[oceanemergence]

Hi everyone!
I am searching for the perfect adoption agency. I would love any positive or negative feedback from people who have worked with Oregon adoption agencies, Thanks!

[Searching_03256]

Where in Oregon are you?

I am an adoption attorney who works all over the state and as such, get to see a lot of agencies. Oregon has many many good ones.

If you are anywhere around the Portland area or are willing to go to Portland I would suggest that you take the opportunity to visit one of their 'general' seminars about adoption. You will learn about what might be a fit for you and what might not. Many agencies also have their own "intro" seminars.

Every aparent is different as is every agency. Some of the agencies are very business like and some are more personal. Some charge higher rates and some charge less. (It is notable that these are the same for adoption attorneys too!) Some agencies place more children and some less. Some take as many potential aparents as they can get and some limit their "pool" to a certain number. Some work with only domestic children, some only international, and many do both.

What I am saying is that you should absolutely interview as many as you can and find the one that fits the best for you.

Many bparents and prospective aparents are considering independent adoptions today as well as agencies. If you have not already considered that, you might want to as well as considering which agency would be best for you.

Good Luck!

-Scott

[MomofKaden]

Are you looking for a domestic infant? Just checking! We went through Catholic Charities in Portland and LOVED them - can't say enough good things. But when we ended up finding a birthmother through a friend, we just used attorneys for all the paperwork at that point and I would be happy to share those with you too if you are interested. Let us know more details and maybe we can help better! Good luck!

[bocefus]

We are currently working with Catholic Family Charities and highly recommend them

The staff is great, they appear to do a great job (we are waiting to be matched) of supporting both birth and adoptive families.

[Barksum]

It depends on what kind of adoption you are interested in as to which kind of agency would be a good fit for you.

My DH and I wanted to adopt domestically, and we particularly wanted to adopt a waiting child. Waiting children often are not infants and often have special needs, so this is not the adoption program for everyone. We have worked with the Oregon Dept. of Human Services Child Welfare Division and believe that their program met our expectations well. You can call your local DHS office and ask to speak with the adoption caseworker. You may request a packet of information to see if their program might be one of interest to your family. There is also a web site and an 800 number...but I don't have that info. (Sorry, I only have MY caseworker's number memorized!)

We are in the process of working toward a third adoption and have been working with this agency for 4 years. We became foster parents as well, so it's been an interesting child filled journey for us!

[MamaJem]

We are currently working with DHS. We had started working with them over four years ago when we were located to adopt our sweet angel privately. We had to go in a hurry and were very pleased with Columbia Adoption Serivce. They were able to take care of the little details and the tricky situation that had been caused by the "abandoned infant rescue" organization that matched us up with our little girl. (That's a whole 'nuther show) DHS welcomed us back with open arms when we began our current adoption experience and have also watched the details carefully. They are warm but very professional and have years of resources to draw on. Columbia adoptions can also handle special adoptions. We have a friends that are in the process of adopting toddlers that were relinquished by their bparents privately. They are pleased too!

Columbia Adoptions is on the website posted earlier and although they are in the Portland area, they do service a majority of the state.

HTH

[pedpets]

There are so many children in Oregon (and the nation) waiting for forever families. First, let me explain what "Special Needs" means. Any child over the age of one is classified, as a "Special Needs". They can be perfect beautiful well-adjusted infants but are still classified as "Special Needs", because they're in the foster care system. Most of these kids have birthmothers that didn't have prenatal care, did drugs and/or alcohol, or have mental health issues. Birthmothers that keep having children and loosing them to the state. Yes, there are also many children that have been neglected and abused. Some of these kids have gone through things that you couldn't even imagine, total nightmares. Every child is on a case-by-case bases. DHS is very up-front and honest (they have to be by law). You will know what you're getting into and it's your call as to if you can parent the child/children.

There are some requirements before adopting through DHS. You will be screened, educated, and you will find the child/children you so want to adopt. It's a partnership! They will not force a child/children onto you. You tell them what situations you're best qualified to parent.

The cost is FREE! You will pay for nothing (A physical is required by your doctor. Your insurance should cover it. Our doctor charged us $25.00 to fill out the form; your doctor might not.). They pay for your homestudy, orientation class, training classes (which are not required but will better educate you with the issues that some of the children have), background check, and even the finalization court costs. DHS is aware that some of these kids can put a strain on a family's budget. They assist families in finding the resources needed to meet the child's needs. All children adopted through the State receive medical insurance (which helps but is not the greatest) and adoption subsidy to meet the child's needs till they're 18.

I received my son at the age of 3 months and a year later (his half sibling) my daughter at birth. I have two healthy beautiful children. My son developed an eye problem and requires wearing glasses. My daughter is doing great without issues. Both are developmentally on target and are well adjusted (other than fighting with each other over everything. LOL). But that's not to say that someday a problem may arise. There are no guarantees whether you adopt through the state or through a private agency. But at least through the state there are support groups and people willing to help you find the resources to meet your child's needs. I don't know of any private agency that will be there after the fact.

I hope this information was helpful. I wish you the best of luck through your adoption journey!



P.S. The telephone number to DHS Central Office (located in Salem) is 503-945-5909. They should be able to direct you to your local office in your county.

[MomofKaden]

great post pedpets - I am happy to hear your success story!

I just have to add/correct one minor thing though, just for clarifying - most agencies do have some kind of follow up after the adoptions occur - I agree it probably isn't as much as DHS, but I know Catholic Charities (who we were going through but then ended up going private) have follow up and are there if and when people need them...on all sides of the adoption triad. I know they also have parents meetings and summer reunions, etc. So, I am sure a lot of agencies have SOME follow-up, just not possibly like the state does. That's all!

Best of luck to you oceanemergence on whatever you decide to do!

[MamaJem]

Our Columbia Adoptions counselor even met us at the hospital (our daugher had several children's hospital appts the first few years) for one of our follow ups. He was definitely there afterwards! He also handles special needs adoptions and is able to get the same children that DHS can get placed. The State reimburses the costs there too.

HTH

Great info pedpets! I agree, I am so excited to be going through DHS this time. A different experience and different education.

[pedpets]

I would like to apoligize to everyone on the board if I seem to straight foreword with my last post. My intentions were not to down other agencies (private or public). As I said in my last post I'm not familiar with other agencies, I only know DHS from my own experiences. I'm sure there are some really wonderful ones out there, and they do follow-up after placement and are very supportive.

I have a passion for these children waiting (in DHS) for forever families. There are so many of them. And their all beautiful little people who just got the short end of the stick. My heart just goes out to them all.

Anyway, thanks for listening. Have a great day!

[HappyMomAnna]

There is nothing wrong with OUR passion for the waiting children! I am not sure why you want to apoligize for having love---remember those of us advocating for these children are among the few who do---anyone who is considering adoption would be well severed to thnik about these children as an option to complete their lives! If we do not remind people about these kids and the fact that adoptive parents CAN have very positive relationships with DHS then who will?

The caseworkers and the state have enough to do and Wednesday only comes around once a week! If one family considers the adoption of a waiting child then that is worth my passion..........do not apaligize for being a voice of a child who cannot speak here for themselves!

Those who are not interested can scan and look on down the other posts.....your post should not have offended anyone!

Adoption is something each family must decide for themselves the way we adopt is personal. If anyone feels I have a bias I do--it it bothers anyone I am sorry--not my issue. I am bothered by other methods of adoption and would never belittle another family for choosing a way I would not....to each their own and it is OK to have passion for those children waiting EVERY night to find a forever family!

[MomofKaden]

Pedpets - thanks for your kindess. Anna - she wasn't apologizing for passion, she was apologizing for us correcting a small fact about other agencies besides DHS. No big thing, but still, pedpets thanks - I am glad you didn't mind my correction! God bless everyone who adopts - from DHS to private to agency...to ALL who have passion for any child that needs a home!!! Especially bless us Oregonians - HA! So glad we can come together here and have eachother as a resource. And thank goodness we all have the passion we do - I only wish there were more of us and no child was waiting or being born that didn't have a place to call home!

[Searching_03256]

Originally posted by MomofKaden
I only wish there were more of us and no child was waiting or being born that didn't have a place to call home!

AMEN!!!!