Government Agency adoptions are adoptions of children who are living in the foster care system.   These adoptions are usually carried out by local and regional public agencies.  The procedure for foster care adoptions vary from one state to another.  Certain states seek the help of licensed private agencies to conduct home studies.  A home study is a review of the family and home environment of the prospective adoptive parents.  These licensed private agencies also recruit and license adoptive parents for children in the foster care system.  In some states,  prospective parents can be licensed as both foster and adoptive parents.