Single-parent adoption is rising in popularity. As a result, there has been an increased need for single-parent adoption agencies that are friendly and supportive for those seeking a non-traditional adoption. 

Start with Research
Do research at the National Council for Adoption (NCFA) and Adopting.org. The National Council for Adoption offers a member agency list. Their database allows you to search by location or by specific requirements, and it provides additional links to information, research and data that could be helpful to a prospective parent interested in a single-parent adoption.

Research state and federal laws concerning single-parent adoption, and ask potential adoption agencies about their policies. According to the NCFA, adoption is typically regulated by state law. As a result, be sure to research your specific state's guidelines about adoption. The Adoption Council's Adoption First Principles, for example, states "consistent with the child's best interests, preference in adoption placements should be given to families that offer married mother-and-father parenting." By talking to adoption agencies and knowing your own state's guidelines for adoptive parents, you'll know what you may be up against.

Get Information from Prospective Adoption Agencies
If you have friends or family who have adopted, especially if they have been involved in a single-parent adoption, start with them. Which adoption agency did they use? Were there agencies that they were unhappy with? How did they find the adoption agency that they finally used? What do they wish they had known or done going into the adoption? Planning and meeting with people firsthand can help you get a clearer understanding of the journey ahead. In addition, working with a reputable adoption agency, especially one that you know about firsthand, is a great choice.

Check adoption agency qualifications, licenses and references. Look for complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. A recommendation for all potential adoptive parents is to be sure to research the agency thoroughly before you sign any contracts or make any payments.

Ask each agency for statistics about single-parent placements. It's important to have a clear understanding of the adoption agency's policies and their success rates. In addition, you want to be sure to ask questions about the frequency of single-parent adoptions that the agency handles and their typical waiting list for couples and for single parents. An adoption agency that rarely or never works with single-parent adoptions might not be the best choice or advocate for you.

Find and Give Support
Visit adoption forums. Adopting.org has a large adoption-related community, geared toward providing adoptive parents, potential adoptive parents, birth mothers and adoption professionals a wealth of information about adoption. If you are interested in a single-parent adoption and searching for the right adoption agency, check these forums for recommendations.

The Single Mothers by Choice network offers a wealth of information to women who are making the decision to become single parents, either through adoption or pregnancy. They provide newsletters, e-mail lists and a book about the decision to become a single parent. Other members in your area might be able to point you toward reputable adoption agencies skilled in single-parent adoption and give you feedback along the way.