[sak9645]

One thing to do is to contact the U.S. Embassy in Kaz, and ask questions like, "Have these agencies had any visas denied because the children did not qualify for immigration or because of suspected irregularities in the adoption process?" and "Have you had any issues related to these agencies' in-country facilitators?"

Another thing to do is to ask each agency how many Kaz adoptions they have completed. Experience counts. An agency that has successfully brought home a lot of children is usually going to be a better choice than an agency that is relatively new or that has had a Kaz program for only a short time.

Still another thing to do is to check whether the agencies are members of the Joint Council on International Children's Services. JCICS is the world's oldest and largest membership association of international adoption agencies, and a major advocate for ethical conduct in international adoption and for the inservice education of adoption professionals. Don't let an agency say, "We can't afford it," as the dues depend on agency size and are not prohibitive, even for small agencies.

Membership in other respected adoption advocacy organizations, such as the National Council for Adoption, the Child Welfare League of America, etc. is also positive, although none of these organizations does as much in international adoption as JCICS.

Even better, see if the agency Exec. Dir. and/or key employees have been presenters at the conferences of these adoption advocacy organizations, or have served on their Boards of Directors. This is usually a sign that the people are well-respected professionals in the adoption field.

Check with the licensing authorities in the state(s) in which each agency is licensed. The licensing authorities can tell you if an agency is in good standing, has ever lost its license, etc. Most also have a complaint registry that you can access. While virtually all agencies will receive a complaint at some time or another, often because they simply weren't a good fit for some family, you can see if there is a PATTERN of complaints or especially significant complaints -- for example, about financial or ethical misconduct.

You can also contact the Better Business Bureau for each state in which an agency is licensed, and see what information it can give you about the agencies.

And, as you are doing, be sure to contact references. Start with people on reference lists provided by the agencies. Make sure that the people have adopted RECENTLY, since agency programs can improve or deteriorate over time, and from the SAME country, since an agency can have a great program in one country, but a mediocre one in another.

But do go beyond references provided from the agency. Agencies will generally give you only the names of their most satisfied clients. Look for people in your local adoption support group, as well as on-line.

When you talk to references, be very specific in your questions. Remember that even an honest, ethical agency may not meet your specific needs. As an example, if you have never traveled overseas before, and are a little scared about doing so, be sure to ask lots of questions about the in-country support. You will want an agency that provides English-speaking guide/translators who will be with you every step of the way and who really understand the adoption and immigration process. Someone who has already adopted once, and who is an experienced traveler, may not need this level of support, and may like an agency even though it leaves families more "on their own" in-country.

These are just a few ideas. I'm sure that other people on this board can recommend others.

Sharon