8 Signs to Look for When Choosing the Best Adoption Agency for You

The adoption process is full of choices. Today, you can choose an adoptive family for your baby. You can also choose to meet that family. You even have the option to keep in touch with your child and his or her adoptive family over the years. These are all choices made in your adoption plan.

As an expectant/birth parent, you also have the right to choose an adoption agency that can help you design your perfect adoption plan. The right adoption agency will educate you about your many options, prepare you for the adoption process, and help you make informed decisions each step of the way. The right adoption agency will be there to support you now and in the future.

How will you find the best adoption agency for you? Look for the following positive signs of a reputable adoption agency.

8 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Adoption Agency

1. Accreditation and licensing

The first thing to look for is licensing. Look for a fully licensed adoption agency that can work with you throughout the adoption process. This will ensure that your baby’s adoption is carried out smoothly, safely, and legally.

2. Experience

Another key factor is the experience of an adoption agency. The best adoption agency will have many years of experience working with expectant/birth mothers. This means they will be prepared for any complication that may arise and can help walk you through the adoption journey with ease.

3. Legal guidance

As an expectant/birth parent, you have the right to make all decisions regarding your child up until the adoption papers have been signed. Look for an adoption agency that works with adoption attorneys who can advise you on all your rights and the specific laws in your area. For example, they should be able to help you understand the exact period you have to make a decision and how long you have to change your mind.

4. Custom adoption plans offered

The right adoption agency will give you more than one choice when it comes to making your adoption plan. You should always have the option to design a closed, semi-open, or open adoption plan as an expectant birth parent.

5. Unwavering assistance with the adoption process

Adoption is a very positive choice for women facing an unplanned pregnancy, but it can also be a complex and deeply emotional decision. The adoption agency you choose should help you understand what to expect before, during, and after the adoption takes place. They should be open and honest every step of the way. The right adoption agency will help you understand and cope with your emotions.

6. Clear commitment to you and your baby

How will the adoption agency support you after you place your baby for adoption? Do they offer ongoing counseling services following the birth of your baby? Do they have support groups? Can they help put you in touch with your child down the road? The right adoption agency will commit to you for years to come.

7. Not-for-profit

Many adoption agencies today are in the business to facilitate adoptions and to profit from those adoptions. A non-profit adoption agency, however, is not looking to make money. Rather, they are looking to find the best possible home for your child. Non-profit agencies are often the best adoption agencies to pursue.

8. No adoption fees for birth mothers

Adoption agencies should never charge an expectant/birth mother any money for anything regarding the adoption. The best adoption agencies will even offer financial support during this stressful time. Your physical, mental, and emotional health should be top priorities for your adoption professional. Making the decisions to carry your baby, give birth, and then lovingly place them for adoption are more than enough. You should not have to carry the financial burden of your adoption decision.

Researching Potential Agencies

Finding the best adoption agency can feel overwhelming. To help ease your search, here are some ideas when looking for potential adoption agencies:

Reading Reviews and Testimonials

Before buying an item online, you may consider reading the reviews, right? The same applies to adoption agencies. Reading testimonials of the birth mothers who have worked with the adoption agencies can help give you an idea of the type of agency you are considering.

Interviewing Agency Representatives

Just as you will want to read reviews, you will also want to interview potential adoption agencies. This is the organization you will entrust with your baby’s adoption. You can – and should – speak with them and ask questions before making the decision to work with them on such an important life event. You can call an adoption agency like Adoptions With Love any time to discuss your options and learn more about the organization before making any decision. The best adoption agency will never pressure you to make a decision regarding your pregnancy or adoption.

Questions to Ask Adoption Agencies

• What kind of support can your adoption agency provide?
• What is your availability?
• Are all your services free of charge?
• When do I need to make my decision?
• What types of adoption plans do you offer?
• How are your adoptive parents screened?
• What kind of support can you offer me after the baby is born?

Comparing Independent vs. Full-Service Agencies

Pros and Cons of Independent Adoption

Independent adoption involves adoption directly arranged between birth and adoptive families. This option may appeal to adoptive parents because of the lower costs and control over the adoption process. The downsides, of course, are the lack of screening services and financial protection for both parties.

For expectant/birth mothers, it is unsafe to not use the professional services of an adoption agency. This organization ensures that your adoption is handled safely and legally, and that your rights are protected. Working with an agency ensures that the adoptive family has successfully completed the home study process and has been thoroughly vetted.

Benefits of Full-Service Adoption Agencies

Choosing to work with a full-service adoption agency means having the peace of mind that your child will be placed in a safe, stable, and healthy home. Adoptive families who work with a private, full-service adoption agency like Adoptions With Love must complete the Home Study. This process includes thorough screenings and background checks, multiple home visits and interviews, and the review of medical and financial documents.

Birth mothers who choose a full-service adoption agency can also benefit from the many supportive services offered, at no cost. At Adoptions With Love, these services include:

• Financial assistance, including rent and other living expenses.
• Medical coverage for everything related to pregnancy and birth.
• Compassionate counseling services, before and after the adoption is complete.
• Legal assistance from experienced adoption attorneys in your home state.
• Adoption planning services, including the options to choose an open, semi-open, and closed adoption. You can also choose your child’s adoptive family.
• Ongoing support, as adoption is a lifelong journey.

Adoption Agency Warning Signs to Look Out For

If a prospective adoption agency exhibits any of the following, it is likely they do not have you or your child’s best interest in mind. When choosing an adoption agency, consider these warning signs:

1. They give off a sense of urgency.

If the adoption agency you are considering wants you to make a decision quickly, you may want to reevaluate their intentions. Some adoption professionals will want you to “make a decision by tomorrow” without fully educating you about your options or the adoption process.

2. They advertise “big budgets” and luxurious accommodations to recruit pregnant women.

If the adoption agency is advertising big bucks and hotel suites to expectant parents, take it as a red flag. Adoption agencies that attempt to recruit pregnant women are likely to pressure you into a decision later on or make you feel unable to change your mind. This may also indicate they are only concerned with big profits, not you or your baby’s best interests.

3. They only show you glowing reviews and testimonials.

Adoption agencies that only share glowing reviews or testimonials from other birth mothers may be ones to question. This type of adoption agency may not give you the most accurate view of adoption. They may only provide you with adoption’s fairy tale endings. They may glamorize adoption to be the perfect solution, even when adoption may not be right for you and your baby.

4. They are not a licensed adoption agency.

Ask the potential adoption agency for their license and a phone number to call to check their legitimacy and authority. If they cannot provide you with that certification, they are not a licensed adoption agency.

Tips for Making the Final Decision

Weighing Pros and Cons

A tried-and-true troubleshooting technique. If you have ever had to make a difficult decision, you may have found a pros and cons list to be helpful. Everyone – and every pregnancy – is different. What feels right for someone else may not be right for you. Listing the pros and cons of each adoption agency you are considering may help you clearly see which one is the best adoption agency for you.

Trusting Your Instincts

You must listen to your guts about this type of decision. If an adoption agency looks great on paper, but the social worker you will be working with makes you uncomfortable, then you may have a little voice inside your head saying, “this is not right.” If you are ever feeling pressured or judged, you should trust your instincts and continue with your search. If, after speaking with an adoption agency, you feel comforted, respected, and loved, you may have found the one.

Seeking Advice from Current Adoptive Parents

Those who have adopted may have great insight into the adoption journey. Find an online chat forum or read reviews by adoptive parents who can share their experiences.

Choosing the Best Adoption Agency

At Adoptions With Love, we truly believe that the more informed you are about adoption, the more positive you will feel about each choice you make throughout the process. The best adoption agency for you will be open and honest as you consider the positive choice of adoption.

For questions to ask a potential adoption agency, download our free eBook, the Guide to Choosing an Adoption Agency.