[ndkaff]

I was wondering if anyone has gone through MAPS International to adopt internationally?
My husband and I are starting to research different agencies for international adoption.
Any info. is greatly appreciated

[MomTo1]

A neighbor of my sisters was with this agency for an international adoption. She had two failed placements. She was not happy with them and used an attorney who helped her get her son.

That is the only story I heard about them.

[ndkaff]

MomTo1,
That is awful that your friends had 2 failed placements with MAPS. THAT is what we want to avoid...the failed adoptions
We have had 2 failed domestic adoptions
Do you know what country your friend was trying to adopt from that resulted in the 2 failed placements

[MomTo1]

yes, I believe they were Equador (sorry, I'm probably spelling that wrong), though I could be mistaken. I will ask my sister when I see her on Easter and let you know . She was sent a picture of little boy first. A week before they were getting ready to travel, they were told the little boy is no longer available. The second picture was of a little girl. Again, only a few days prior to leaving, they received a call that the mother claimed the child.

All agencies have displacements. Some have a higher rate then others. You can ask what their percentage is. This was the first case I heard of international displacement, if you can call it that. My sisters friend loved the people at the agency, though. Even though she had 2 dissplacements, she recommended the agency to me. I did not use them though, I used Adoptions From the Heart for a domestic placement.

[teachflute]

My husband and I looked into MAPS and felt as though they put quite an emphasis on the financial aspect of the adoption. One of the first questions they asked my husband was what he did for a living and if we were financially stable. This was during an appointment we set up to find out more info about international adoption. This was also several years ago. We also met with International Adoptions (out of Gardiner). We were quite impressed with them. They were very honest, up front and personable to deal with. We have since decided on Domestic Adoption, so we are going through Good Samaritan Agency in Bangor (which is closer and DH was adopted, himself through Good Sam). We do have friends that adopted their son domestically through MAPS. There were very pleased with the agency.

I know this post sounds sort of indecisive. Sorry. I hope this helps a little.

Judi

[ndkaff]

MomTo1,
Thanks for getting back with me.
I most definately will ask whatever agency we choose how many "displacements" failed international adoptions they have had.
I would be very curious what country your sister was trying to adopt from. Maybe we will avoid trying to adopt from that country

[MomTo1]

ndkaff....

When my sister comes over for Easter, I will ask her what country her neighbor tried to adopt from. She is very good friends with her. I'll let you know after I find out. Have a good holiday!

[ndkaff]

Thank you MomTo1 for all of your help
Denise

[MomTo1]

No problem Denise.... I'm glad to help you.

I'm also glad I checked the country. It turns out that I was wrong. The country she tried to adopt from was Guatemala. Two failed placements from there. What country are you looking to adopt from?

[ndkaff]

MomTo1,
I was told that MAPS will escort the baby from either India, Guatumala, or Seria Leon(?).
My husband and I are not too keen on traveling overseas at the present moment with all the terrisom(sp) going on.
I have been reading, I don't remember if it was on these boards or not about people having problems with adopting from Guatumala. The birthmothers changing their minds.
This is way my husband and I are thinking of turning to international adoption......less of a chance of birthmother changing her mind
We are starting to lean towards trying to adopt from India if we go with MAPS

[MomTo1]

I can fully understand your desire to travel abroad!!! I won't travel either, right now. That is wonderful that the agency will bring the child here into the states.

I know of one couple that adopted from India. They are members of our church. They have a gorgeous little boy. They plan on adopting a second child from that country in the next few years.

Good luck to you!!! Do you have your dosier (did I spell that right, I did domestic adoption) ready. Have you completed your homestudy? You must be getting so anxious! How far along are you? Sorry for all the questions. I'm just excited for you!

The joy I felt when they placed my daugher in my arms was something, I still can't talk about without tears welling up in my eyes. That feeling is awesome! I can't wait for you to feel it!

[ndkaff]

MomTo1,
We haven't done any paperwork in regards to international adoption.
Yes, we have a homestudy done. But, it needs to be updated. It is over a year old. We have been trying to adopt domestically for 18 mos.
I fully remember ALL the paperwork we had to fill out when we started to domestic adoption process "way back when". I am sure there is double the paperwork when you try to adopt internationally
Thank you soo much for all the info. you have given me

[MomTo1]

We have been trying to adopt domestically for 18 mos.

Are you with an adoption agency, an attorney or are you searching yourself. I live in NJ and our homestudies are good for 3 years. Where are you from? Most domestic adoption, I was told take 2 years. If that is the norm, then you are almost there.

[ndkaff]

MomTo1,
We live in MI and are/were trying to adopt domestically through an agency.
In MI the homestudies are only good for a year.
At the agency we are at they don't update your homestudy until you have been matched with a baby.
The frustrating thing at the agency we are at is that the director wants our caseworker to do 4 homestudies per year. Each homestudy has at least 5-6 couples in them. I think they should quit worrying about getting in so many couples and try to get in more birthmothers. A homestudy group is just finishing up so I think the count of waiting couples is close to 30 if not a little more

[MomTo1]

Ndkaff....

Only good for a year. That is crazy!!! Our homestudy cost $900, is that what they are running there. It would seem like a money racketering business if they charge that much and you have to renew it once a year. I hope the homestudy costs is cheaper then it is here. I would be at my wits end also having to worry constantly about the homestudy running out.

Are the international homestudies the same? I have to agree with you 100%, it seems they are worrying too much about the homestudies and not doing enough outreach to help pregnant woman who have decided they need to place.

I fully understand your frustrations!!! With all the new couples coming in, do they try to match the couples that have been waiting the longest, or does it work like the agency we used, in which the birthmother choose the adoptive couple.

By the way, here in NJ, we were told that a homestudy for an international adoption is very different then a homestudy for a domestic adoption. Is that the case in MI?

18 months of waiting is very hard. My nerves would be wreck and I think, I would start to get depressed. I remember each time the phone would ring, hoping and praying it was the adoption agency.

May I ask if you suffered through any infertility also. I, personally, went through 7 years of it before we turned to adoption. I feel, when you have gone through this journey and then the adoption journey, the stress overload sometimes is often very hard to bare. I was at the point where I could not even attend children's birthday parties because it sent me into such a downward spirial. The rollercoaster ride of infertility and then adoption, at times, for me was like a death sentence. I have to tell you, that the minute they placed the baby in my arms, the sun came out again and it never has gone back. My life has changed 360 degree's. All the pain, went out the window. Looking at my child now, I am grateful that I went through everything I did and I ended up with Her. The big picture is so hard to see when you are in the dark tunnel.

Good luck to you and I wish you a speedy placement.