[Dani1022]

Hello, I am new and my husband & I are just starting the process of looking into adoption. Obviously the first step is finding a good agency/lawyer/facilitator, so if anyone has suggestions, please PM me, I could use some help!

Two I have found that seem worth looking into so far Lifetime Adoptions and Adoption Network Law Center. If you have any info on these two especially, please message me, but any info or recommendations at all are greatly appreciated!

Thanks & God bless,
Danielle

[christy22]

We live in San Diego and have adopted 2 kids through the Adoption Center of San Diego (ACSD). Awesome experiences! Now, we're adopting a third child and are waiting to be matched with a birthmother. I can't say enough good things about ACSD--small and attentive, good support for parents and birth families, lots of counseling and education, affordable, best part... short wait time! Our daughter, start to finish was a 9 month wait, our son was a 5 month wait. we know many others that were much shorter.

I've also heard good things about the Independent Adoption Center in LA. We're just using them for our home study though.

Good luck in your search! I'm sure the right baby is out there.

[mmdd2b]

I went w/independent adoption with an attorney.

Adoption Offices of Allen C. Hultquist
Temecula, CA. (Only does CA adoptions).
951-302-7777

Kristy

[Alpinemaps]

My wife and I are not new to San Diego (we've been here forever!), but, we are new to the adoptive process. We're just starting the process, having gone to the County Orientation earlier this week.

We're going to look at private adoption as well, so any additional recommendations anyone has is appreciated. I'm very happy to see the recommendations already presented - I'm going to start looking into those right away as well.

[kamari]

Hi! I don't have any agency to recommend since we're still deciding which route is best for our family. But I would say that before you choose an agency you should decide (or at least have a strong idea) about what sort of adoption you think will work for you- domestic or international? foster care, independent, or agency? which country/countries would you consider? age of child? gender of child? etc.

For example, if you want to adopt internationally, you can't work with a county agency (at least not in SD) and certain private agencies only handle domestic adoptions while others only handle international, while still others do both, and just because an agency handles international adoptions, doesn't mean they handle adoptions in the country/countries you're interested- each agency works with it's own list of countries (not every agency is licensed to do adoptions from every country). So if you're considering international adoption, you'll need to consider which countries you're interested in before choosing an agency so that you pick one that works with those countries. The age and gender thing goes toward that too. Different countries have different laws about which children they will allow to be adopted internationally. For example, if you want to adopt a boy but already have a boy in your home, you can't adopt from Nepal.

Hope that is helpful.

[christy22]

I agree with Kimari. If you do your research about the pros and cons of different adoptions, it makes it easier to choose an agency, facilitator, or attorney. We found that open adoption was quicker and cheaper than international adoptions and much quicker and less risky to finalize than through the county. We had 2 awesome experiences but I recognize its not for everyone. Educate yourself, talk to other adoptive families, adoptees too. I encourage you to go to the orientations at Adoption Center of San Diego or IAC if you're scared of open adoption (I was!). You'll learn a lot! Best of luck!