Selecting Your Adoption Agency

As you begin the search for your perfect agency, you can look locally or look nationally. Of course the local search will begin with your yellow pages. A national search will begin on the web.

Like your search for an attorney, an agency search must concentrate on “reputable” agencies that have experience in the type of adoption you are pursuing. Even though licensed agencies are regulated by their state, they can be very different. Each can offer considerably different services and charge different fees.

Using the list below, decide what services are important to you before you begin. Then, armed with this list, begin the research and the phone calls.

For local agencies, you will be calling them to discuss their services. You will begin in the yellow pages, but can also acquire referrals to reputable agencies from family, friends, a trusted doctor or from yours or other religious organizations.

When searching the web, you will need to trust third party organizations to insure reputability. There is the Better Business Bureau for the respective state, and there are “watch-dog” consumer groups like the Inter-Country Adoption Registry (http://www.adoptachild.org) and The Adoption Guide (http://www.theadoptionguide.com).

As well, you can contact your state directly to receive a list of licensed agencies. You can get descriptions of the services they offer and learn of both positive and negative feedback about the agencies. Click here to go to the page with each state’s department for adoption and phone number.

Be careful with using the internet. While you can conduct research nationwide and even worldwide, you can’t always completely trust what you read. You still must call and discuss your requirements “voice to voice”.

Adoption Agency Selection Criteria checklist:

Specific religious affiliation? ____________________________

Specific focus: Closed adoptions ______ Open Adoptions _______
State placements _______ Private placements _______.

Domestic __________ International ______________
Which countries? ___________________________________________________

Fee structure: sliding fee scales for lower income families _____________
a specific list of fees and expenses that could be expected ______________
be cautious of large “up front” fees ________________

Find out the average waiting time _________________

Confirm their state license with them and your state ___________________

Get a list of the services they provide for both you and the Birthmom (housing, counseling, etc.) __________________________________

Find out their business history…
number of years in business _________________
number of successful adoptions ___________________
the ratio of number of adoptions to number of waiting couples _______________.