| ost prospective adoptive families, choosing an | | | | that each licensed agency provide written information |
| adoption agency is a mysterious process in which you | | | | to all prospective adoptive parents regarding the |
| feel a total loss of control. At Family to Family we | | | | following: services provided by the agency, financial |
| understand that and would like to give you some | | | | policies and procedures, agency requirements, legal |
| advice on ways to make this process easier. The | | | | requirements for adoption and adoption registries. |
| following tips are not mysterious or a secret. They | | | | Review all of this material very carefully. Adoption |
| can be found on the Texas Department of Family | | | | fees and refund policies can vary significantly from |
| and Protective Services’ website at | | | | one agency to another. Financial disputes with |
| There are three basic categories of adoption | | | | adoption agencies are the most common complaint |
| services: private adoption, international adoption or | | | | by adoptive families. Understanding the |
| adoption of a child through Child Protective Services. | | | | agency’s procedures and fee policies can help |
| Because we are a private adoption agency, I will be | | | | you prevent a problem of this nature. |
| discussing those tips related to private, newborn | | | | Ask for copies of any contracts that you may have |
| placement. | | | | to sign. A signed contract is a common request in |
| For-Profit vs. Non-Profit | | | | most agencies. Know that you have a right to have |
| Private adoption agencies can be either for-profit or | | | | an attorney of your choice review the contract or |
| non-profit. Family to Family is a non-profit 501c3 | | | | any other paperwork before you sign it. |
| corporation in which there are no owners, only board | | | | Alternative Tips to Finding the Right Agency for You |
| members and staff members. Whether you use a | | | | Ask a friend or relative who has adopted. Even |
| for-profit agency or a non-profit agency is really | | | | though the Internet has made the world smaller in |
| immaterial to the services you should expect to be | | | | many respects, the best way to find good services |
| provided. In a for-profit agency, any profit will go to | | | | is through personal referral. |
| the owner(s) or share holders of the agency. In a | | | | Do your homework! Check with the BBB, the licensing |
| non-profit agency, any profit must be reinvested into | | | | department’s website to make sure you are |
| the agency’s population that it serves after it | | | | dealing with a reputable agency. |
| has met its obligations to reserves and staff | | | | Check references. Most agencies have reference lists. |
| responsibilities. Minimum adoption standards are pretty | | | | Ask the people on the list for additional references |
| specific on governance standards of all adoption | | | | about the agency. Many won’t know anyone |
| agencies regardless if they are for-profit or non-profit | | | | else who has adopted from that agency, but some |
| organizations. | | | | will. Get as much information from people who have |
| Information You Should Know | | | | actually adopted from that agency as possible. |
| Make sure the agency you are considering is a | | | | Meet with the director of the agency or the key |
| licensed agency. All Texas licensed agencies are listed | | | | staff members in which you will be working. |
| and their compliance record is public information at . | | | | Determine if these are people and personalities that |
| When using this site, look for Child-Placing Agency | | | | you can deal with while going through a very |
| under Residential Facility. | | | | emotional process. |
| Contact the Better Business Bureau for a reliability | | | | Transparency is the key! For many years, adoption |
| report on the agency. Even if they are not members, | | | | has been approached with such secrecy and |
| the BBB may have had contact with that agency in | | | | reticence. Yes, there are confidentiality factors, but |
| the past. | | | | your agency should be able to be forthcoming with |
| Ask the agency for its list of criteria or specific | | | | statistics about placements, number of families |
| requirements or qualifications of their prospective | | | | currently enrolled in their program, number of birth |
| adoptive applicants. These should be somewhere in | | | | families being serviced. |
| the initial paperwork given to prospective adoptive | | | | When you ask for a copy of the contract and other |
| parents. | | | | paperwork that you will be expected to sign, it |
| Some agencies have specific requirements regarding | | | | should be made available to you with no hesitation. |
| age or religion of the applicant. Some agencies only | | | | You will find that TRUST is the most important issue |
| work with applicants who are infertile and have never | | | | to you during this highly emotional process of |
| had a biological child. Make sure you meet the criteria | | | | adoption. Make sure you feel some sort of trusting |
| for the agency you are considering. | | | | relationship with the agency and its employees |
| Ask the agency for written information about its | | | | before signing on. Afterwards is too late. |
| adoption program. Texas Minimum Standards require | | | | |