Your Guide to Adoption Agencies in Overland Park
Finding the right adoption agency will be complicated. But it’s one of, if not the, most important step to becoming a parent or giving someone else the beautiful opportunity to become parents. As such, it’s okay to take your time and explore all of your available Overland Park adoption agencies.
Because everyone deserves the chance to become the family they’ve always dreamed of, in a city that’s as vibrant as they are, we’ve compiled a guide to the best adoption agencies in Overland Park.
Why Do People Use Adoption Agencies?
If you’re new to the world of adoption, you might be wondering why adoption agencies even exist. After all, don’t birth mothers just “give up” their children to couples that want to adopt? This couldn’t be more untrue.
The truth is adoption isn’t “giving up,” and it’s not a simple process — legally or emotionally. Adoption agencies are vital to your overall adoption success. From simple steps like completing your first adoption application, to more daunting ones like your first home study interview, your adoption agency will be there every step of the way guiding you through the process.
A good Overland Park adoption agency will be the key to your successful adoption. They can walk you through the first steps and make sure that you’re eligible to adopt based on both your state and federal laws, as well as individual professional requirements. They can also connect you with an experienced adoption attorney, as trying to navigate the legal requirements on your own can be a complicated process in and of itself.
Next, you’ll need to think about your other adoption requirements. There’s your home study, post‐placement requirements, adverting and more. Certain types of adoption agencies in Overland Park can help you with all of these necessary adoption-related requirements. In other cases, you may need to work with multiple agencies to meet the legal requirements for an adoption.
Because of how much goes into building a family through adoption, it’s much easier, and safer, to work with an experienced adoption agency in Overland Park that can help you from start to finish.
Types of Adoption Agencies in Overland Park
Now that you know a little bit about what an adoption agency is, it’s time to talk about your options for a child-placing adoption agency in Overland Park. Your personal goals for adoption will help you decide which agency you should to work with.
Private Domestic Adoption Agencies in Overland Park
When most people think of an adoption, they usually imagine a woman who plans to place her baby with an adoptive family at the hospital, or at least shortly after birth. If this sounds like you and you’re interested in adopting an infant, or considering placing a child for adoption, this is the best route. You can either work nationally with an adoption agency that receives inquiries from prospective birth mothers and adoptive families across the United States — or you might decide to work locally, especially if you’re reluctant to travel outside of Overland Park to adopt. There are some pros and cons to both types of agencies, so you should take the time to speak with an adoption specialist from each type of agency to understand their process.
There are plenty of options for both prospective birth parents and adoptive families throughout Overland Park through a local adoption agency. If you’d like to expand your options outside the state, you can work with any national adoption agency throughout the country. Below are some of your recommended options for private adoption agencies in Overland Park that provide services in Kansas.
National Adoption Agencies in Overland Park:
- American Adoptions – One of the largest national adoption agencies in the U.S., American Adoptions is headquartered right here in Overland Park, KS. If you want the advantages and resources of a large national agency with a local feel, this agency can provide the best of both worlds.
- Gladney Center for Adoption
- Alliance for Children
- Lifetime Adoption
Local Adoption Agencies in Overland Park:
Foster Care Adoption
If you’re not quite ready to raise an infant, but you still can’t wait to raise a child, you might want to consider working with an Overland Park adoption and foster care agency. Every year, there are thousands of children in the Kansas foster care system looking for their forever homes. You can help provide the loving environment they need to thrive in. However, you may have some misconceptions about foster care. The primary goal of foster care is to reunite a child with their biological family as soon as possible. If your goal is to adopt a child from foster care, you’ll need to make sure that they’re eligible first. There can be a degree of uncertainty with foster-to-adopt if you fall in love with a child who is ultimately returned to his or her birth parents.
To learn more about eligibility requirements to become a foster parent, contact either of the licensed foster care professionals in Kansas below:
International Adoption Agencies in Overland Park
Do you have a certain country that you’ve always dreamed of adopting from? From start to finish, the international adoption process can get complicated. A Hague‐accredited adoption agency can help make that happen. Your agency should be able walk you through all of the legal requirements needed for both Kansas and your chosen country.
To get started, try any one of the following international adoption agencies serving Overland Park:
Christian Adoption Agencies
Christian couples looking to adopt may be interested in finding an adoption agency in Overland Park that emphasizes their faith and values. In some cases, you may be eligible for grants and scholarships from different Christian organizations to help fund your adoption. However, even if the adoption agency in Overland Park isn’t strictly a Christian adoption agency, you might have better exposure opportunities to prospective birth parents and a wider range of available services through another adoption professional.
Below are some Christian adoption agencies in Overland Park that you might be interested in trying:
- Zoe’s House Adoption
- Christian Family Services
Home Study Agencies in Overland Park
Before you can be officially approved to bring a child into your home, you must complete an adoption home study. This is required from every adoptive family, no matter which type of adoption you choose to pursue. Essentially, this will be an evaluation of your readiness as a parent. Your social worker will walk you through every step that you need to know to pass your home study interview and inspection with flying colors.
You must work with a Kansas-licensed home study professional for this step of the process. If you are working with a local agency or a national agency licensed in Kansas, you will not need to contact an additional professional for this process. However, if your adoption placement agency is not licensed to complete home studies in Kansas, you will need to contact a separate local home study provider. It’s highly recommended to speak with a home study professional as soon as possible to get an idea of the process and to learn which documents are necessary for your adoption. To get started, contact an Overland Park adoption agency of your choosing:
Overland Park Adoption Agencies for Prospective Birth Mothers
Every opportunity to create a family starts with the brave, selfless decision that a birth mother makes for her baby. The best Overland Park adoption agencies will have a dedicated staff trained to support prospective birth mothers just like you throughout their adoption decision. They should also be able to provide financial assistance and 24/7 counseling and educational resources to help guide you throughout the adoption process. They will encourage you to make the best unplanned pregnancy choice for your baby and will never pressure you into choosing adoption if it’s not the best fit for you.
Some domestic adoption agencies in Overland Park that provide services to prospective birth mothers include:
Are You Ready to Start the Adoption Process?
Now that you know a little more about Overland Park adoption agencies, you’re ready to make your very own adoption plan. Contact an adoption specialist today at any one of the adoption agencies above to get started.