Barker is able to offer to prospective adoptive parents the opportunity to use individual services such as the home study and the post-placement supervision.

Most of the families utilizing our services individually versus being part of the comprehensive program do so because they are pursuing an independent adoption or plan to work with an agency outside of the Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC area. Although families might choose to utilize individual services at Barker, prospective parents can rely on the support of an agency that has years of experience in the field of adoption.

In addition to the staff’s knowledge and expertise, Barker’s Waiting Parents’ Meetings, our annual conference and workshops such as the Baby Basics class are additional supports available to our individual services families.

Prospective adoptive parents, through an ad in a newspaper or through word of mouth, may locate a woman considering placing her child. If the prospective parents are not already working with a pregnant woman when they come to us, Barker provides guidance and support as they search for a birth mother who is considering placing her child for adoption.

Once a birth mother is identified, we are available to provide her with counseling if she resides in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC. We can arrange for another professional to do it if the woman resides outside Barker's direct service area. Barker staff members are also available to coordinate with attorneys and other agencies to facilitate a placement. In situations such as this, Barker does not assume legal custody of the child.

Families and birth parents utilize Barker in order to benefit from Barker's 65 years of experience and expertise and to provide future support for everyone in the adoption.