Adopting
a child can be a long and bumpy journey. But the reward can be truly
wonderful. About two-thirds of all adoptions are arranged by private or
public adoption agencies. A public agency is a state or county agency
which places children and is supported by consumer tax dollars. The
private agency is in most cases licensed by the state, but operates
using fees from adoptive families and/or charitable contributions. Most
private agencies are non-profit organizations.
Although the majority of adoption agencies, attorneys or others
involved in the adoption process are honest and helpful, there are a
few which have questionable practices. Some agencies or attorneys, for
example, may charge exorbitant fees or ask for a retainer in full when
the person applies, without provisions for refunds of any kind.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) suggests that you carefully review the
standard procedures of any agency you plan to use. Contact the BBB for
a reliability report on the agency. You can also contact your State
Adoption Specialist, or an individual at your state Social Services
headquarters to see if there are any complaints or investigations about
the agency. Consider calling adoptive parent groups in your area and
ask them if any members have had experience with the agency.
When you have located an agency or attorney and you are thinking about
applying to adopt, you should ask the following questions: Does the
organization concentrate on placing infants or older children? What
type of adoptive parents does the agency seek? How long will it take
from applying to the agency to the start of the home study? (The home
study is an information gathering process to make sure the people
hoping to adopt are ready for parenthood and to help them understand
how to become good parents). Find out how many children the agency has
placed in the last year. What preparation classes, seminars or readings
does the agency require of adoptive parents? What supervision will
occur after the child is placed with your family but before
finalization of the adoption? (Most adoptions are finalized by the
court about six months after the child is placed). Also, ask what
assistance the agency can provide after the adoption.
Get names of people who have adopted children through the agency. Names
may be available from the agency or from parent groups. Call the
adoptive parents and ask them if it's convenient to discuss their
agency experience with you. Finally, you'll want to secure expert
advice before signing any contract.