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Originally Posted by Jim_in_PA
Select your agency based on the merits of their ability to do the job, not because of any affiliation. Kretzklan is correct that relationships are part of that effectiveness, but there are many other factors. Do not consider any agency that is not accredited. Do not choose an agency based on emotion. Interview them like you would a prospective employee. Call them on the phone several times to see how consistently they respond to your questions. Send them email to see if they respond in a timely fashion. Check out their references...both agency supplied and by checking the agency thread in this forum for folks you can contact directly.
Do not sign with any agency before you thoroughly...and I really do mean thoroughly...review their agreement/contract. It's extremely important that you understand the terms of that legal agreement, what your responsibilities are; what the agency's responsibilities are and "how the money works". Don't sign with an agency that wants pretty much all the money up-front...pay as you go is absolutely preferable. Be sure you understand how the foreign fees are to be paid...some agencies require you to carry a ton of cash with you to Russia; some will handle it for you so you only need incidental food/leisure/getting-around money in your belt. (I prefer the latter and that is what we got with our excellent agency)
Be sure that the agency you are intending to sign with has explained the process clearly and completely...this is where a forum like this can help as you can "check" to be sure that you are getting a clear understanding. It totally amazes me at how many folks have to ask process questions online that should have been answered; make that clearly explained up-front by their agencies. Remember, your agency works for YOU. But I am not saying you have a whole lot of control over that process...you don't, so it's important to understand the process from the start.
As I read back over this post...the undeniable theme is "do your homework"!!
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I have to echo what Jim says. This may sound vulgar, but hiring an agency is like hiring a broker. They work for you and they are dealing with something far more precious. You owe it to yourself to put in at least as much due diligence on your agency as you would on a broker you hire to sell your house.
Frankly, a lot of agencies do a lot of blagging when trying to recruit you. My agency assured DW and I that they were among those with the best contacts in Russia and becuase of that usually got the "pick-of-the-litter" from orphanges where they had worked for years establishing "preferred realtionships" with the orphange staffs and local officials.
Well, it was a little different when we started getting our referrals. For each of our three referrals (declined first, lost second at start of trip #1, third is sleeping accross the corridor right now) we were, or would have been, the first PAPs that our agency sent to each region where they were. Because it all turned out OK, I'm willing to let it slide - selectively letting some things slide is something you get used to when you are a Russian PAP.
But there was some blagging going on there.
Allow me to offer some gratouitious suggestions on agency selection:
- Accredited and accreditation will last for a good while is a must.
- Research the agency here using the agecny PM list.
- Research the agency on other Internet sources, the FRUA site is also a good place.
- Ask how many referrals from Russia the agency has given in the past year.
- Ask how many children have been successfully adopted from Russia through their agency in the past year.
- Ask them to put you in touch with the last three families that came home with children successfully. If you can only ask them one question, ask whether if they were going to start another adoption again, would they go back to their agency.
- Ask to speak with three families currently "waiting" too.
- Ask what regions the agency works in.
Don't be surprised if an agency is reluctant to be frothcoming in response to all of your questions. Just keep in mind, the less they are willing to tell you, the less you probably want to hire them.