Once you’ve decided to grow your family through domestic infant adoption, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is selecting a professional to help you through the process. Most hopeful adoptive parents realize that they’ll need the support of an adoption agency through the process. But they wonder how to find the best adoption agency. Discover how to choose the best adoption agency for you and your family!
1. Research
Begin by doing your research and asking questions of the adoption agencies you’re exploring. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the adoption professional you’re relying on. Adopting a baby can seem overwhelming, but a good adoption professional will become a trusted partner and will help lead you through the entire journey.
Many agencies offer informational webinars once a month or so. Lifetime Adoption provides adoption webinars at no cost to you. Attend a webinar, and don’t be shy about asking questions. Visit AdoptionWebinar.com to learn more.
2. Network
Besides doing research, networking will help you make sure the agency you choose will respond to your needs as you begin your adoption journey. It helps to speak with couples who have recently adopted from the agency you’re thinking about, and have them share their experiences. Lifetime Adoption Agency will provide you with a list of references that you may contact for this purpose. These adoptive parents will be able to tell you what they thought about the adoption agency. Previous clients can give you the low-down about an agency’s staff, quirks, and practices.
3. Investigate
Verify the adoption agency’s reputation and certification. Scrutinize agencies: they should be licensed, and have professional licensed social workers on staff, who have completed higher education in social work and have experience in adoption. Determine how long the agency has been in business, and how many adoptions it has completed in recent years.
Check for the adoption agency’s Better Business Bureau rating to check whether any complaints have been filed against the agency. You can also call the attorney general’s office in the state where the agency is licensed.
Red Flags
Be cautious of an adoption agency that doesn’t require a home study fee, or who promise you a child before they ask for a family assessment. Also, be leery of agencies that tell you birth parents can relinquish their parental rights before the baby is born.
Regulations and Licensing
Adoption agencies, including Lifetime, are licensed and regulated by their state’s Health and Human Services Departments. They’re staffed by social workers who perform home study services and conduct post-placement visits. Lifetime Adoption, Inc. is a Licensed Florida Child Placing Agency.
Taking the time and effort to choose the best adoption agency for you will save you lots of unnecessary stress. Hiring the right agency will help your adoption journey go smoothly and successfully!
Mardie Caldwell is the Founder of Lifetime Adoption, a nationally-recognized adoption expert, and award-winning author. Today, we are giving you adoption advice direct from the expert!
Lifetime shares what successful adoptive families do and what struggling adoptive families have not done in part two of our two-part series of adoption education. If you missed part one, you can read it here: 
Lifetime baby updates are eagerly anticipated here at Lifetime Adoption. We just love getting emails from our successful adoptive couples! Here’s a sweet email we recently received from adoptive couple Jason and Yava, who just adopted a baby girl:
When you’re looking into adopting a baby to start or expand your family, it’s normal to wonder about the babies for adoption (also known as adoption situations) that are available.
