Choosing an adoption agency or adoption professional is really important since they’re the people that will help unite you with your baby. So it’s totally understandable that you want to work with one that is a good fit for you. People usually start their search by gathering a list of adoption agencies or professionals found through online research or references from others. Then prospective adoptive parents spend their time thinking about what to ask the staff during interviews. Since this is a daunting task, we’ve prepared a list of questions to ask an adoption agency or professional!

Questions about the Adoption Agency/Professional

It’s important to ask your potential agency or professional about their statistics, adoption timing, costs, and everything else there is about their work.

• How many children did you place last year? How many have you placed so far this year?
• What type of adoptions do you assist with?
• What states do you work in?
• Do you have lawyers and social workers that you can recommend for us?
• How many hopeful adoptive families are you currently working with?
• What is the estimated or average wait time for prospective adoptive parents?
• How many members do you have on your staff? What do they do, and who will we be working with?
• What are the different state adoption laws?
• Are there any restrictions on who can adopt through your organization?
• What is your failed connection rate?

Birthmother Services

You need to know everything about the birthmother services that the agency or professional provides, especially if you're pursuing an open adoption. You know how important healthy, open communication is to open adoption, so you should ask all about the birthmother process within the agency or professional.

• About how many birthmothers are you currently working with?
• How do you find birthmothers?
• What is your screening process like for birthmothers?
• What services do you provide birthmothers?
• What services are provided for birthmothers after the adoption is finalized?
• How are birthmother fees handled?
• What type of openness is usually expected?

Communication

Always choose an adoption agency or professional that fits the criteria that are important to you. Prepare your questions carefully, and don’t forget to do thorough research before you set up an interview. If you’re considering domestic newborn adoption, mark the following questions as important ones.

• What type of education do you provide about an open adoption to your birth parents?
• How do you present adoptive family profiles to birthmothers?
• How are birthmothers connected with prospective adoptive parents?
• Do you help facilitate pre- and/or post-adoption contact?
• What kind of adoptive family profile or birthmother letter will I have to write?