| One of the most important services your | | | | acceptable reclaim rate. |
| adoption professional should provide is | | | | The reclaim rate often depends on when |
| watching for "red flags." These are | | | | the birth mother changes their mind: |
| warning signs that indicate a birth | | | | before the birth, at the hospital, or |
| mother is at risk of reclaiming or | | | | when the child has been in the adoptive |
| having a change of heart in her adoption | | | | parent's care. As hard as any change of |
| plan. | | | | heart is, it's much easier to have the |
| Your adoption professional should begin | | | | birthparents make this decision before |
| with the initial screening of potential | | | | you've received the child in your arms. |
| birth mothers. Most adoption | | | | A qualified adoption professional that |
| professionals with years of experience | | | | properly screens, monitors and provides |
| will know the important questions to | | | | options for counseling or peer |
| ask. By asking vital questions, they can | | | | counseling for birth mothers should have |
| find out precisely what she's looking | | | | a reclaim rate of around 4% to 6 %. At |
| for in her life, if adoption is a good | | | | Lifetime our reclaim rate is very low, |
| choice for her and her child, and what | | | | because we offer a great deal of |
| she desires in adoptive parents. | | | | services and attention to each client. |
| They should be able to spot from the | | | | Extensive information on reclaims can be |
| outset the warning signs of a woman not | | | | found in chapter four of my book, (ISBN |
| ready or willing to see the adoption | | | | number 0-9705734-2-1). |
| through. It is difficult for adoptive | | | | "I am amazed at how much good and |
| parents to do this on their own. | | | | practical information Adoption: Your |
| The national reclaim rate varies greatly | | | | Step-by-Step Guide contains, especially |
| between professionals and can be as low | | | | the sections on how to avoid bad |
| as 4%, but some organizations have much | | | | adoption situations. It is good advice |
| higher rates of adoption disruption. I | | | | for anyone looking to adopt, and for |
| have seen one attorney claiming 25% | | | | anyone thinking about adopting, it's a |
| reclaim as normal. This is not an | | | | MUST-read!"- Eric A. |