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Heya Colleen~

I have also looked into independent adoption (also called designated adoption) and yes, though it is quite a lot less money you would still need to take the proper legal channels to locate the bmom. The agency that I am looking at offers the designated adoption plan. Families who are willing to be pro-active in finding birthparents on their own can use the services provided by the agency like provide counseling for both sides, complete the home study, assist in making legal and medical arrangements and act as a mediator in openness and contact issues. Fees for that program range from $7,850 to $9,200 total depending on what services you use from them and as a plus there are no requrements as far as age, faith or number of children already in the home.

I do like the idea of finding bparents on our own and paying way less, but I would personally feel more comfortable using the agency from start to finish. If you have the resources to locate birthparents, then you should go about this kind of adoption. Either way, it will be an experience that you will cherish.

We had also started going to the foster/adopt classes, but we opted not to finish because ultimately we decided not to do the foster/adopt. Yes, there are a myriad of classes from rasing and handling abused children cases and raising sexually molested children to the correct way to discipline children who have attatchment disorders and those children who either escape into themselves and self mutilate or those who react violently and break objects or hurt animals or other people. WHEW!! Way to much for us as first time parents to handle. Maybe someday we will choose that option, but for us being beginning parents that wasn't the way to go. Hope this helps. If you need more info or the number to the agency to speak to a counselor on the designated adoption plan, then PM me. I did as much as I could to explain it without violating terms of the forums. God knows I don't need to get in trouble on the boards.

Good Luck
Monica