There are mainly three ways that a child can be placed for adoption: 1) through an adoption agency (public/State operated agency or a privately owned agency), 2) independently, by using an attorney or an adoption facilitator, and 3) direct placement (only some states allow this).

There are also three kinds of adoption: 1) confidential (closed) adoption, 2) adoption with some degree of openness, and 3) open adoption.

Closed adoption means that the birth parents and the adoptive parents never know each other. Adoptive parents are given background information about you and the birth father that they would need to help them take care of the child, such as medical information. In closed adoption, there is no ongoing contact between the birthparent and the adoptive family.

"Openness" refers to some degree of contact, whether it be a one time meeting between the birthparent and adoptive parent or yearly pictures and letters exchanged. In this kind of adoption, you may be able to choose the adoptive parents for your baby.

Open adoption, on the other hand, is one in which the "adopted child has the potential of developing a one-on-one relationship with his or her birthfamily" throughout their life. Many adoption professionals believe that this is true open adoption.

Talk to your counselor about the type of adoption that is best for you. Do you want to help decide who adopts your child? Would you mind if a single person adopted your child, or a couple of a different race than you? Would you like to be able to share medical information with your child's family that may only become known in the future? If you have strong feelings about these things, work with an agency or attorney who you feel will listen to what you want.

Source: National Adoption Information Clearinghouse