[sweet1]

My husband and I have been researching agencies and it seems like some of the biggest differences are with the orphanages they use. Is this correct? We would appreciate any input regarding agencies, orphangages..and any relation this might have to the health of the children.

Thanks so much!
Laura

[Marshie]

Agencies don't work with orphanages, so there isn't any agency that has better connections to better orphanages than any other. The agencies work with the CCAA who matches the dossiers of the families the agencies send to them with files of children who are available for adoption. The children you are matched with are from whatever orphanage whose files are currently waiting to be matched at that time.
The only way really to choose what SWI your child will be from is to adopt a waiting child. Then you will know all (well, as much as available) the info about your child from the start instead of it being up to chance. I am not suggesting the WC program solely so you can pick the SWI though, so please don't get me wrong. I have heard of some people requesting the CCAA match them with a child from a certain province or SWI but that is when that family has another child from that area or is from that area themselves and the request is not always granted.
I think that you will find though that, whatever avenue you take, it will ultimately lead you to YOUR child, regardless of where or who she/he happens to be

[twoinblue]

Marshie is correct. The agencies do not get to pick the orphanages. I already asked my agency this question.

[sweet1]

Ok...that makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Not sure where we'd be without these forums!

[Sean&Shan]

The orphanage where my daughter is from is fairly new. There was an existing orphanage in the town but they moved to a newer/larger facility when they became approved for international adoptions. My understanding is that there are many orphanages in China that do not work with the CCAA and subsequently the children there are not available for international adoption. All of the orphanages approved by the CCAA have to meet certain standards. While there is still a wide variety in the condition of facilities etc., for me the standards set forth by the CCAA bring me some comfort.

Also, because CCAA does all of the matching, be wary of any agency promising that their babies are younger/ healthier/ etc. This is not in the control of the U.S. agencies and therefore one agency has no better record or more control over the process than another.

Find an agency that you are comfortable with. Here are some things to think about...
Is it important to you that they have an office in your state/ near by? Do you want an agency that can also do your homestudy or are you OK using a seperate homestudy agency? What is the agencies fee structure? What does their fee structure include/omit? Do they normally have large or small travel groups? Do they arrange the travel or do you? How long have they been doing adoptions with China? How are they ranked with the better business burrough?

These are the factors that should influence your choice. The actual matching process is not agency specific.
Good Luck!

[kelleymac]

Shannon and Sean:

Thanks for the questions. I'm just starting researching and you provided a couple of questions I hadn't considered. I really appreciate you sharing your experience.

Kelley

[Marshie]

you may also want to ask how often they sent dossiers to China, if they make you wait to travel until they have a certain group size and if they make you use a dossier consultant or make you do it all yourself (depending on your comfort level).
If it is at all possible that you may consider a special needs child down the road, you may want to see how often the agency gets WC lists, how many children are usually on it and what those guidelines are now since it is very difficult to switch agencies if you decide to adopt a waiting child before DTC, and it is impossible to switch agencies after you are DTC.

[sweet1]

Yes..thanks for the questions. We live in MO and have been looking at an agency that our homestudy agency partners with....Adoption Associates, Inc. It would be nice to have our social worker nearby to help w/ our dossier, but we will definitely be finding out the answers to the rest of the questions you listed!

Thanks!