[wertygirl]

They sent a generic congratulations card with THE WRONG BABY'S PICTURE and about 20 of their business cards to "pass along" (As if!) DH emailed with a question about citizenship and after a couple of weeks we got a generic email to refer to the website if we had any further questions.

While we were in process they went from great to terrible- but this seems like a new low. Or is it typical? How much post-adoption support do people get?

[DPline]

None. With a capital 'N.'

Not that they were great when we were in process, but after we got home they seemed to fall off the face of the earth.

Sad. Very sad.

[bbeard72]

We never had a word from our agency once we got home. We got a call from our home study agency telling us our agency contacted them that we were home and that we needed a post placement visit. That was it.

[gwenrenee007]

None really. I sent them an update with pics and we just got a call about our first post placement visit (we used the same for both). It really suprises me, because how do they know that we are doing ok, adjusting ok, have/don't have attachment issues, or have/don't have post adoption depression. You would think they would call or at least our they would call because we used them for placement and our homestudy.

[KJones5]

With our first adoption the only communication we had with them upon returning home was a nice post card telling us of their required post placement report was due. Which we completely ignored.

With our 2nd adoption (different agency), I called upon returning home to see if they needed anything from us. The answer was no. Basically our relationship with them is over. I also called our Homestudy agency to let them know our baby was home (a year after they did our homestudy update & haven't heard from then since the homestudy). That agency also said they didn't need anything from us.

Very odd. Very sad. These people who are suppose to be all about the children seem to not care about the kids at all once the kid is home. Very weird.

[beverlyanderic]

that stinks about agencies not giving support. ours has been great. they continue to answer questions about our next steps now that we're home.

i think it's crazy how that agency sent business cards to pass out and they are supporting you after the process. maybe write on the cards, "do not use this agency" and then pass them out

[crick]

This is why I always recommend to people looking for agencies to check into the post adoption support practices. I believe it's just as important to receive the post services as it is during.

International disruptions are not as uncommon as some might think unfortunately, and I think a lot of those can be prevented if the agencies do the post support along with more education on attachment in general during the process. jmo...

[gibbs7263]

Originally Posted by beverlyanderic

i think it's crazy how that agency sent business cards to pass out and they are supporting you after the process. maybe write on the cards, "do not use this agency" and then pass them out

You better believe that if I got business cards I would write that

What happens if you don't do the post adoption homestudy update? Do they come and take the baby back? Just kidding, but what do they do if the update does not get done?
TIA

[Mindybeth6]

WOW! That is crazy! They called us, to see how things were going, and e-mailed us, and still e-mail us to check in. Once we got home within a few weeks we got a packet from them with all kinds of information in it about readoption, getting SS#, new BC's, COC, etc. Also a list of local IA doctors along with a list or medical tests that we should consider (Titers, etc.). In our post-placements we meet with a social worker, who we happen to love, who works also for our agency, and talks with us about anything we need to talk about. We haven't had any real questions or concerns but at this next one, which we have coming up (our 2nd since coming home) I do have some questions that I am hoping she can help us with. I hope you get better support then what you are getting now...I am so sorry:-(

[mommytoEli]

i got more attention from mindy's agency than i did my own...so yeah, sadly i say it is normal for them to not be helpful.... what motivation do they have....they have all your money already.sad.

[jules17]

We got the big goose egg.

[imateach]

WOW, so sorry for your guys.

My agency has been great after both my girls were home. Once home, I also received a packet like Mindy did with all the information about how to get your child's SS #, passport information, readoption information, new BC and CoC. I have emailed and called many times and have always gotten the answers that I have needed. My social worker that works for my agency has been great. She was available to answer any questions that I had. So sorry you all have not gotten the support and help needed once your babies were home.

[guatparents2be]

hey kim!

our agency was never great about initiating contact but they were fabulous with responding. they helped us with readoption paperwork, got info to us right away when we needed it for g-884, and asked us to stop by so they could meet the baby. they were totally ga ga over him when we got there.

oh, fyi they also have a branch in seattle so PM me when you're ready for your next adoption.

edit:
ps sorry they were so lame...

[Pipercub]

We had 6 months of required post-placement visits (ugh - $$$ They made us pay the full deposit for them up front so we wouldn't just skip out on them.) Every month we had to send our agency 4 photos too. I will say the agency sent us a nice packet of information that spelled out all the steps to file the G-884, reaffirmation in my county, state BC, Passport, Social Security #, etc. (I did have to laugh that after all this process, they still misspelled my daughters name. Brother.) But as far as any actual support or emails....nothing.

The agency did call me after 4 months and asked if I would come talk at one of their conferences for prospective adopting families. I politely declined. There was no way I would go advertise for them.

[cbmstephanie]

30 days after returning home I sent an email asking if they needed anything and the program director acted suprised that I was concerned. They then sent a welcome home packet which I received about 30 days after that...apparently not big on their priority list. Our homestudy agency, which was supposed to do post placement, called in May after we were home for 6 months and wanted to do an update on our homestudy...because they didn't realize we had a referral!! Hello, we had a referral before our homestudy was completed!! The real reason they called was so they could update the homestudy and charge us for it!! I think it's terrible the lack of communication they have with us during the process and then to have even less after we come home is appalling!!