[WyattsDad]

As the father of two great little guys born in Guatemala, I've had the privilege of meeting dozens of wonderful adoptive families during our visits and pick up trips.

It continues to amaze me that while some (like us) have enjoyed working with rock solid agencies, others share stories of agency misrepresentation, lack of decent care by foster families, lack of medical attention, and even referral swapping.

Perhaps ten percent of the families we've met share circumstances that constitute, at the very least, agency negligence and, in the most serious of circumstances, physical abuse of a child through neglect.

My wife and I, partners in our own law firm, have decided that enough is enough.

In six visits (visiting and pickup trips), we've spoken to too many folks sharing horror stories. Many feel like their agency has them over a barrel because if they "make waves" the agency can pull the plug on the adoption. So, naturally, people grin and bear the outright mistreatment of their child, and themselves, by the agency.

Someone (like my wife and I) needs to step up to the plate and offer to take proactive steps to root out the agencies that engage in this sort of behavior. If you have a story you'd like to share with me, drop a PM. We'll see what we can do about it.

My hope in posting about this is three-fold:

1. Put unethical agencies on notice that someone with the skill and resources to deal with their conduct through legal action is talking to their victims. Maybe they'll knock it off.

2. Get some discussion going about horrific experiences people have had so they know they aren't alone.

3. Get the message out to those who have a chance to make a choice about which agency they will use and, hopefully, put a dent in the business of the poor agencies.

Enough said for now. As noted above, the vast majority of folks have a wonderful experience. My post is not aimed at the "typical" problems we all perceive (ie. time delays, PGN taking forever, etc.), but the outright mistreatment of innocent kids.