Adoption books, friends that have adopted, and adoption conferences are excellent resources for learning more about adoption agencies.

It’s important to keep in mind that a book published fifteen years ago may not have as accurate information on adoption agencies as a revised or updated edition published in the last five years.

The same goes for friends that you know who have adopted in the past. If they adopted their children ten or fifteen years ago, the agency may not offer the same services. If it does, you need to determine if those services are a good fit for your adoption needs.

Adoption conferences take place throughout the year all over the United States. These conferences provide workshops for potential adoptive parents, along with the opportunity to talk with many different adoption agencies in one place.

As you prepare to interview adoption agencies, here are some questions to ask:

1. How long has the adoption agency been in business? If an agency has been in business for twenty years, it doesn’t mean they will provide better services than an agency that has been in business for two years. It may mean, however, that the more established agency could have more references for you to contact. Another factor to consider is the experience of people working at the adoption agency. A new agency may be staffed by people who have years of experience in adoption.

2. Does the agency provide international adoption services? If so, how long has the agency worked with the programs in each country? International adoption varies greatly in requirements, fees, travel timelines, ages of children available for adoption, just to name a few. It’s important that you have accurate information on any country you are considering adopting from, including any proposed laws that may affect the adoption process.

3. Does the agency provide any workshops where you can learn more about their programs? Some agencies will feature webinars, which is a seminar on the Internet. This is a useful tool to learn more about the agency, especially if you live far away. Is there someone that you can talk with in detail about your adoption journey on the phone? A good agency will be happy to talk with you at great lengths to help answer your questions.

4. How many adoptions did the agency complete last year? A newer adoption agency will obviously have completed fewer adoptions than a larger, more established agency. It doesn’t mean that one is better than the other. It may make a difference if you are adopting internationally. For example, if one agency has an established program in the country you’d like to adopt from, and another agency has performed only a few adoptions from that country, it might be something to take into consideration.

5. If you are looking at domestic adoption, what types of supportive services does the agency provide to the birth parents? It’s very important that you find an agency that is as supportive to the birthparents as it is to the adoptive parents.

6. Is the adoption agency willing to provide you a list of references to contact? References should be people who have completed an adoption with the agency.

7. What types of post-placement services does the adoption agency provide? This varies by agencies, but may include counseling for the adoptive parents and birth parents, help with adjustment issues, and assistance with follow up reports when needed.

8. What is the agency’s record with the better business bureau? Is there a long list of complaints? A few complaints over many years may not be a red flag, but multiple complaints year after year may be a cause for concern.

As you interview prospective adoption agencies, trust your instincts and use common sense. If something doesn’t sound or feel right, don’t ignore that feeling. You can always get more information from your social worker or an adoption attorney.