One of the adoption professionals you may consider working with to help you on your adoption journey is an adoption center in Maryland.

Although adoption centers in Maryland (also known as adoption law centers or adoption facilitators) may look reputable on the surface, these companies often don’t provide comprehensive adoption services.

This guide will examine what baby adoption centers do and what they don’t do, and explain why it may be preferable to work with an adoption agency.

If you’ve already determined that you’d like to work with American Adoptions, contact us by calling 1-800-ADOPTION or filling out our free online form. But, if you want to find out more about kid adoption centers in Maryland, continue reading.

What is an Adoption Center for Kids in Maryland?

There are different kinds of adoption centers in Maryland.

• Adoption center: An adoption center may or may not be certified to facilitate multiple aspects of the adoption process. They are often owned by a licensed attorney but are not regularly reviewed by the state or regulated. 
• Adoption law centers: These centers are often certified by the state bar but are not regulated by the state, nor are they required to be up-to-date on statewide adoption regulations.
• Adoption facilitator: These companies are not licensed and are not reviewed or regulated by the state.

In general, adoption centers for babies in Maryland only provide adoption “matchmaking” services. Some centers can facilitate other aspects of the adoption process, but this often is not the case.

What are the Pros of Working with Local Adoption Centers in Maryland?

There are a few pros to working with child adoption centers in Maryland:

• Good adoption “matchmaking” services: Because adoption centers in Maryland primarily match hopeful adoptive families with prospective birth mothers, they are often good at this service.
• Many hopeful adoptive families to choose from: It’s common for adoption centers to work with many hopeful adoptive families. This means birth moms often get to choose from many hopeful adoptive families.

What are the Cons of Working with a Baby Adoption Center in Maryland

There are quite a few cons of working with kid adoption centers in Maryland:

• Lack of oversight and regulation: This is likely the biggest con. Adoption center employees are only held to the standard of the legal bar in their state. There is less oversight and infrequent reviews. Because these centers are not regularly reviewed, there’s the potential for ethical or legal issues.
• Greater potential for adoption disruption: Birth mothers may not be fully prepared for the adoption process because adoption centers in Maryland don’t provide adoption education or counseling. This could lead to adoption disruption and lost adoption fees. 
• Inaccurate fee estimates: Many adoption law centers give “best-case scenario” estimates, leaving hopeful adoptive parents surprised when they have to pay unexpected fees.

Other Adoption Professionals You Could Work with

If you decide you don’t want to work with an adoption center in Maryland, you can choose to work with an adoption agency.

There are three types of adoption agencies you could choose to work with depending on your needs:

Local (Regional) Adoption Agency

A local adoption agency works with hopeful adoptive families and prospective birth mothers in the state. These agencies often can provide one-on-one in-person assistance. Because these agencies are usually smaller, they often don’t have the same resources as national adoption agencies.

National Adoption Agency

National adoption agencies work with hopeful adoptive families and prospective birth mothers who live across the United States. National adoption agencies often offer a lot of assistance, including:

• Adoption financial assistance for prospective birth moms
• Financial protection for hopeful adoptive families
• Adoption plan and birth plan building assistance for prospective birth moms
• 24/7 practical and emotional support
• Post-placement assistance
• And more

American Adoptions is a national adoption agency with over 30 years of experience and provides all of the above adoption services.

International Adoption Agency

International adoption agencies help hopeful adoptive families adopt children from other countries. This type of adoption is less common than it used to be and can be an expensive and unpredictable experience.

Next Steps to Your Adoption Journey in Maryland

If you’ve determined you don’t want to work with an adoption center in Maryland and would rather work with a national adoption agency, you can work with American Adoptions. Call 1-800-ADOPTION to start your adoption journey today.

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