[Raven67]

Hi all, i am just completing a home study, and hoping to adopt an AA newborn in the next year. I am wondering if anyone here has used Adoption-Link in Chicago. If so, what was your experience? I am hearing that they are very inexpensive, but the waiting times are longer.
Thanks.

[Marfrey]

I checked them out. The fees weren't terribly high however it takes them forever and a day to respond. I mean if I ask for an information packet on October 30th and it arrives the day before Thanksgiving, well, that's a LONG time. And the information they sent was riddled with typos. Granted I don't want an agency spending all their profit on making incredible marketing material but I do expect "pride in presentation". I've called them several times, left messages and it takes quite a while to get a response. The people I have spoken to don't come across as being very professional. They are VERY committed to placing AA children so it's worth pursuing if that is the avenue you are interested in.

[Kara Lauher]

we have adopted through them twice, in1999 and 2002. Our wait for our first child was <3months, she was already born and awaiting a family. The second time around we had a referal in July for a birthmom due in Oct. That fel through and we received a call in Nov. for another baby girl that was born 3 days prior and was awaiting a family. We found all our contacts with them to be very positive. And our children are wonderful!!

[Linny]

I just got information from them through the mail this past week.
They DO NOT allow you to request the gender of a child. AND....they require an $850 fee to get started.
Personally, I find this too expensive of money 'up front'. I know it may not be as much as some.....but to 'apply' with my attorney (and other attorneys)....I've only had to pay $300....and this fee applied no matter how long it took!

As far as agencies go, I know the agency we ended up working with (our baby was located by our attorney via this agency).....we had to only pay $250 as an 'application'.

With the money requested up front, I wasn't willing to work with them.....but it may be fine for others.....


Sincerely,

Linny

[Jensboys]

I USED to recomend them alot. I have many friends who have adopted some absolutely beautiful and wonderful children through them but some concerns have come up of late. First off, not alot of birthparent support for cost of the adoption.

In one friends case, their son's bparent was seen 2x (TOTAL!) and got no support once papers were signed -no real couneslling offerred and one family is concerned that bmom was pressured by agency director - MArgaret.

Secondly, time frame for forwarding pictures/parcels to birthparents is MONTHS. Really it takes like 4months for pictures to be sent to birthmoms -- and when you have promised regular contact it looks like the aparents are liers. That is BAD, especially for establishing a positive relationship based on trust!

The biggest concern we have seen is a recent situation where a bmom approached teh agency to ask for her next child to be placed with the aparents who adopted her first. When the aparents were concerned about their ability to come up with the fees the bmom was placed under HUGE pressure to choose another family (this is coming from the bmom herself - she felt like she had no choice) and the afamily felt that the agency director acted like she "owned" the baby.

I have heard wonderful things about some of their social workers and foster parents as well as one of the lawyers they use - that they were GREAT. But also complaints that the agency doesnt return phone calls for loooooong time and once you've adopted dont expect them to facilitate openness or contact.

There is another, not advertised, option in Chicago and I believe it is called Lutheran Services (or something like that) they take any religion and their fees max out at 2,200$ and their waiting is VERY short. They actually refer some of their bmoms to Adoption Link because they dont have enough aparents. Anyway! Good Luck and God Bless.

*Anything I stated here is just my personal opinion based on my personal observation, please dont let it affect your opinion of anyone or any agency that you havent researched yourself!*

[mommyinaz2003]

we used family resource center in chicago last year.
http://www.f-r-c.org

We adopted our little angel Jordan through them last year. He is African American, and we got a grant through FRC so our adoption only cost 8K minus travel and legal.

I highly recommend them!!!!!!
Please email me if you want more detailed info :-)


Ginny

[gkasche]

Anyone know how to contact the Lutheran agency in Chicago that Jensboys mentioned? I am very interested in getting more information on this program. Would it be under Lutheran Social Services? Thanks...Karen gkasche@usachoice.net

[Gail2]

Hi, We are adopting from Canada...we are a transracial couple and look forward to working with Family Resource Center. Could you please share with us your experiences...Ours will be an international adoption and we are racially open...

Best wishes,
Gail 2

Originally Posted by mommyinaz2003

we used family resource center in chicago last year.
Family Resource Center - Adoption Services

We adopted our little angel Jordan through them last year. He is African American, and we got a grant through FRC so our adoption only cost 8K minus travel and legal.

I highly recommend them!!!!!!
Please email me if you want more detailed info :-)


Ginny

[browneyes3464]

Hi

I was wondering if you were able to find out how to locate the Lutheran Services that was mentioned in your post because I am also interested in trying to contact them too. If you could share that with me it would be greatly appreciated.

[kakuehl]

Reminder... please pm all information and opinions about agencies in accordance with the rules.