Your Guide to Adoption Agencies in Kansas

Your Guide to Adoption Agencies in Shawnee, KS


If you’re considering adoption in Shawnee, KS, either as a prospective birth mother or a hopeful adoptive parent, you may already be overwhelmed with all of the steps of the process, all of the information that’s available to you, and all of the decisions you have to make. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a professional that could walk you through the process and take care of all those little details for you?

Good news — those professionals do exist. They’re called adoption agencies, and there are many in Shawnee that can help you reach your adoption goals.

In this guide, we’ll break down the different types of adoption agencies in Shawnee, the services they offer, and the pros and cons of each. You’ll also find a list of some of the best adoption agencies in Shawnee and throughout the state. Contact any of them today to learn how they can help you reach your adoption goals.

What are Adoption Agencies, and How Can They Help?

Adoption agencies are licensed professionals that guide prospective birth mothers and adoptive families through the adoption process and provide the services they need along the way.

Different Shawnee adoption agencies will specialize in different types of adoption. They may have different requirements, offer different services, and approach the adoption process in slightly different ways. That’s why it’s important to research all your options and choose the agency that can meet your specific adoption goals.

There are many different types of adoption agencies in Shawnee, Kansas, including private infant adoption agencies, foster care agencies, international agencies and more. To help you decide which is best for you, we’ve provided more details about each of them below.

Private Adoption Agencies in Shawnee

First up: domestic infant adoption. If you are thinking about placing a baby for adoption in Shawnee, this is the type of adoption process you will complete. Likewise, if you are specifically interested in adopting a newborn, domestic infant adoption is the type of adoption for you.

In a domestic infant adoption, sometimes also called a “private adoption,” the prospective birth parent(s) choose an adoptive family and voluntarily place their baby with them. In most domestic adoptions, the prospective birth parents and adoptive family have the opportunity to get to know each other and develop an open relationship that lasts long after placement.

If this is the type of adoption you want to pursue, you will need to contact a private domestic adoption agency in Shawnee. There are two types of private adoption agencies you might choose from: national and local adoption agencies.

National Adoption Agencies Serving Shawnee

Prospective birth parents and adoptive families in Shawnee can choose to work with a national adoption agency. These professionals offer services to residents of Shawnee — as well as clients throughout the state of Kansas and across the U.S. This creates more adoption opportunities, which means prospective birth mothers have more families to choose from and adoptive families typically enjoy shorter average wait times.

National adoption agencies are often licensed in multiple states, which creates additional layers of review and ensures they are held to the highest possible standards.

Pros:

National adoption agencies offer a number of advantages. They usually have a large staff, access to more resources, and the ability to provide services that go above and beyond what most local agencies offer — including 24/7 counseling for prospective birth parents and a financial protection program for adoptive parents. As we mentioned before, it also means more adoptive families for expectant mothers to choose from (which increases their chances of finding the perfect adoptive parents for their adoption plan) and shorter wait times for hopeful adoptive parents.

Cons:

Unlike local adoption agencies, national adoption agencies won’t necessarily have offices near Shawnee. This could be considered a disadvantage for some prospective birth and adoptive parents if they desire frequent, face-to-face contact with their adoption professional. The other challenge of national adoption agencies may be cost — because they tend to offer more services, they also tend to cost a bit more for adoptive parents. (Note: If you’re considering placing a baby for adoption, the process is always 100 percent free for you, regardless of the type of adoption agency you choose).

If you’re interested in learning more about national adoption agencies in Shawnee, there are many great professionals you can reach out to:

Local Adoption Agencies in Shawnee

Local adoption agencies, on the other hand, are exactly what they sound like: adoption agencies that are local to Shawnee. These agencies are licensed in Kansas and focus on providing services to prospective birth and adoptive parents in the immediate area.

Pros:

The primary advantage of working with a local adoption agency in Shawnee is… location! Obviously, if your adoption agency is located nearby, it may be easier to stop by the office and visit your adoption professional in person. While this isn’t necessary for a successful adoption, it is important to some prospective birth and adoptive parents. Working with a local agency also means you’re more likely to be matched with prospective birth or adoptive parents located nearby, which may make it easier to have in-person visits with each other during and after the adoption process.

Cons:

While there are some advantages of choosing a local adoption agency, there are negatives to consider, as well. Most importantly, the “pool” of potential adoption opportunities is much smaller when you work with a local agency vs. a national one. Because local agencies only work with clients in a certain state or region, prospective birth parents will have fewer families to choose from — which means it may be more difficult to find an adoptive family that meets all of their desired characteristics. Similarly, adoptive families may need to wait much longer to be chosen for an adoption opportunity because their agency is not working with as many prospective birth parents.

These agencies may not be able to offer all the same services as a larger national agency. For example, they may not have the ability to answer the phone 24/7 (an important service to support women facing unplanned pregnancies) or provide financial protection for hopeful parents facing an adoption disruption.

To learn more about local adoption agencies in Shawnee, check out these options:

Foster Agencies in Shawnee, Kansas

Private adoption is not the only option for hopeful parents who want to start or add to their families. Foster care adoption can also be a rewarding way to become parents while providing a safe, loving home to a child.

If the idea of adopting an older child appeals to you, there are many foster care adoption agencies in Shawnee and throughout Kansas that can provide the services you need to make this dream a reality. The costs of working with these agencies are often minimal — one of the major advantages of this family-building path.

However, before you dive into foster care adoption, it’s important to understand how the system works and evaluate whether that fits with your own adoption goals and motivations. Remember, the primary goal of the foster system is to reunite children with their biological families. This means that not every child in the foster care system is available for adoption — and many never will be. Instead, biological parents are provided with a reunification plan, and often, they are given multiple attempts to complete that plan and regain custody. Only in cases where the court determines a child cannot be safely reunited with his or her biological family will the child become available for adoption. This is something to keep in mind if you are placed with a foster child whose parents’ rights have not already been terminated.

If adopting from foster care sounds like a good fit for you and your family, these foster care agencies in Shawnee can help you get started:

International Adoption Agencies in Shawnee

There is a third option for hopeful adoptive parents in Shawnee: international adoption.

This type of adoption has decreased in popularity in recent years, and it presents certain risks adoptive parents should seriously consider before starting. But, while the process can be complicated, it can also be worthwhile if you believe it’s the right option for you.

The best way to approach this complex process is with an experienced, Hague-accredited agency by your side. You should thoroughly research the countries you’re considering adopting from and choose an international adoption agency in Shawnee that is experienced in completing successful adoptions in that country.

For more information about international adoption, contact one of these international adoption agencies serving Shawnee:

Home Study Agencies in Shawnee

Private adoption, foster care adoption and international adoption are three very different processes, but there’s one thing all of them have in common: They all require the adoptive parents to complete a home study.

During the home study, a social worker will review the adoptive parents’ life, home and family to assess whether they are ready to adopt a child and raise him or her in a stable, loving home. It is one of the first steps an adoptive family will take to be approved for adoption — and it can also be one of the most stressful.

But with the right professional by your side, this process doesn’t have to be scary. Your Shawnee home study agency will be there to provide the guidance and preparation you need to make this process a breeze. To get started, you will need to contact a Kansas-licensed home study provider. If you are working with a Kansas-licensed agency for placement, there’s a good chance that they will be able to complete your home study, as well — which means you won’t need to coordinate with another professional. But, if you do need to find an agency for your Shawnee adoption home study, you can start by contacting any of the following:

Shawnee Adoption Agencies for Prospective Birth Mothers

It takes a lot of strength, courage and love to place a baby for adoption in Kansas. If this is an option you’re considering, you deserve an adoption professional that will acknowledge that and provide all of the support and services you need through what is likely one of the most difficult times of your life.

As you consider your options, look for an agency that makes you feel comfortable — one that is available whenever you need them and can offer unbiased information and support. Fortunately, there are many great adoption agencies in and near Shawnee that can help you through this process. Here are a few to consider:

Find the Right Shawnee Adoption Agency for You

Your choice of adoption agency will be one of the most important decisions you make throughout this entire process. They can make or break your entire adoption experience, so it is important to choose a professional you trust. We recommend contacting several professionals on this list and scheduling calls with each of them to ask any questions you might have. When you find an agency that puts you at ease and seems like a good fit, you will be taking a huge step forward toward your adoption goals!


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

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