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Criteria for Choosing an Adoption Agency

Most people wouldn't dream of buying a new car without thorough research and comparison shopping. Choosing an adoption agency is comparable. Taking the time and effort to select an adoption agency carefully will save you a great deal of unnecessary stress and loss. Choosing the right agency will improve the chances that your adoption process will go smoothly and work successfully for your family.

First you need to contact your state's Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) to get a list of agencies that are legal and licensed in the state. Many adoptive parents skip this beginning step and later on regret it. This will let you know you are working with an agency that is on the up and up.

You will need to work out a list of tough questions that will help you pick the agency that is best for your family. Examples being: How many successful adoptions has the agency completed over the past year? If race or age is important then you need to ask the agency's success rate in placing a child of those particular criteria.

You will want to work with an agency that you feel comfortable with. Talk to the people who you will be giving the intimate details of your life to. You will be working with this agency closely to insure that you get the adopted child you want. You want the adoption to go smoothly and without any possible legal foul ups that could occur with a less reputable company.

Now we come to the issue of money. Some people approach the subject as if it something that should not be discussed in public but the truth is adoptions can be expensive and you need to know what you are getting into. A reputable company gives you a breakdown of all the fees (including estimated fees) in writing. If they refuse, then you need to seriously consider finding a new agency. Most agencies divide their fees over the entire course of the adoption-so be wary of an agency that asks you for the bulk of the fee 'up front' or offers to speed up the process for an additional fee. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

You should do your research, interview and finally listen to your intuition. If your inner voice tells you something is wrong, look into the agency a little closer and perhaps even contact your State Attorney General's office and the Better Business Bureau in the state where the agency is licensed to check whether any complaints have been filed against the agency. I hope that these steps help you find the right agency for you and of course the soon to be adopted child that is out there waiting for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/688486

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30,000 kids in Canada alone are waiting to be adopted in loving homes. Author, Deborah Brennan, joins Lorna in the first segment to discuss her book "Labours of Love" featuring adoption stories from across Canada. Deborah is also the vice-president of the Adoption Council of Canada.