| s March of 1996 that the first draft of this checklist | | | | 5. Is the agency a church affiliated agency or is it |
| was placed online. It has been used by thousands | | | | over 30 years old? |
| since then and, with the feedback received since | | | | Most of the above questions can be answered from |
| 1996, it has been shortened and simplified. There are | | | | agency web sites, yellow pages, and other |
| now 5 questions most easily answered by using the | | | | advertisements without calling the agency. The |
| yellow pages, or other agency advertisements such | | | | questions below will probably require a call to the |
| as web pages, and then 11 questions that will | | | | agency, but count it as extra good if positive |
| probably require a phone call to the agency. There is | | | | answers can be found in agency advertisements. |
| no difference if you are placing a child you are | | | | Count it as negative if there is any hesitation by |
| expecting or if you are wanting to adopt a child into | | | | agency staff on the phone in answering these |
| your family. Either way you must select the agency | | | | questions. |
| very carefully for the sake of your child. | | | | 6. Does the agency encourage maternity client |
| You must also be concerned as to how the adopting | | | | parenting and offer free support and guidance in |
| parents of your child, or the birthmother of your | | | | parenting? |
| child, will be treated by the agency you select. It is a | | | | 7. Did agency staff accurately define open adoption |
| VERY important decision. | | | | as involving no secrets between birth and adopting |
| As you are calling agencies and asking questions | | | | families, and ongoing, direct, in person contact |
| about the issues from this checklist, it is very possible | | | | between them? |
| that the staff will recognize that you are using this | | | | 8. Did agency staff make it clear that they prefer to |
| checklist. Do not let that distract you from the critical | | | | do fully open adoptions and rarely, if at all, will they |
| issues addressed in the checklist. Just acknowledge | | | | serve an adopting family wanting less than a fully |
| that you are using the "openadoption.org checklist" | | | | open adoption? |
| and that you want to go over the issues one by one. | | | | 9. Does the agency strongly recommend, or even |
| The issues are infinitely more important than the | | | | require, several counseling sessions by their staff |
| source of the checklist you are using. The way | | | | before a maternity client starts considering the |
| agency staff treat you, and your concerns, will tell | | | | selection of a family for their child? |
| you as much about an agency as the written agency | | | | 10. Does the agency always allow maternity clients |
| policies. | | | | selecting a family for their child to be able study |
| A PDF copy of the Adoption Agency Selection | | | | every waiting family available through the agency for |
| Checklist for printing can be found at It will print out | | | | their child, and almost never limits maternity clients to |
| to one page and have 4 columns to compare multiple | | | | selecting from a few waiting families chosen by |
| agencies. You may then take notes on the printed | | | | agency staff? |
| copy as you study agency advertisements and call | | | | 11. Does the agency encourage matching between |
| agencies. | | | | birth and adopting families who live close enough to |
| Adoption Agency Selection Checklist | | | | each other for easy visits? |
| After studying the web pages to understand the | | | | 12. Does the agency have resumes by families |
| issues involved, this form can be used to compare | | | | adopting that are fully identified, with full names and |
| four agencies. The more “Yes” | | | | addresses as well as local phone numbers on them, |
| answers to the questions that follow the better an | | | | freely available for the selection process? |
| agency is. Few agencies will get “Yes” | | | | 13. Does the agency provide a copy of their adopting |
| answers to all 16 questions, and some questions are | | | | parent fee agreement with clearly stated policies |
| more important. | | | | both about refunds and that donations cannot be |
| 1. Do the agency web site & advertisements | | | | accepted during the adoption process? |
| make it clear that the agency only does fully open, | | | | 14. Does the original fee amount also cover all |
| fully identified adoptions? | | | | birthmother expenses anticipated with the agency |
| 2. Is this agency easy to drive to from your home? | | | | paying any extra expenses? |
| 3. Do you have a friend who knows or has used this | | | | 15. Is agency a member of the Child Welfare League |
| agency and gives it a very high recommendation? | | | | of America? |
| 4. Are there other agencies in your local yellow pages | | | | 16. Is the race of the child expected one of the last |
| who have much larger yellow page ads under the | | | | questions asked? |
| adoption heading? | | | | Total the Number of "Yes" answers and compair. |