So how do you know if an agency is ethical? Here are some tips.

-Ask for references. Any good agency will willingly provide you with references. Talk to people who have recently completed an adoption, as well as people who completed an adoption some time ago to get “the big picture.”

-Get references beyond what the agency gives you. Join a Yahoo group or message forum appropriate for your adoption program, and inquire about the agency you are considering. Families very happy with their agency will definitely come forth and let you know, and families who were unhappy with their agency choice will come forth just as quickly and let you know that as well.

-When talking to references, remember, it is not “if” an adoption agency ever has problems with an adoption that matters…all agencies will have some “bumpy” adoptions…what matters is how they respond when those bumps occur.

-Check out your local Better Business Bureau and check for complaints.

-Know the rules and the process. You should know the adoption laws and regulations for the adoption program you have chosen or the state you live in. If you don’t know what the “rules” are, it is hard to know if they are being broken. The US Dept of State provides lots of details on the laws and regulations of adoption from multiple different countries as well as lots of other resources and information.

-Ask the agency you are considering for an international adoption who works for them in-country. Research that person if possible. There have been many reputable agencies who have fallen into working with less than reputable people in other countries, compromising the program and the agency.

-Ask for a detailed breakdown of fees…what is due when, what it covers, where it goes to, etc.

-Secrecy and lack of information are always a bad sign. An agency that is not willing or able to answer your questions openly and quickly, is a red flag. Any time an agency limits communication between adoptive families is a red flag.

-In a domestic adoption agency, ask how they come into contact with the pregnant women that they work with. How are these women treated? How are their wishes respected? What choices are they given? What choices are you given? How do they feel about open adoption? How do they feel about closed adoption? How do they handle things when a mother changes her mind about an adoption plan? Ask to speak to adoptive parents that have used the agency, as well as a mother that has placed a child with that agency. That will really give you the full picture.

-Get as much information about the agency you are considering as possible. Be able to say that you have made an informed and educated decision.

Continued…