[JuliaSherman]

Since we've started looking into doing this, all agencies (public and private) tell us how high in demand we are (since we're an AA family). Has anyone (or do yu know of anyone) who has had success getting an agency to lower the fees for them? If so, I would love to hear about it.

Thanks,

Sherman

[Sleeplvr]

I have tried to negotiate with a couple of agencies. I seemed to be close to getting a lower fee with one agency. We had just finished infertility treatment so our funds were low. The SW had told me that they would not turn away a family because of lack of funds, they would lower their fees to make sure a waiting baby had a home. At certain times they have more babies than waiting families. They were willing to lower the fees for AA boys. For some reason everyone had been looking for girls. The SW had me speak with the director of the agency to negotiate a lower fee. When she found out how much our annual income was it was a no go. So depending on your annual income, # of children you already have and the number of waiting children you may get a reduced fee. Also some agencies will lower the fees if there has been drug exposure. I have fostered for the state so I have experience with drug exposed babies. It's something that can be worked through depending on the drug.

I felt kind of funny asking the agency for a lower fee at first. But when you are looking at spending 15K -20K you lose that shyness right away. You may have to wait until one of those times when they have babies waiting and no available homes.

[LisaCA]

hi,

our bmom's agency was asking $10000 for placement, but our facilitator negotiated the fee down to $8500 -not much, but a thousand here, a thousand there and soon you're talking real money .

Lisa

[rebeccasusan]

I will pm you on a great agency with really low fees that i know is actively seeking aa families

[pedsrn]

We are a aa family looking to adopt an aa boy could you please send me the name of the agency as well. my email is cagoku@verizon.net.

Thanks

[mom2khmertwins]

Yes! We have a couple who used to attend our church. They are biracial and they sent out letters to several agencies stating that they were homestudy ready, a description of their family, what type of child they were interested in adopting and the fact that they were unwilling to pay more then 5k in fees. They asked the agencies to please contact them if they had a situation in which they were having a hard time finding a family and were willing to reduce their fees to 5k. It worked! They quickly had the baby they wanted.

I also know that Lifetime Adoptions gives grants to AA families.

Kelly

[Guspiv]

We didn't negotiate lower fees but we were able t negotiate a better payment plan to fit our needs. When our homestudy was ready were werent financially ready to pay the placement cost and birth parents cost right away so we actually asked the agency to hold our profile for a while. Of course they didnt want to and we negotiated a payment plan to help fit our needs and it worked out great. We ended up having more birth parent exspenses then we budgeted for, but that is a whole different story. So if you can not negotiate a lower fee try to negotiate for a payment plan that would better fit your needs.

[Net933]

can you pm me also with agencies that are looking for aa families.

Thanks,
Net