What are the main differences between an adoption agency and a facilitator?

As an adoption facilitator, Lifetime typically offers more services to birthmothers than adoption agencies because we can offer a wide array of options, including phone, peer, or in-person counseling, assistance with basics like towels, sheets, and clothing (both maternity clothes and post-pregnancy outfits), and an active role in their adoption including the opportunity to choose the family, level of contact, and establishing a hospital plan – most importantly having the family there to take the baby home. In fact, many birthmothers choose an adoption facilitator because they feel more comfortable with their choices and options.

In an agency adoption, the birthmother will relinquish her parental rights directly to the adoption agency, who ultimately will place the baby with an adoptive family of the agency's choosing. With Lifetime, the birthmother will relinquish her rights directly to you, the adoptive family. Birthmothers are far more comfortable with this choice, and many are choosing to work with Lifetime in order to exercise their choices for their child. Each of us want to be able to choose for ourselves, and an adoption facilitator gives the birthmother the most access to choices, resulting in a far greater level of comfort and security with her decision to place her baby with you, her choice for parents.

For adoptive families, an adoption facilitator offers many advantages over an adoption agency. Total adoption cost is usually less with an adoption facilitator like Lifetime because a family only needs to pay for the services that they need. Also, because Lifetime works with so many families and adoption professionals, we have nationwide referrals to home study providers and attorneys, including those belonging to the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, which can save you money. We can help you find the resources you need!

Wait times may be less with Lifetime than with an adoption agency because we are able to work with birthmothers nationwide, many of which are eager to place their child in a state that is not their own. An adoption agency is typically limited to their own county or state. The result is that Lifetime works with far more birthmothers than the typical adoption agency. If you are looking into a local adoption agency, be sure to ask how many adoptions they complete each year. Lifetime completes over 120 adoptions every year!

Lifetime has been an adoption facilitator for more than 20 years, and is actively involved in efforts to license and regulate adoption facilitation. We maintain our business license and we are bonded. In addition, Mardie Caldwell, C.O.A.P., is a Certified Open Adoption Practitioner and has spoken before legislators in California to successfully pass adoption legislation. She is an advocate for open adoption and tighter regulation and licensing of adoption facilitators. She is an adoptive mother, an award-winning author, the radio talk show host of Let's Talk Adoption, and a nationally recognized expert in the field of adoption. Who better to lead the organization that helps you build your family through adoption!

Before making the choice to contract with any adoption professional, Lifetime strongly encourages families to contact other adoptive families who have used their services, as well as adoption attorneys familiar with the programs. Lifetime provides all prospective adoptive families with a list of references, including families and attorneys, who they may freely speak with about Lifetime's services.