Some thoughts on choosing an agency:
1. Contact the licensing authorities in the state(s) where the agency is licensed. Make sure that it is in good standing. Ask whether the authority has a complaint registry and, if so, look at the complaints leveled against it. Even the best agency may have an occasional complaint, usually because it was not a good fit for someone. What you really need to look for is a PATTERN of complaints, and for complaints relating to breach of contract, unexpected and large fee increases, and unethical child-placing practices.
2. Do the same with the Better Business Bureau in the state(s) where the agency is licensed. I believe that you can check out the records on-line.
3. Contact the U.S. Embassy in the country of your interest. This is particularly important with high-risk programs. Find out if an agency you may be considering has had problems obtaining visas for newly adopted children. As an example, find out if an agency has been referring children who don't meet the "orphan definition" in the Immigration and Nationality Act, or who were determined to be improperly procured. Always ask about the agency's in-country facilitators, as sometimes well-meaning agencies wind up getting involved with facilitators who are corrupt.
4. Look for membership in the Joint Council on International Children's Services, the world's oldest and largest membership association of international adoption agencies, and the nation's leading advocate on behalf of ethical intercountry adoption and the education of international adoption professionals. You can find a list of member agencies on its website at
JCICS2. It accepts only licensed, 501(c)3 agencies to membership. Do not believe an agency that says that membership is "too expensive." In fact, JCICS bases its fee structure on agency size, and there is simply no reason for any agency not to belong to this outstanding organization.
5. You might want to contact JCICS to see if it has implemented the dispute resolution and registry program that it was starting a few years back, as a tool for tracking member agency performance. If so, it would track only member agencies, but this could still be helpful.
6. Also look for membership in other reputable adoption organizations, such as the National Council for Adoption, the Child Welfare League of America, and the North American Council on Adoptable Children. While these agencies focus more on domestic adoption, they do have an interest in international adoption to some extent. A good agency is always interested in belonging to organizations from which it can learn "best practices" and network with experts in the field.
7. It would be a real "plus" if an agency's Executive Director or staff served on the Board or presented at conferences of JCICS or the other organizations. You can often see conference schedules with presenters on the websites of these organizations. Being elected to the Board or presenting at conferences suggests that an adoption professional is highly regarded by his/her peers.
8. It is also a real "plus" if an agency is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services to Children and Families (COA) in New York. Right now, accreditation is voluntary, and some good agencies don't have it. Still, accreditation suggests that an agency has really thought long and hard about things like its refund policy, the quality of staff it hires, and so on. And once the U.S. ratifies the Hague -- possibly next April -- ANY agency that wants to place children from a country that has also ratified MUST be COA-accredited or accredited by one or two other State Department approved organizations.
9. Become an expert on adoption from your country of choice, by going to reputable sources of information, such as the website of the U.S. State Department. Then, when you read the literature or website of some agency working in the country, you will be able to tell if it contains misinformation. Remember, if something on an agency website sounds too good to be true, considering what you know about the country, it probably isn't true.
10. When you talk to an agency, ask for a list of references you can contact. Specify that you want people who have adopted from the SAME country, and in the very RECENT past. Remember that an agency can have a great program in one country and a mediocre one in another. And the quality of its program in a country could have been affected over time, for better or for worse, by the loss or gain of a good program manager or other staffer.
11. Remember, of course, that the names given to you by an agency probably represent its most satisfied clients. As a result, seek out other references in places like your local adoption support group, and on Internet bulletin boards and listservs. If you use the Internet, be sure to ask that people respond to you through private emails, PMs, etc., and not directly on the board or list; most moderators do not allow agency bashing, because of the risk of lawsuits, and many parents will also be reluctant to discuss agencies in a public forum.
12. It is important, when talking to references, to be very specific. Don't just ask, "Was the agency honest?" Remember that even the most ethical and honest agency may not be right for your needs. So before you check references, sit down an make a list of things you want to know. As an example, if you have never traveled overseas before, and are really scared about this part of adoption, ask a lot of questions about the in-country support you received. Did someone meet you at the airport and stay with you through most of your time in-country? Did he/she speak good English? Did he/she really understand the adoption process? Was he/she able to help you deal with the adoption process, with your hotel stay, and with items you may have needed, such as diaper rash cream? Did he/she request any fees that weren't in your original contract? And so on. If the in-country person wasn't able to handle a matter, were you able to reach someone at your agency? Did he/she straighten it out satisfactorily?
13. And, of course, talk to the agency and ask questions about the experience of the staff. Experience counts. Someone who started an agency recently because he/she had a great adoption experience may have good intentions, but may lack the contacts in the foreign country and the expertise with U.S. and foreign laws. Usually, you want a firm that has been in business for quite a while, and that has done a lot of intercountry adoptions, including adoptions from your country of interest. However, it is occasionally OK to go with a newer agency, where the Executive Director or key program manager had long experience in another agency, then was recruited awayto the newer organization.
All of these activities may seem like a lot of work. But adoption is probably the most significant activity you'll undertake in your life. It also isn't easy, especially if you plan to adopt from a country that hasn't seen many international adoptions. It makes sense to link up with an organization that can make your experience as positive as possible, and that can give you what you most desire -- the child of your dreams.
Sharon