Feedback on American Adoptions

I would love a pm about American Adoptions as well. We are in the process of completing our paperwork with them, but several people have encouraged us to look around. Anyone have experience (good or bad) with American Adoptions? Please pm me. Thanks.

We are actually working with them. We hadn't signed with them to begin with (we weren't comfortable with the amount they wanted up front), but the biomom who chose us was signed with them, so we became their clients. So far we have had a very positive experience. You may have a bit of an excruciating wait after submitting your profile, because they try to be very careful to seem like they aren't rushing the biomom at all (which is awesome). From the time we asked to be submitted for a situation until the time we found out we matched on that situation was about a week and a half. Her case worker called us and we had a great conversation. Here are a few logistics about them that may be helpful to be aware of: 1) You are assigned a case worker who is separate from the bio mom's case worker. So, if she doesn't want direct communication with you, there are a few parties that communication would have to go through if you have a question for her or she to you (you to your case worker to her case worker to her to her caseworker to your case worker to you). This hasn't been a problem at all, just something to be aware of. 2) When you match, they want the total estimated cost of the situation up front within 48 hours. Many agencies ask for half or a set amount, but they ask for everything. If something comes in less than what it was projected, they refund you. We weren't aware of this policy since we weren't signed to them, so it was a bit of a shock to see how much money we needed to get together and have wired within 48 hours. Most people don't just have $50k laying around, so you might make sure that you have your adoption funds available in an account that you have immediate access to and not one that makes you wait a few days to process a transfer. 3) Many agencies set up a conference call between them and you and the biomom as soon as you match so that you all can talk and make sure that you are comfortable. They don't do this-- the case worker calls you and tells you that you were picked and asks if you have any questions and if you are still interested. You may be matched for several weeks before you have that first phone call with the biomom. 4) They are very thorough about the information the provide you about the bioparents. We don't have any concerns that we are being kept in the dark about anything, because we have a small mountain of paperwork about them.