How do I chose an adoption agency?

We all know that choosing the right adoption agency to work with is critical. We recommend setting limits on your web search for an agency since it is such an impersonal medium. Here are some questions you might ask of potential agencies.

What is their history of placing children in adoptive families?
Are they licensed by the state?
Do they handle international adoptions, domestic adoptions or both?
If they handle international adoptions, with what countries do they have programs?
Is travel required?
What services are provided and what is the estimated cost of the adoption?
If we have questions or concerns during our adoption, how will we communicate with them?

Devote some energy to a phone call to the agency. Was it easy for you to talk to them? Did you get the feeling they had genuine concern for you? Here are some more sensitive questions that may give you a better feel for the agency as they speak with you in person.

Qualifications for Adoptive Families

Are there any age requirements for adoptive parents?

Could we be considered as an adoptive family if there have been previous marriages?

What if I am single?

Open or Closed Adoption

An open adoption is an adoption where the identities of the birth and adoptive families are shared. They have met and plan to keep in personal contact with one another after the child is placed with the adoptive family. Letters and pictures are usually exchanged at regular intervals.

Do they handle open adoptions?
In their experience, what have been the advantages and disadvantages of open adoption?

Referral Policy

During the application process, you will share with the agency the kind of child you are seeking. Age, gender and medical conditions that you will accept are typical topics that would be covered. Based on this information, a referral is a recommendation from the agency to adopt a specific child.

How is the referral handled?
Will we receive a picture or a video?
What medical information is available?
What would be a good reason to decline the referral?

Agencies

Our family was greatly served by Hope's Promise Adoption Agency based in Colorado.

Here are two well-known Christian adoption agencies for you to consider.

Child Advocacy

Perhaps you considered the prospect of adoption but feel like this is not the way for your family to go. There are other ways to be meaningfully involved in the lives of children. Consider supporting a child through Compassion International

Your financial support will provide food, clothes and a Christian education.
You’ll receive regular updates about the well-being of your child.
The greatest gift is the opportunity to correspond with your sponsored child. Knowing that you care gives them the hope and courage they need to persevere.
Compassion International also offers the opportunity to travel to meet your sponsored child in person! Travel opporunities are country specific.

Disclaimer: Adoption-by-Grace.com does not receive financial compensation for referring you to any of the adoption or child advocacy agencies cited.

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