Adoption Options

There are several different types of adoption procedures that are available to you. The descriptions below should help you understand the different options for adoption.

Direct Infant Placement
This process involves placement by the agency after a birth family makes a “direct” selection of an adopting family via portfolio.  The birth parent’s surrender of rights can occur 72 hours after birth.

Identified Adoption
This process involves assistance in placement by the agency after the adoptive family has identified a birth family that chooses to place a child for adoption or a birth family identifies an adoptive family. The agency provides services to the expectant birth or legal parents and prospective adoptive parents.

Enhanced Identified Adoption
This process is the same as Identified Adoption with the addition of agency assistance in composing newspaper advertisements, networking advice and assistance in screening birth family responses. The adoptive family solicits birth families through ads, network or a specific referral from a professional (e.g., physician, attorney, social worker, etc.) that refers the birth family directly to the agency.

The agency then identifies the birthparent as having responded to a particular ad or referral and provides immediate assistance in obtaining information about the birth family, provides information to the birth family about the adoptive family and makes arrangements to proceed with a placement. The agency will provide an 800-telephone number for use by birth families when contacting the agency in these situations. The agency 800-telephone number can be used in advertising and networking.

Independent Adoption
In this process the child is received in the adoptive home from a source other than a certified adoption agency. In such an adoption the court asks an agency, such as ours, to conduct an Adoption Complaint Investigation to evaluate/investigate the circumstances of the placement and to assess the adoptive home. You or your attorney can specifically request Family Options to perform this service.

International Adoption
This process involves placement by another agency or source specializing in international adoptions. In such an adoption, Family Options provides home study and supervision services. When working with a Hague Convention country, the placing agency must allow Family Options to be an exempt provider. 

Interstate Adoption
This process involves placement by another agency or source in a state other than New Jersey. In such an adoption, Family Options provides home study, supervision and other services as required in order to be in compliance with New Jersey Interstate Compact regulation.