It can take some time to find the right agency when starting the adoption process. There are many agencies out there, and they can all vary significantly from the size of agency you want to work with to the kind of adoption you are open to considering. Your adoption agency will be a massive part of your adoption process and can either make or break your experience through it all. Asking questions before you commit to an adoption agency is vital to find one that is perfect for your family. Consider these questions to ask when choosing an adoption agency on your journey to find your child:
What Are Your Core Values?
There is a wide variety of different adoption agencies. Some are backed by the government while others are private institutions or religion based. It is important to know what the core values of the adoption agency are as well as the standards that they put in place. Reading the history of the adoption agency and knowing their values will help you determine if you agree with their core values.
How Many Adoptive Families Are on Your Waiting List?
This question will help you decide how big your adoption agency is. The amount of active families on the adoption agency’s waiting list gives you a good idea of how many other families are waiting for a child. There are both positive and negative aspects depending on what kind of answer you get. Too many families can mean that the agency is popular and trusted but that there are a lot of people waiting for a child as well. A smaller agency may mean fewer families; but this may also give you the opportunity to see more adoption situations and/or experience a shorter wait time.
How Many Adoptions Did You Complete Last Year?
This is an important question because it will give you the success rate of the adoption agency in completing successful adoptions. It will also give you an idea of what to expect on estimated wait times and how long the process could take.
How Many Staff Members Do You Have?
There will be times during your adoption process when you do not hear from anyone for weeks. However, there will be other times when you need to speak to someone immediately. Knowing how many staff members the agency has will tell you if there are enough people to back up someone who may get sick or be on vacation right when you need them the most. If there are only a handful of employees, make sure to ask about how they cover work absences if you need to contact them.
How Much Does It Cost to Join the Agency?
We all know that it costs money to join an adoption agency through fees. However, knowing how much you plan to spend on adoption is critical to understand at the beginning of the journey. Do not be afraid to ask for estimates on services and the agency’s average adoption fees for the process. It is rare that you will only spend the minimum amount that is estimated so be prepared to spend more towards the higher end of the range that is estimated.
Do You Take Care of The Entire Adoption Process from Start to Finish?
Many adoption agencies may not have the legal means to see an adoption finalized. Make sure to ask this question to help you understand any kind of legal fees that will be needed towards the end of the adoption. Legal fees are quite expensive and can significantly increase, depending on the situation.
Do You Have Any Referrals?
One of the best ways to learn about an adoption agency is to talk to people who have been in your shoes before. Adoptive families are usually happy to share what they learned during the process for other families to adopt. Make sure that you take any contacts they give you and mix them with your own research that you have done on the agency yourself. Remember that everyone has different experiences when working with adoption agencies.
Having a list of questions to ask a potential adoption agency is essential when finding the right fit for you and your family. Make sure to ask plenty of questions even if they seem silly or unimportant. Being confident in your choice is vital to choosing the right agency for your adoption process. Consider these important questions to ask when choosing an adoption agency.