new to adoption

Hi, and welcome to the world of 'adoption'! We've adopted many times over the last 23yrs. Our youngest is AA and now 21months. I think, while we wait for (hopefully) our next baby, I have learned more about adoption than I have ever learned before. Here are some personal suggestions: 1. Deal only with attorneys and agencies that ask for minimal amounts of money up front----and I mean minimal. (anywhere from $100-300.) These agencies DO exist and though they may be hard to find, they can provide just as good a services as those that insist on HUGE amounts of money that won't be totally refunded. 2. IF you decide to deal with facilitators or referral people, be VERY CAREFUL. Many are out to take your money, with little networking done on your behalf. There ARE however, a few that are excellent (according to what I have read on several boards). Two that I could believe would be very good, ask for little or no money up front. 3. Many agencies ask for higher fees for bi-racial babies, and lower fees for AA babies. Our main two agencies we deal with, charge the same for both. (I don't agree with charging different fees at all......but it's a fact that most do.) 4. IF you are considering adopting through the state system.......be very certain that you do your homework and realize that in order to have an infant will more than likely take awhile....and may bring about a lot of heartache before having a child that will be 'yours'. Also, if you decide to go the 'older child route', be very sure you do not truly want an infant. The adoption process is very, very different; and even toddlers, through the state system, can be very, very damaged and will need a lot of extra attention and therapies. 5. Check with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys website. Find attorneys in your own state, and near your state to work with. Just start calling them and ask, up front, if they network with other attorneys and agencies. Some of these attorneys will charge an arm and leg, others will charge very reasonably. Find the ones that are reasonable and enlist them to help you. I hope this has helped. Please feel free to private message me if I can be of further help!!! Sincerely, Linny Moderator of 'Adopting Again'

Hi!Welcome! We adopted Bella through Bethany Chrsitian Services last year. If you are fairly active in your church, they are a great agency to go through! You can reach them through their site.Best of luck and hope to see more posts from you soon!Sarah

Hi, We're also an interracial couple and we adopted immediately after our homestudy was completed. They BEG practically for couples like us because so many birthmothers prefer an interracial couple for their biracial or AA child. We adopted a gorgeous newborn boy last year who was biracial. I wouldn't recommend the agency, but Heaven Sent is a referral service and focuses primarily on placing AA or biracial children. Sheila who runs the business is very sweet and she called us all the time with situations but we weren't quite ready since we were moving and as soon as we moved, we got a call from this other agency. Anyway, try Heaven Sent and I heard TLCAdoptions in Utah is good. Stay away from facilitators, you have the upper hand and will have no problem adopting very quickly like we did, so be more selective on the agency you work with. Best of luck! :)