[azkunk]

Thanks for checking in here. My husband and I are getting ready to start the ball rolling with adoption and I am a bit overwhelmed. We looked into fostering but the agency I looked at really scared us off. So, we decided to gut our 401Ks if needed and adopt.

We are getting information from American and Adoption Network and I would really appreciate some feedback via PM of personal experience and cost. Of course, that is not the only agency and any info would be greatly appreciated … positive and negative.

Having spent a LOT of money on failed infertility treatments, I am almost paralyzed with fear of losing more money and not getting our baby.

Thanks again. I am looking forward to all of the advice from those of you who have already been down this road.

Andrea

[StandintheGap]

I hope you got some replies! We are starting out, too, and I'm overwhelmed with you!!

[azkunk]

Unfortunately, I did not get one rely. I did a little research on my own. One company wanted $200 before they would talk to me and the other wanted $43K for the whole thing. We were totally discouraged and waived the white flag. Four years of infertility treatments and an upside down mortgage has left us out of options. We might consider fostering in a couple of years. For now we are taking some much needed time off from the whole baby business. Good luck to you. I hope you have a better outcome then me.

[HoustonTexas]

We pretty much started out the same way: We went to adoption agency seminars and research the internet. It can be discouraging and confusing, but at the same time, with adoption you know there is a child at the end of the road!
No agency should charge you before they speak to you. Stay away from them. We found that agencies were very upfront with us. We interviewed three. One was a small domestic agency, one was a large nationwide agency and the one we went with, is somewhere in the middle: a large domestic agency.
Pro's and con's to all. It all depends on your preferences.

On the money issue: There is financial assistance available through non-profit foundations; grants, Christian foundations, banks, no-interest loans, tax credits and employer benefits.

If an agency charges more, there would be a reason for it. They may include the extras that the other agency doesn't. for eg. birthmother expenses, lawyer expenses, etc.

There are sites that give reviews on Adoption agencies.

Good luck to you.

[HoustonTexas]

We pretty much started out the same way: We went to adoption agency seminars and research the internet. It can be discouraging and confusing, but at the same time, with adoption you know there is a child at the end of the road!
No agency should charge you before they speak to you. Stay away from them. We found that agencies were very upfront with us. We interviewed three. One was a small domestic agency, one was a large nationwide agency and the one we went with, is somewhere in the middle: a large domestic agency.
Pro's and con's to all. It all depends on your preferences.

On the money issue: There is financial assistance available through non-profit foundations; grants, Christian foundations, banks, no-interest loans, tax credits and employer benefits.

If an agency charges more, there would be a reason for it. They may include the extras that the other agency doesn't. for eg. birthmother expenses, lawyer expenses, etc.

There are sites that give reviews on Adoption agencies.

Good luck to you.

[Calilady]

So sorry. Taking time off is a good thing sometimes. Just know there are folks like yourself out there. I waited too long to have my own. Looking at adoption as well. Don't give up on your dream.

[kbflip]

My Husband and I are in the process of deciding between a few different agencies, could you PM what agency you used and your experience. There are so many out there and so much information that any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!