Most people know about Missouri’s two biggest metro areas — Kansas City and St. Louis. But there’s an overlooked gem in the southwest corner of the state. You already know all about it, and you know that Springfield is a great place to live.

Springfield, Mo., is a welcoming city of more than 160,000 people. There are plenty of friendly neighborhoods, great schools and a major university. It’s a great place to live, work and raise a family. All of that combined may be why you are looking for adoption agencies in Springfield.

Adoption is beautiful, and it is also difficult. The adoption process is life-changing and challenging. Finding the best adoption agencies in Springfield is the key to a successful adoption. This guide will help you find those agencies, and help you determine which one could be the right Springfield adoption agency for you.

What Can Springfield Adoption Agencies Do?

Do you really need to work with an adoption agency in Springfield for this process? In short: yes. Adoption agencies are vitally important to successful adoptions. The process can be too complicated to navigate on your own, and the consequences of an improper adoption process can lead to a failed adoption.

A good adoption agency is there to support you. They will help handle the legal work, regulatory requirements and emotional needs of an adoption. Plus, there are things like finding an adoption opportunity, completing an adoption home study and finalizing the adoption that most families do not know how to do on their own.

Adoption agencies in Springfield have different capabilities and levels of experience, which is why it’s important to research your options before making a decision. Working with the right agency can make or break a family’s or prospective birth mother’s experience with the adoption process.

Types of Adoption Agencies in Springfield

An adoption can happen several different ways. The type of adoption agency in Springfield that you work with will depend on the type of adoption that is best for you family. While every family’s story is unique, most adoptions fall into three broad categories:

Private Domestic Adoption

In this type of adoption, an expectant mother in America chooses adoption for her baby. She then contacts an adoption agency, who will show her a handful of adoptive family profiles. She chooses a family from those profiles, and the adoption proceeds from there. Domestic infant adoption is a great option for many families and expectant mothers. If you are hoping to adopt an infant in the U.S., or if you are considering placing your baby for adoption, then you will need to work with a domestic adoption agency in Springfield.

Foster Care Adoption

The foster care system is largely misunderstood. The primary goal for most children is reunification, not adoption. Reunification is a return to their biological parents after a time apart in a foster home. However, there are some children whose biological parents have had their rights terminated. These children are in need of adoption, which is where foster-to-adopt comes in. If you are interested in a foster-to-adopt opportunity, then a Springfield adoption and foster care agency will be the right path for you.

International Adoption

International adoption peaked in the U.S. in 2004, when more than 22,000 parents adopted a child from overseas. That number has steadily declined since then, but international adoption is still something that several thousand Americans pursue each year. The process can be complicated and wait times can be unpredictable, but many families feel it is the best option for them. There are international adoption agencies in Springfield who can help with this type of adoption.

Thinking Local vs. National

There is one more layer of nuance to consider within these types of adoption agencies in Springfield. You can choose to work with a local or national adoption agency. There are pros and cons to each. For instance, a local adoption agency may offer the benefit of more face-to-face contact with your social worker, but the drawback of a smaller staff and longer wait times. National adoption agencies typically offer shorter wait times and stronger financial security, as well as larger staffs with a bulk of experience.

Your adoption doesn’t have to be bound by state or city lines, especially for a domestic infant adoption. Take time to consider if a local or national adoption agency in Springfield will be better for your family.

Adoption Agencies in Springfield

There are several Springfield adoption agencies to choose from for each type of adoption mentioned above. It’s always a good idea to consider a variety of agencies. Compare and contrast the kind of services each agency provides. Notice things like response time, size of staff and level of experience. Ask questions about how many placements an agency completes each year, and how the agency handles disruptions if they occur. This is an important decision, and you should ask as many questions as you can think of.

Here are some of the Springfield adoption agencies you could consider:

Private Domestic Adoption Agencies (National)

• American Adoptions
• Nightlight Christian Adoptions
• Gladney Center for Adoption

Private Domestic Adoption Agencies (Local)

• Lutheran Family & Children Services
• Adoption for Families

Foster Care Adoption Agencies in Springfield

• Lutheran Family & Children Services
• Missouri Heart Gallery

International Adoption Agencies in Springfield

• All Blessings International
• Bethany Christian Services

Springfield Adoption Agencies for Prospective Birth Mothers

It’s common to hear phrases like “give a baby up for adoption.” While there aren’t bad intentions behind it, this is actually a mischaracterization of what is happening. An expectant mother who chooses adoption is not “giving up.” She is making one of the most difficult decisions of her life. It is selfless and brave. When a mother makes this decision, she deserves significant support.

A good adoption agency in Springfield will provide that support to expectant mothers. Through things like licensed counselors, 24/7 availability, adoption financial assistance and more, private adoption agencies in Springfield and throughout Missouri can help prospective birth mothers through this process.

An agency like Kansas City-based American Adoptions provides these services to expectant mothers. If you are considering domestic infant adoption, you’ll want to ask the adoption agency how they care for prospective birth mothers during and after the adoption process.

Next Steps Toward Your Adoption

Once you are sure of the type of adoption that will be right for you, the next step is to begin contacting adoption agencies in Springfield. This is an important choice, so take your time. You may need to collect more information before getting to this point. Once you are ready, talk to several agencies and ask a lot of questions to find the right adoption agency in Springfield for you.