Adoption involves risk for adoptive parents. There are emotional risks as well as financial risks.

There are many emotions involved in choosing to adopt, and adoptive parents often start off the process feeling a combination of hopeful, nervous, excited and other emotions. Because adoption involves children, many do not look at it as "business", but adoption is a big business, and one where a lot of money changes hands.

Many adoptive parents feel vulnerable, and start the process hoping that the agency will approve them and will allow them to adopt. For those reasons, a lot of times adoptive parents forget that they are "hiring" an agency, that they are a "client" and that they have rights and responsibilities. I know many people who have put more research into buying a car than they have choosing an adoption agency.

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that because adoption agencies are placing orphaned children for adoption that they must be wonderful people with wonderful intentions. While there are many adoption agencies made up of wonderful people with wonderful intentions, there are also a lot of people who get into adoption to make a buck (or many bucks as the case may be).

So how can adoptive parents protect themselves? The first step is to understand the risks involved. If you are choosing domestic adoption, learn about the risks involved with domestic adoption. If you are adopting internationally, educate yourself about the risks associated with international adoption.

When you understand the risks involved, then you can take steps to minimize those risks. Remember that while it is an emotional process, that you should not make emotional decisions, but should make smart and educated decisions.

Do your research. Know who are giving your money to. Know who you are trusting your hopes and dreams of building a family with.

The risks in adoption are real, but there is much that adoptive families can do to minimize them, with the most effective strategies being getting educated, demanding and ensuring ethics and making smart decisions.

And while it is important to remember that the risks of adoption are real, it is important to remember that the blessings are very real, too.