How to Choose an Adoption Agency

I was the guest on Chicago's "This is the Day" show (WMBI) with Nancy Turner this morning. During the show, several listeners called in with questions about adoption. Due to time constraints, I didn't have a chance to address several of the questions as thoroughly as I would have liked. So I thought I'd tackle them here.

How do I find an ethical adoption agency/facilitator?

Last week, I met with a woman whose cousin recommended a particular Christian adoption agency that he had worked with. The woman began working with that agency, solely on her cousin's recommendation. Turns out that the agency was involved in unethical adoption practices, and had several lawsuits for wrongful adoption pending. After much heartache, a lawsuit, and severe financial loss, the couple switched agencies.

While we would hope that any adoption service provider would function ethically, the sad fact is that some of them--even a few so-called "Christian" agencies--do not.

When you hire an agency to help facilitate an adoption, you are putting the future of your family into the hands of strangers for months, perhaps years. It's imperative that you work with an agency with whom you feel completely comfortable and confident.

1. Find out how long the agency has been in business. Do they have a reliable track record?
2. Check with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General office in the state in which the agency is licensed (if the agency has branch offices in several states, check in both your state's branch as well as the corporate office's state). Does the agency have any complaints or lawsuits pending?
3. Ask the agency for references, with the assumption that they will refer you to happy clients. Contact those clients, and then ask the clients for the names of additional people they know who have worked with the agency. Call those people, as well.
4. Join an online discussion group for the type of adoption you plan to pursue (such as adopting from China, adopting from foster care, infant adoption). Ask other members of the group which agencies they do and don't recommend. You will get a cross section of responses, but those responses will help you to get a better feeling for how the agency functions and treats its clients.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of adopting through a state agency and a private agency?

If you hope to adopt a child from foster care, chances are, you can work with either a public agency in your state or a private agency. Many licensed private agencies contract with public agencies to place foster children.

While there are many wonderful social workers at public agencies, they are most often overworked and underpaid. They'll give you as much attention as they can, but you will likely not receive the same degree of private attention to your "case" as you would when working with a private agency.

In addition to placing children from foster care in adoptive families, many private agencies also have domestic infant programs and international programs; they offer a full range of services for adoptive parents.

Related Articles:

• Am I too old to adopt?
• Can I adopt if I'm on a limited income?
• Why is it so difficult for singles to adopt?
• When should I tell my child he/she was adopted?
• How to Avoid Unethical Adoption Agencies
• International Adoption: How to Choose a Reputable Agency
• How to Avoid Adoption Scams
• Tips for Avoiding Adoption Fraud

I go into greater detail on these and many other questions in my book: The Adoption Decision: 15 Things You Want to Know Before Adopting.

For more news and information about adoption, visit www.laurachristianson.com, and check out my Exploring Adoption bookstore.

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