In some states, matchmaking for a fee is illegal except by licensed agencies.

Premier is a licensed agency that employs about 3,500 home health aides.

But he concluded, "I think in order to be competitive in the marketplace our pricing needs to reflect what other licensed agencies charge."

In the former, adoptive parents work through a licensed agency; in the latter, they deal directly with the biological mother.

In private adoption, families adopt children via licensed agencies or with direct contact through the parents.

Personal care will be provided at extra cost through a licensed agency or a provider chosen by residents.

Texas, Florida, and California have online resources listing licensed agencies.

Such projects must be licensed by the state as adult homes or enriched housing and provide personal care through a licensed agency.

Municipal police have several training centers, where some larger cities have their own and others are conducting training in private licensed agencies.

That means that their beneficiaries must accept whatever comes from a licensed agency.