the importance of the expectant parent should not be understated.  Deciding to place your baby for adoption is a . Adoption agencies in Fort Lauderdale will be a shoulder to lean on throughout the process, as well as post placement.

Here are just some services that are available throughout your Fort Lauderdale adoption experience:

• Free education
•  24/7 counseling and guidance services
• Financial assistance

Below you can find resources to utilize when placing your child for adoption in Fort Lauderdale.

• American Adoptions
• Adoption Star
• Birth Mother Assistance

First Steps

There are many different paths you can take when it comes to choosing the adoption agency that best suits your needs, but in the end, Fort Lauderdale adoption agencies will be there to pave the way for you as you make your way toward growing your family or giving your infant a chance at the best life possible.

When you’re ready to begin, reach out to any of the agencies listed above.