[tobeafamily]

First, I want to be sure I understand how you're planning to adopt. There are two basic domestic methods:

Domestic Parental Placement - where pbparents designate you as the parents of their child. This is also sometimes called Private or Open Adoption, though not all have the same levels of continued contact. Almost all children placed this way are newborns.

Domestic Waiting Child/Foster Care - where you work with the state or an agency acting on behalf of a state to adopt a child whose biological parents have failed. Virtually all of these children are 'older' - from late infancy into teenage years.

If you're not sure, I'd suggest heading to your library and checking out as many books as you can. Some good ones:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adoption
The Open Adoption Experience - Lois Molina
Adopting in America: How to Adopt Within One Year by Randall Hicks
The Weaver's Craft - toddler adoption book

I'm sure others can recommend books as well.

Also, check out the Transracial board here.

Lastly, yes there are nondenominational and non religious based agencies out there. My best advice is to check out the "Agency Thread" on these boards and PM people about agencies they've posted experience with.

HTH

Regina