[tobeafamily]

Judy,

Agencies and attorneys can and do help search for pbparents in Virginia, they just don't charge for doing this.

The agency we used is quite connected and gets many referrals from hospitals, SWs, school counselors, crisis lines, etc. of pbfamilies considering making an adoption plan.

Whether it's adoption-friendly or not I guess depends on your point of view. From a pbparent perspective, there is no immediate irrovacable relinquishment, rather there is a post-signature period where they can reclaim. For them, that's friendly. Paparents aren't as fond of it though as in other states were TPRs are irrovacable after signature.

Aparents like that there's only one court appearance, none needed for finalization.

Same with payment for connection services - there's no profit motive which can be both good and bad. On one hand, it keeps costs down along with a host of other problems - such as inexperienced or downright fraudulent people offering services. On the other, there's fewer people out there looking on your behalf.

Also remember laws change - by the time you get to Virginia things may very well be different. As I've told many a non-licensed individual and many paparents bemoaning lack of 'facilitator' services, if you don't like the law, lobby the state legislature to change it.

HTH,

Regina, AMom to Ryan Joshua Thomas