Navigating the Agency Maze

Before the days of the Internet, finding an adoption agency (for both prospective adoptive parents and expectant parents) used to be fairly easy, but fairly limited as well:

Word-of-mouth referrals from friends, social agencies, physicians, churches, etc.
Local phone books

We tended to use agencies located in our areas and embark on adoption plans the way others in our circle of acquaintances had done in the past.

Today, the Internet provides exposure and information on thousands of agencies, facilitators, and consultants around the world. We are no longer restricted to input from those in our communities. We're confronted with all manner of adoption possibilities, advice, opinions, hype, advertising, and rhetoric designed to bring the tears to the eyes of the most confirmed cynic.

Reading Past the Hype

Placing Parents

Expectant parents considering an adoption plan should take a hard look at to their first questions about other options, the various types of adoption, services such as counseling before and after the adoption, and their legal rights.

If keeping your child is even a remote possibility, explore outside the adoption community. Remember, when you approach an adoption agency, most will presume you are there because you have already decided on an adoption plan and may make little or no effort to refer you to information about other options.

Prospective Adoptive Parents

Adopting parents should delve carefully into their own criteria for selecting an agency.

Do you want an agency with a particular religious affiliation?
Do you want an agency that focuses on open adoptions?
Do you want an agency with expertise in international adoptions in a specific country?
Do you want an agency with experience in non-traditional adoptions such as single parent adoption, gay/lesbian parent adoption, or transracial adoption?
Do you want an agency that offers sliding scale fees based on your income?

These are only some of the criteria you might set. And there are agencies that deal with one, some, or all of these situations.

Narrowing it Down

The Internet is a great showcase for businesses of all types and description, and adoption agencies are no exception. However, the hard facts are that a domain name costs as little as $10.00 a year, and Web site design is becoming more and more automated, allowing even Net newbies to create professional-looking sites.

It's important to make sure the agencies you choose as your first contacts are legitimate.

Contact the State Adoption Unit
They have lists of licensed agencies in the state, and descriptions of the services and programs provided. They can tell you if the license is current and pass on information they may have plaints filed, if any.
Contact the Better Business Bureau
Complaints, lawsuits, and/or other problems with the agency may have been filed with the BBB.
Contact Associations or Accreditation Resources
If the agency Web site carries a notice that it is affiliated with a large group (like the Joint Council on International Children's Services) accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc. (COA), contact those groups for information. While reputable agencies will not claim an affiliation that doesn't exist, an Internet overloaded with hundreds of millions of pages is almost impossible to monitor.
Learn the Language of Adoption
Consult the Glossary of Terms for general information, and be sure to check for the difference among an "adoption agency," an "adoption facilitator," and an "adoption consultant," because they are different!
Ask Your Support Group Members
Whether you participate in chat groups, email lists, or other support group, ask for personal experiences.

More:
•Adoption Web Sites: How to Find Reliable Information, from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse

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