| There are many wonderful adoption professionals | | | | adoption plan; so that you are not limited by the |
| and agencies who work very hard to help families | | | | limitations of a specific adoption agency or adoption |
| successfully adopt a baby or child. There are also | | | | attorney. |
| many, however, that don't quite give you the "full | | | | Your adoption plan should indicate the baby you |
| picture" of their services. What would you say if you | | | | would like to adopt; what kind of risks you are willing |
| knew an adoption agency only successfully located | | | | to take, the level of openness you are comfortable |
| 20 birth mothers a year; but had 200 families waiting | | | | with between your family and the birth mother, |
| to adopt a child? Chances are, you would want to | | | | among other things. Create your adoption plan prior |
| look for an agency that limits the number of families | | | | to choosing an adoption professional to work with, |
| on the waiting list to a more reasonable number in | | | | so that you can determine whether or not the |
| comparison to the number of adoptions they handle | | | | agency or professional is willing to work within your |
| each year otherwise you can expect to wait years | | | | plan and help you find a suitable match. |
| needlessly to adopt. | | | | You will want to consider the fact that each adoption |
| Many adoption agencies and professionals do not | | | | professional you consider hiring has a lot to gain |
| spend much time getting their name out there to | | | | financially by having you sign up for their adoption |
| mothers who may be looking to put their babies up | | | | program - even if their program is not the best fit |
| for adoption. In other words, they hang a sign | | | | for you. That is why it is so important for you to |
| outside their shop and hope the mothers find them. | | | | seek knowledge and define your goals before you |
| This is not a problem as long as it is clearly explained | | | | spend large sums of money. |
| to potential clients. With that knowledge, hopeful | | | | When a family looking to adopt a child signs up with |
| adoptive parents can do a couple of things to react | | | | the wrong adoption professional, there is a strong |
| to the situation and expedite their adoption. They can | | | | possibility that the family will spend years on a |
| hire an adoption agency that does provide outreach | | | | waiting list, without a child. In some cases, families |
| services, they can continue to work with the agency | | | | feel they are judged for having limits to the type of |
| but conduct their own search for a birth mother or | | | | adoption situation they feel comfortable with- and |
| they can hire a professional whose sole purpose is to | | | | are pushed into accepting high risk adoption situations. |
| help locate a birth mother. | | | | It's important that you find an adoption professional |
| There are more options available to the family looking | | | | who knows your personal adoption goals, and is not |
| to adopt a child than most people think. It's up to | | | | only supportive of them; but will help you successfully |
| you to do some research in order to find an adoption | | | | adopt a child in a reasonable time frame. |
| professional that will work within your personal | | | | |