Rec your agency

[nextchapter24]

Hello all,

As you may have remembered a few weeks ago I mentioned I had a meeting with an agency my husband and I were excited about signing with. However, they cancelled our appointment last minute and we have not been able to get in contact with them since- not responding to emails etc. Can anyone recommend their agency? I have done lots of research on agencies but just wanted to hear others experiences. Thanks!

[drl]

Are you looking for local? National? Regional? What's your budget? Criteria?

[nobb14]

There was a thread not too long ago on this- you could probably find some good info there. But in any case, I'm working with Adoption Network Law Center based out of California. We have only been officially waiting for two weeks, but they're solid, and pretty responsive; especially when we were in the process of deciding ourselves, they were very thorough answering questions and patient with us as we chose.


They take care of all the marketing, which is a relief for MH and I. They have strong numbers with placements per year but also take good care of expectant mothers, which is extremely important. I was originally leery of a nationwide agency for fear that they were too much like a machine, but that hasn't been my true experience at all and every person I've worked with has been genuinely interested in us and our journey. I think their average wait time is a year or less, depending on how strict your guidelines are in terms of expectant mother history, etc.

[teraiin]

MH and I are in the process of picking an agency so I won't be too much help. But I will be checking responses.

I will say that with my particular state some national agencies are not able to work with me so that was sad. I had gotten really good recommendations for the Adoption Network Law Center that nobb14 mentioned but they aren't able to help me.

I had a huge response written about my experiences so far but um that probably doesn't really help. I will say that I've looked into Bethany and although we liked them we are not entirely sure if we will choose them.

I'm currently looking into Gladney Center for Adoption and A Act of Love Adoptions to see if they will work with my state or not. Both names I got from an article of recommendations for national agencies.

[jenn]

Our agency is Adoptions From The Heart and it has been a pleasure to work with them! They have 10 offices in 6 different states and our local office is only about 45 minutes away from us. What was important for me was to have an agency that had multiple locations to increase our odds but had an office close enough so we could have face to face meetings if we wanted them.

We also were interested in an agency that would hold our (my) hand through the process. I felt completely comfortable emailing not only our SW but the office manager when I was getting sad/depressed about the wait or with any little question I might have.

We also wanted an agency that would offer as much counselling to the BM as well.

If you have any more questions about our agency, feel free to PM me! I cannot say enough good things about AFTH!

[pinkie]

nextchapter24 I sent you a PM

[lizblue]

Plus one for AFTH. They have been a pleasure to work with. They work in CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, and VA. If I didn't live in one of those states I don't think I would work with them.

I've heard questionable things about Gladney.

[teraiin]

I am beginning to get a little discouraged because I received an email from A Adoption Agency this morning saying that they also do not work with my State.

So I am STILL looking for National agencies that will work with New York State. So far I've only been able to confirm Bethany and one other agency. I will need to check into some of the ones mentioned here and continue my search I guess.

(Sorry to hi-jack thread)

[gnomesweetgnome]

I would not recommend Gladney either. I know they have been around forever, but their model typically looks like baby buying disguised as adoption to me.

[teraiin]

Jun 19, 2015 10:10:42 GMT -5 @bookworm92 said:

I would not recommend A Act of Love or Gladney. Not even a little bit. They are both terrible with expectant and birth moms and have VERY questionable practices that lean towards coercion.

I'm glad for the advice. Fortunately, neither will be an option for me anyway so it's sort of a moot point.

I will definitely investigate Bethany more closely.  They were on my list of one of the few that would work, they even have a center not too far from me.

[gnomesweetgnome]

Jun 19, 2015 10:55:42 GMT -5 @bookworm92 said:

Jun 19, 2015 10:33:12 GMT -5 gnomesweetgnome said:

I would not recommend Gladney either. I know they have been around forever, but their model typically looks like baby buying disguised as adoption to me.

They are shady. They lie to expectant moms and their dorm system is also questionable. Their "open" adoptions are more semi open.

I got a bad taste in my mouth when I found they have a different fee schedule if you adopt a child of color. If that isn't a blatant baby buying tactic, I don't know what is. Blech.

[teraiin]

Jun 19, 2015 10:58:58 GMT -5 gnomesweetgnome said:

Jun 19, 2015 10:55:42 GMT -5 @bookworm92 said:

They are shady. They lie to expectant moms and their dorm system is also questionable. Their "open" adoptions are more semi open.

I got a bad taste in my mouth when I found they have a different fee schedule if you adopt a child of color. If that isn't a blatant baby buying tactic, I don't know what is. Blech.

Oh really? blech indeed. I'm extremely glad I mentioned them so that you guys  could steer me straight.

MH was wondering why I was being so careful with my searching and this is why!

[gnomesweetgnome]

Jun 19, 2015 11:11:37 GMT -5 @bookworm92 said:

Jun 19, 2015 10:58:58 GMT -5 gnomesweetgnome said:

I got a bad taste in my mouth when I found they have a different fee schedule if you adopt a child of color. If that isn't a blatant baby buying tactic, I don't know what is. Blech.

What?? Ew. No. No no no no no. If I didn't already have enough reasons to dislike them.... I'm seriously bothered by their practices. 

That was the case when we were looking at agencies in 2011. They don't have their fee schedules on their website anymore (that I can see on mobile), so I'm hoping that is changed, but I doubt it.

[lizblue]

Jun 19, 2015 11:15:48 GMT -5 gnomesweetgnome said:

Jun 19, 2015 11:11:37 GMT -5 @bookworm92 said:

What?? Ew. No. No no no no no. If I didn't already have enough reasons to dislike them.... I'm seriously bothered by their practices. 

That was the case when we were looking at agencies in 2011. They don't have their fee schedules on their website anymore (that I can see on mobile), so I'm hoping that is changed, but I doubt it.

It was still the case when I was researching them in late 2014. Apparently brown babies cost less. Gross.

[gnomesweetgnome]

Jun 19, 2015 11:30:59 GMT -5 lizblue said:

Jun 19, 2015 11:15:48 GMT -5 gnomesweetgnome said:

That was the case when we were looking at agencies in 2011. They don't have their fee schedules on their website anymore (that I can see on mobile), so I'm hoping that is changed, but I doubt it.

It was still the case when I was researching them in late 2014. Apparently brown babies cost less. Gross.

It is gross. And a terrible way to "convince" PAPs that they are "OK" with adopting transracially, even when they have reservations about it for whatever reason.

[nextchapter24]

Wow op here thanks for all the responses everyone! Gives me lots to think about . In response to some questions we are looking at domestic infant and do not have a preference on local or national