Last week, we shared step #1 in how to choose an adoption agency that’s right for you: early research. Today, we’re giving you step #2: interviewing potential adoption agencies.
Ensure that you’re picking an adoption agency you feel comfortable with; trust your intuition. The agency is going to direct you the sometimes puzzling path towards adoption. Selecting an adoption agency is a complex decision and depends on what you’re seeking in adoption.
Now that you’ve done some research and narrowed down your list of potential adoption agencies, it’s time to get more information and get a feel for the agency and its staff. We suggest contacting each agency from your list and scheduling a time to talk with them. This interview could take place in person or over the phone. Make sure you set aside enough time for the interview because you probably have lots of questions to ask. If you need help thinking of questions to ask them, check out this post: Discover What You Need to Know About Your Adoption Professional.
Don’t just email adoption agencies your list of questions. So that you can decide whether you see yourself trusting the agency to help you bring your child home, you need to actually talk with them. You’re looking for more than just their stats such as average wait time and the amount of successful adoptions per year. You’re also trying to measure if you trust them to help you build your family. Take thorough notes during the interview, not just about the information they provide, but also on their attitude and values.
After the interview, take some time and examine if you’d enjoy working with them. Consider their stance on subjects important to you, their overall manner, and how helpful they were.
Keep an eye on our blog next Monday, when we’ll share Step #3 in choosing the right adoption agency for your family!
I thought your tip to schedule a time to speak to each adoption agency in person before deciding on one was a great idea. My wife and I are looking to adopt, so this is a tip we’ll definitely utilized. I’d feel a lot more comfortable about my decision of which agency to go through if I’ve been able to speak with them in person first.
My husband and I really want to adopt a child and I did not know that choosing your adoption agency is such an important party. You make a great point that you should get to know the agency and its staff and schedule time to talk with them. This will give me a chance to see if the agency is easy to work with and willing to answer my questions and concerns.