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A few suggestions.....
Hi, and welcome to the world of 'adoption'!
We've adopted many times over the last 23yrs. Our youngest is AA and now 21months. I think, while we wait for (hopefully) our next baby, I have learned more about adoption than I have ever learned before.
Here are some personal suggestions:
1. Deal only with attorneys and agencies that ask for minimal amounts of money up front----and I mean minimal. (anywhere from $100-300.) These agencies DO exist and though they may be hard to find, they can provide just as good a services as those that insist on HUGE amounts of money that won't be totally refunded.
2. IF you decide to deal with facilitators or referral people, be VERY CAREFUL. Many are out to take your money, with little networking done on your behalf. There ARE however, a few that are excellent (according to what I have read on several boards). Two that I could believe would be very good, ask for little or no money up front.
3. Many agencies ask for higher fees for bi-racial babies, and lower fees for AA babies. Our main two agencies we deal with, charge the same for both. (I don't agree with charging different fees at all......but it's a fact that most do.)
4. IF you are considering adopting through the state system.......be very certain that you do your homework and realize that in order to have an infant will more than likely take awhile....and may bring about a lot of heartache before having a child that will be 'yours'. Also, if you decide to go the 'older child route', be very sure you do not truly want an infant. The adoption process is very, very different; and even toddlers, through the state system, can be very, very damaged and will need a lot of extra attention and therapies.
5. Check with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys website. Find attorneys in your own state, and near your state to work with. Just start calling them and ask, up front, if they network with other attorneys and agencies. Some of these attorneys will charge an arm and leg, others will charge very reasonably. Find the ones that are reasonable and enlist them to help you.
I hope this has helped. Please feel free to private message me if I can be of further help!!!
Sincerely,
Linny
Moderator of 'Adopting Again'
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