When you are considering adoption, the wide variety of options can seem overwhelming. You will have a number of choices to make, so gather as much information as possible.
The following questions may help you determine which agency is best for your family. Choose your agency based on their programs and your feelings of comfort and trust in them. After your choice is made, get to know your agency even better. Subscribe to their newsletter mailing list. Get to know the staff and, in turn, they will feel increasingly more familiar with you.
Does the agency conduct infant adoptions, adoptions of children from foster care, or adoptions of children from other countries? Agencies that conduct more than one of these types of adoption or place children from different countries will refer to their different “programs.”
How many were placed from the specific program you are interested in?
What are the characteristics of the prospective parents they work with (i.e. age of adoptive parents, single or nontraditional families, marital history, length of marriage, religious affiliation, fertility restrictions, number of children already in the family)? Do these requirements vary depending on the type of adoption?
Adoptions of waiting children through public social services agencies are often free. If fees are charged, you may be able to be reimbursed for some of those costs when a child from that agency is placed with you.
Agency fees for private infant and international adoptions can range from $10,000 - $50,000. Request a fee schedule from the adoption agency you are considering so you know, before you begin, exactly what costs are covered in the adoption fee and what costs may be added later. Examples of typical charges include legal fees, the birth mother’s and/or infant’s medical expenses, expenses for travel to visit a waiting child in another state, or to bring a child home from another country.
Further information about financial reimbursements and adoption assistance/subsidies can be found on the Financial Assistance page.
Each adoption is unique. However, you can ask about the average length of time families wait between applying to adopt and beginning the family assessment. You can also ask how long you should expect to wait between completion of the assessment and having a child placed in your home.
Can you see a copy of your family assessment/home study? If you are not approved, can you find out why? What is the agency’s grievance process?
Most public agencies placing children from foster care are primarily concerned about placing the children in their custody. As an adoptive family, they see you as a resource for their children. Often, states or counties require you to be a resource for their children for at least 6 months before they will release your home study to another agency or state. Most private agencies facilitate adoptions within your state and other states. Most private agencies placing newborns will be facilitating a match between you and one of the birth mothers with whom they are working.
Do not finalize an adoption of a child from foster care until you have an adoption assistance agreement in writing from the child’s agency. A good fact sheet to review can be found here.
Most agencies will provide names of families who were happy with their adoption experience. Most states maintain complaint files for licensed agencies in the licensing department at their department of human services office. Again, parent support groups are often an excellent resources for evaluations of local agencies.
How does the agency allocate its money?
Download our information packet Making Connections: A Guide to Adoption to help get started on your journey towards adoption.