oschoseprof

Choosing an Adoption Professional

Choosing an Adoption Professional is a very important process. It will save lost time in becoming matched and placed, and it can save you a lot of money and heartache. Something that is often forgotten when dealing with adoption professionals (AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS!)---they work for you. You need to be in charge. Interview several professionals before you give money to anyone! Research, study, pray, talk with other adoptive parents (and birthparents, if possible) and find out what you want out of your adoption experience. You have to work within their parameters, but there are lots of choices. You will be able to find an adoption professional you can have a great experience with.

General Research

Are they legal / legitimate? -- Are they licensed? Is the organization a registered charity? How long have they been licensed?

State licensing authorities. State attorney general's office., Secretary of State's office (in the state in which the adoption agency operates.)

Are there any complaints regarding this agency? Remember, you can always register a complaint if you feel you have cause!

Call the Better Business Bureau in the City in which the organization is located.

Check with the IRS. Is this organization a registered 501(c)(3) charity? Do they file their reports every year? How long have they been registered?

National Adoption Directory - find the State Licensing Specialist Division

National Council For Adoption, 1930 17th Street, Washington, DC, 202-328-1200

The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC), P.O. Box 1182 Washington, DC 20013-1182, (703) 246-9095

The Adoption Guide , choosing an agency

Joint Council on International Children's Services, 7 Cheverly Circle, Cheverly, MD 20785-3040,
1-301-322-1906

If it is an international agency:

Choosing an International agency

International Concerns for Children office, (303) 494-8333,911 Cypress Dr. Boulder, CO 80303-2821. Check for information they might have on the agency.

Department of State, (202) 647-4000. Talk with the "desk officer" for the country you wish to adopt from. What do they know about the agency or facilitator you are/wish to work with?

Office of Children's Issues at the Department of State, 202-736-9080. Do they know anything about the organization?

Counsular Officer at the U.S. Embassy in the Country. What do they know about the organization?

U.S. Immigration Office in the country. What do they know about these agents? Get the name, address, phone and fax numbers and email address for the person who handles the Ministry of Social Welfare. Is the agency approved to do adoptions from this country? How does the country process adoptions? Do they insist that the agency be licensed or a non-profit agency?

Washington Embassy (for a particular country). What can they tell you about adoptions from that country? Do they know anything positive or negative about the agency?

References. Do not rely solely on those references from the agency. The EEAC registry has a listing of parents who have adopted from Eastern Europe who will share their adoption experience. There are other listings from various parts of the adoption World.

International Concerns for Children, 911 Cypress Dr., Boulder, CO 80303-2821, 303-494-8333
Send $25 to receive The Report on Intercountry Adoption - This book is a very good!

ALREADY HAD PROBLEMS? PLEASE report them! Nothing will ever change and others will continue to have problems if they are not reported!

Find Attorney Generals

National Fraud Information Center (mostly for internet fraud)

Better Business Bureau

Contact your local State Licensing Agency and report any problems

Contact your local Congressmen/Senators/Governor, if needed

The Adoption Guide

Specific Questions for the Agency

How long has the agency been in business? For the countries I'm interested in, how long have you been placing children from there?

How many children did you place last year? Total, from the location I'm requesting?

What are the marital status, age, current children, ethnic, religious requirements for prospective adoptive parents?

Do I need to provide medical evidence of infertility to work with your agency?

What age ranges of children do you place?

How many adoption programs do you have?

How many children did you place from each of the programs in which I am interested?

How many of these children were "special needs"?

Could I switch my application to another program?

Do you help prepare clients for travel? Make travel arrangements, Help me prepare along the way? Is travel necessary?

Are you available to help me when I'm overseas?

What is the typical timeline from home study to referral in the program I am most interested in?

Fees? Fixed, Sliding Scale, Differing Program fees, Medical costs, Birthmother Expenses, Reduced for Special Needs? Any refunds if not placed?

Licensed to place children in your home state?

Have there been any disrupted adoptions? If so, why?

What kind of post-adoption services does the agency provide?

What assistance / requirements in open adoption?

Contract Issues

Copy of adoptive family rights (get with application form)

Contract that outlines mutual obligations under the agreement

Dispute resolution

Written policy of quality assurance during the process

Support services before, during and after placement?

Post placement social worker

Resolutions for disruption

CANADA-Adoption Council of Canada

adoption.ca

canadas waiting kids

ATTORNEYS

How many adoptions has the attorney completed?

What types of adoptions - domestic, foreign, family, Private/Independent, agency, interstate?

Who pays the attorney fee / amount--flat fee or hourly fee?

How accessible is the attorney--hours, days? What about after hours? Who handles the attorney's cases if s/he is not available?

From Deedee:

There are lots of ways to make sure the agency you chose is going to be honest and reputable. For starters, once you determine which country/countries you are interested in, join a Yahoo groups or groups for that country. Read the archives and then post an inquiry as to agencies parents who have gone before recommend. I lend more credence to those parents who have completed one or more adoption with a particular agency than those who have not traveled and/or finished the entire adoption process. You can check out http://adoption.about.com/cs/adoptionfraud.

I also recommend talking to people in your area in the adoption community and on the Internet about the pros and cons of individual adoption programs and agencies. Locating these people yourself,
rather than totally relying on parents that the agencies offer as references will provide a broader spectrum of responses. Do you really think an agency will give you the names of unhappy clients?
Probably not. Its up to you to do your homework and check out the agencies as thoroughly as possible. Its a little hard sometimes to think of adopting as a consumer. But unfortunately, sometimes that
becomes an issue as not all agencies provide ethical and reputable services.

Sometimes meeting with agency staff is helpful. Adopting is a very emotional experience. Can you relate to the staff at agencies you are considering? Do they seem warm and supportive? What kind of
post-adoption services do they offer? This is very important, as your adoption experience doesn't end the minute someone hands you your baby or child. The human factor with agencies is also
something to be considered. Lastly, my husband (a computer engineer-type) insisted we make a
flowchart when we were deciding on which agency to use. We made a chart with sections for costs, time-frames, locations, post-placement services, and other important factors. We use this method to help keep track of important considerations. You can also assign priorities to this kind of chart. (such as location, time-frames etc.)

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