Recommend your national agency

[badgergirl66]

Or one that works well with out if state people.

We are working with an agency and have been waiting 7 months now. I want to know what other options we have. No one has been matched (based on the website) in 3 months. There were 5 families when we started and it's up to 15 now.

Thanks!

[drl]

Did they give a typical wait time? 7 months doesn't sound outrageous. But if you have other reasons to explore your options, we worked with Adoptions From the Heart

[lizblue]

We are also working with Adoptions From the Heart for our DIA. They did approximately 150 placements last year. They work in NY, CT, NJ, PA, DE, VA, with multiple offices in each state.

[nobb14]

I'm gonna sound like a broken record, but... Adoption Network Law Center. Love them.

However, 7 months isn't that long to have been waiting. You could be looking at that wait with any agency, and I would be wary of any that brag about an extremely quick turn around rate; that would suggest to me they don't offer great care of expectant/birth mothers. Your wait is also dependent your openness with the health, race, and sex "criteria" of your future child. I hate putting it that was because it sounds so gross and petty, but sadly, it's true.

[lizblue]

I don't think seven months is a long time to wait for a healthy infant with no special needs. The no placements/matches in three months would worry me. And the fact that the waiting list seems to be way out pacing the placement rate.

Working with that small of a pool also indicates that their marketing and advertisement budget is most likely small which also makes for a longer wait (fewer birth moms are finding their way to that agency).

badgergirl66, Have you brought your concerns to your SW? What are their thoughts? Do you like your agency otherwise?

Best of luck.

[pinkie]

Whereas 7 months is not a long wait, the lack of placements and addition of adoptive families to the pool would be very worrisome to me too! Check your pm's.

[alaskadee]

Broken record here too..ANLC! Love them! I agree with the pp about the placements...I know that ANLC had 50 matches in the first 7 weeks of 2015.

[badgergirl66]

I'm not concerned about 7 months. It's more that they've added 3x the couples and not had a single match in 3-4 months.

I appreciate all the advice and recommendations!

[badgergirl66]

Jun 23, 2015 12:19:12 GMT -5 pinkie said:

Whereas 7 months is not a long wait, the lack of placements and addition of adoptive families to the pool would be very worrisome to me too! Check your pm's.

This is where I am. The 7 months is fine. I expected that. I'm not expecting a different agency to move faster than that. But the adding so many new people and lack of matches had me wanting to know options.

[badgergirl66]

Jun 23, 2015 11:40:30 GMT -5 lizblue said:

I don't think seven months is a long time to wait for a healthy infant with no special needs. The no placements/matches in three months would worry me. And the fact that the waiting list seems to be way out pacing the placement rate.

Working with that small of a pool also indicates that their marketing and advertisement budget is most likely small which also makes for a longer wait (fewer birth moms are finding their way to that agency).

badgergirl66, Have you brought your concerns to your SW? What are their thoughts? Do you like your agency otherwise?

Best of luck.

I did. But I didn't word it well. She kind of went off on why we were still waiting. Which is fine. But why is EVERYONE still waiting for months with no matches. I'll follow up and try to be more specific in that I'm not asking about myself. But really quiz on the amount of matches in the last few months.

Also, 2 couples have been moved to match then back to waiting in the last 1-2 months. I know it happens. But to have 2 that close together.

Note: I'm not unhappy with the agency. I loved our social worker. I just would feel better getting other information. Especially since we are in a 30 day state (Wisconsin).

[badgergirl66]

Jun 24, 2015 0:22:49 GMT -5 @bookworm92 said:

It sounds like expectant moms are bailing on the agency. Do you mind sharing which one it is? I may be able to offer more insight

Sending a PM now.

[katelm]

Do any of you have experience with AdoptHelp?

[lbey]

I am working with Bethany Christian Services. Although I am going for Foster to Adopt, I know they are great with infant adoption and offer really good support to adoptive families and expecting/ birth moms.
I learned it is extremely important to work with an agency that offer a good support system for both sides.