I Have Selected an Agency with Which I Think I Want to Work

How can I check out this agency to make sure they are reputable?

Since there are more than 1,700 licensed private agencies in the United States (with more than 700 listed as having intercountry adoption programs), it is impossible to stay up-to-date on the operations of all agencies. However, there are several ways that you can check on the reputation of an agency.

Once you have narrowed down your choices to a handful of agencies:

* Contact the State Licensing Specialist in the state where the agency is located. The State Licensing Specialist will be able to tell you if the agency is in good standing, if there have been any complaints lodged against the agency and how long the agency has held the license. The State Licensing Office maintains complaint files as a public service. A listing of each State's licensing specialist is available in the National Adoption Directory Online.

* Contact the Better Business Bureau closest to the agency. The addresses and phone numbers for the Better Business Bureau office closest to the agency can be found on the BBB web site at http://www.bbb.org. The Better Business Bureau also provides a helpful tipsheet on "Using an Adoption Agency" which can be found at http://www.bbb.org/alerts/article.asp?ID=276. Always ask the Better Business Bureau office staff person if that office covers the location of the agency and if their office takes complaints on adoption agencies. If they do not, then check with the Consumer Protection Office in the State where the agency is located for complaints.

* Contact the State's Attorney General's Office to see if any legal action has been taken against the agency. The Attorney General's office is a government office in the state capitol, and you can find their contact information in the telephone book in the Government section. If the agency has a suit pending or if the State Attorney General has a complaint file on the agency, it will be a red flag.

* We also recommend that you request at least 3 references from the agency. Ask them to provide you with the names and phone numbers of 3 clients whose adoptions were completed at least three years ago. This way you can ask those adoptive parents how the agency handled post-adoption services as well as the adoption process. Ask these parents if they had any problems or concerns with agency.

* It may be a good idea to join an adoptive parent support group in your area. In adoptive parent support groups, you can talk with other parents about their experience(s) with certain local agencies. You may encounter individuals who have worked with the agency you are considering. For a listing of adoptive parent support groups in your area, and near the agency you are considering, search the National Adoption Directory Online. If there are several parent groups in your area, contact each of them to find out about their membership, their activities, and any support services available, to find the one best for you.

Other helpful resources:

For information about international adoption agencies, contact:

International Concerns for Children
911 Cypress Drive
Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 494-8333
ICC@Boulder.net
http://www.iccadopt.org

International Concerns for Children (ICC) is a charitable and educational organization, incorporated in 1979 as a Colorado non-profit. ICC publishes an annual Report on Intercountry Adoption, listing agencies by foreign country and giving information on fees, types of children available, estimated waiting periods, and programmatic requirements.

Joint Council on International Children's Services
1320 19th Street, NW
Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 429-0400
http://www.jcics.org/jcics.html

The Joint Council on International Children's Services of North America (JCICS) is the oldest and largest association of licensed, nonprofit international adoption agencies in the world. JCICS members include parent groups, advocacy organizations, and individuals who have an interest in intercountry adoption. JCICS member agencies subscribe to established Standards of Practice designed to protect the rights of children, birth parents, and adoptive parents.

Credits: Child Welfare Information Gateway (http://www.childwelfare.gov)