Below are some common questions that I think are good to ask when interviewing a domestic agency for newborn adoptions. Remember to ask any question that comes to your mind because there are no silly questions. This is a confusing process and you are investing a lot of time, money and heart into it. If you choose to use an agency for your adoption you need to make sure that it’s one that you fully trust.
How many babies were placed last year?
How many of those were [the race you are interested in]?
On average, how long do couples wait to adopt?
How long has the longest waiting couple been waiting? Why?
Can I request a specific gender?
How far along in the pregnancy can the Birthmother be when she can first view profiles of potential adoptive parents?
Once my file is active, can Birthparents view my profile right away or is there a waiting list? Do I need to wait for longer waiting couples to be matched before I can be considered by Birthparents?
How much openess between Birthparents and Adoptive couples does your agency recommend? Do you do fully open adoptions or semi-open adoptions?
How is communication with the Birthparents handled? Is all communication through the agency or can I talk to the Birthparents directly?
Is your agency connected to a particular faith? If so, what criteria must I meet to be accepted as a client?
What is your agency fee? What does that not include (such as Birthmother expenses, legal fees, hospital charges, homestudy, etc.)?
How is the money paid to you? One fee up front and the remainder at placement or when I am matched? Or is there a monthly fee once my file is active?
How do you advertise for Birthmothers? If you do online advertising, is my profile website included in your fee? Do you provide a website designer or must I do it myself?
If the Birthparents we are matched with decide to parent, what happens to the money I have invested up to that point? Will there be fees that I lose or is the money carried over to the next potential adoption situation?
Where do your adoption finalizations take place? Does it need to be in the state of the child’s birth or where I live?
Do I need to travel to your agency for any pre-adoption seminars before having my profile active?
What kind of contact with the Birthparents is required post-placement?
Danielle I. Pennel
Three Yellow Roses
