Selecting and Working with Adoption Professionals
While domestic adoptions can be done privately without an agency, international adoptions should always be through a reputable agency or facilitator. Be sure the agency you choose is licensed in your state, as well as accepted by the country where your child is. It is very important that the agency or facilitator has placed many successful adoptions from the country you are interested in.
Keep your agency updated on your moves or address changes. Your agency should not only find you a child, but help you once the child is in your home. Ideally, you will have a continuing relationship that will keep you grounded and provide resources as your family matures.
Ask for references and be sure to call them. Ask the references what their experience was like and about any problems they encountered. Be sure to pick someone with whom you feel comfortable, because your relationship will be intense, personal, and long term.
Ask the following questions before you sign with an agency:
How many successful adoptions have you sponsored from this country?
What was the average wait time?
How long have you been in business?
Do you have a list of former clients who would be willing to speak to me?
What kind of preadoption training do you offer? Have your clients been pleased with that training?
Do you offer postadoption training and follow-up?
How long do you stay in contact with your families?
What are your fees? Are any of these fees refundable if the adoption falls through?
What procedure is followed and services are offered if the adoption does not seem to be working out?
Note that as in all human relationships, there are no real guarantees in adoption. Ask questions and discuss what you find out with your partner or spouse. Don't pick an agency solely on the basis of cost or whether the person you talked to was convincing.
