Considering adoption?
5 questions to ask an adoption agency

If you’re pregnant and considering pacing your baby for adoption, you’re going to have a lot of questions. You can answer most of the basic questions with a little bit of Internet research, but it’s always better to get your questions answered by a real live person.

Call your local adoption agencies and ask questions – not just about the process, but about the agency. You’ll want to choose an adoption agency with experienced staff who can support you throughout the adoption process. Choosing an agency that has your best interest at heart is incredibly important.

We know it’s an overwhelming process, so we’ve put together 5 important questions to ask when you’re trying to choose an adoption agency:

1) What kind of support do you offer throughout the process?

Adoption is an emotional process – all the way through. As you make these big decisions for yourself and your baby, you’re going to need support for the range of emotions you’re going to experience. Ask if the agency’s staff will be fully available throughout the process – even on nights and weekends, and after the adoption is complete.

2) Do you handle open adoptions?

Open adoptions are more common than ever before. If you’d like to stay in contact with the adoptive family and your baby, the agency will explain how open adoptions work – as well as help you choose the level of openness and and communication you’d like with your child’s adoptive family.

3) What kinds of adoptive parents do you work with?

Once you’ve chosen an adoption agency to work with, you’ll have to choose the adoptive family to place your baby with. Ask about the types of families the agency works with. Ask about the interview, screening, and selection process. Don’t forget to ask how you’ll be matched with waiting families. Knowing the types of families an agency works with and how they’re chosen can help you feel comfortable with the agency you choose.

4) How much control will you have over the process?

It’s your baby and your choice – you should have the right to control almost every part of the adoption process if you choose the right agency. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions about the process. Find out if you’ll be able to choose your baby’s adoptive family, how much contact you’ll have with the family during the adoption process, or any other elements of the process you’d like to know about.

5) Can I speak to a few references?

There’s no better way to understand what the experience of working with an adoption agency is like than to talk to other women who have placed their children through that agency. Ask for a few birth mothers who have worked with the agency, and even a few families who have adopted, who would be willing to talk to you about their experiences.

If you’re pregnant and considering adoption, it’s important to choose an adoption agency you feel comfortable with. We’re here to help answer any questions you might have – call us at (972) 491-3333 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.