[j_golda]

We are thinking of adopting from Liberia. We haven't done our homestudy yet. Does anybody have any recommendations? We live in Austin, TX.

Thanks!

[Meara]

My husband and I also live in Austin and are about to begin the process of adopting from Africa. I'd love to correspond with you further about your adoption. MearaCDunsmore@hotmail.com

[lishop]

We just brought our 2 year old daughter home from Liberia 2 months ago. There are 3 agencies that currently work in Liberia and two good independents that I know of. Email me if you have any questions. lishoprah@hotmail.com

[redhedded]

I know that you used PLAN in Oregon to adopt your daughter. Do you know anyone, however, in your area (maybe support group?) who used Americans for African Adoptions. We have had their information packet for more than two years; then we adopted domestically. I know that their Liberia program is relatively new (2001) and wondered if you had any knowledge of it. I know that your adoption took 12-15 months; they state 3-6 months. Also, did you travel or have your daughter escorted? I noticed that PLAN strongly recommends that one parent travel; whereas, AFAA strongly encourages escort. Thanks in advance.

[lishop]

There were a couple of families who were also waiting while we were through AFAA. We haven't heard any complaints from them. We've talked to AFAA several times and would use them ourselves. They have the best prices for an agency for Liberia. (We didn't know about them until later, as when we started we weren't planning on Africa so we hadn't researched it.) As far as the time frame, any agency should currently take 3-6 months after the homestudy for Liberia. Our problem was the US visa officer only issued ONE visa from last November to when he evacuated in July. Then the 32 waiting cases started clearing up fairly quickly and now most of the kids are home. The current visa officer is great. You can look into the specifics of that on the Ethica website - they are an adoption advocacy group for ethical adoption, work with Congress, helped us get these kids out, Cambodia too, etc.

My husband picked her up in Ghana as there wasn't an available escort for all of the kids, he actually escorted three others from a different agency. There are pros and cons to escorting and to travelling. I think we got the best of both worlds by going to Africa but not going into Liberia when it is still very unstable.

I know AFAA is now in Paynesville, they were in Monrovia 2 years ago. The director talks regularly to the orphanage director there, which is a big deal that they have reliable cell phones since the land lines are not reliable if they even exist.

Melissa

[redhedded]

your experience; it was so gracious of you. I am happy to hear that things are going smoothly with the current visa officer. It does sound like you had the best of both worlds being able to travel to Ghana; unfortunately with a young daughter, I do not think that would be an option for us. I would like to ask you some additional questions if you do not mind. I will send a personal message. Thanks again.

[starrystarrynight]

Does anyone know of a social worker near Farmington Hills, MI who could do a reasonably priced home study for Liberia?

[corriew]

I live in the Washington DC Metro/Northern VA area. Can anyone recommend to me a reasonably priced social worker who can do our international home study?
Thanks!

[ManyTimesBlessed]

You might want to try posting in the section for your state. Good luck!

[Colorbind love]

Keep in mind that the homestudy isn't dependent upon who you are using for the placing agency. We actually found our last homestudy agency by asking on a yahoo group specific to international adoptions from our state.

What you need for a homestudy worker is reliable and reasonably priced. What goes in the actual homestudy is dictated by the state, federal and country you are adopting from. The homestudy agency will simply contact your placing agency to verify requirements for Liberia versus another country. Otherwise, they'll complete the homestudy according to the dictates of your state.

In other words, any homestudy agency is not especially better than the next. They must be licensed to do international homstudies in the state of your residency. That's it. So, I would get recommendations from those who live in your state, or simply start calling adoption agencies and get prices on international homestudies. Look for someone reasonably priced that you can get along with well, and who generally does their homestudies in a good timeframe without charging more money. (Ran into an agency who would only guarantee completion of the homestudy within 12 weeks without paying an expedite fee equal to have the total of the homestudy itself--obviously we did not work with them.)

[Timyeba]

Originally Posted by corriew

I live in the Washington DC Metro/Northern VA area. Can anyone recommend to me a reasonably priced social worker who can do our international home study?
Thanks!

We are interested in adopting a Liberian child in the DC/Baltimore area and are just beginning to look for an international homestudy. If anyone know of one that they used for African adoption, please PM us.

patxidog@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Tim

[mcsadler]

Interesting that few of us live in Austin!
I would love to correspond with y'all.
I am not yet decided which county to adopt from but am most interested in Africa and China.
mcs4418@yahoo.com