[Yavogirl]

Hi everyone,

I've been scanning this board for a few months now. Waiting for my DH to open discussion on adoption. I am 100% Polish with family in Poland and my DH is Italian/Irish. I'm gathering information for International adoption and really want to go through Poland since it's my heritage.

Can anyone tell me about their experiences, good and bad with Polish adoption? Also, It seems there are only 2 agencies that deal with Polish adoption (HA and SM's). Are there any others? If you dealt with either one or one I don't know of, could you please pm me?

I also have a few other questions that I hope someone can help with. Can you still adopt independently with a lawyer since our country joined the Hague Convention? I understand there are three adoption centers. How do you get your dossier submitted to all three? I've heard that siblings and older children are more available for adoption. Would I be wasting our time hoping for a child or two under 3 years old?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions as I research more. It seems like very few Americans adopt from Poland, are there any other boards where people chat about it?

TIA for any answers. We are anxious to share our love.

[momraine]

Welcome! It is true that Poland is not one of the more popular adoption destinations, so to speak. I think that is partially from there being so few agencies and partially because of the bonding time. Some people just can't be away that long. Also there are not as many very young babies as some countries have. Your Polish roots will help you in a Polish adoption. I will let someone else answer the independant questions. As for agencies there are a few others. You can google and find them by typing in adoption and Poland. I seem to remember the Catholic and Luthern churches both having programs. The Catholic adoption center, one of the three only takes applications from a certain few agencies that they have contracts with. I used to have a list but seem to have lost that link. Also sometimes agency's loose that relationship. The private one, I think (I may be wrong and someone correct me if I am) only takes applications from agencies, but the public one will take them from any agency or from a person adopting independently. There are some children under three, and being open to silbings will help you, also being open to some special needs will help. There are more older kids coming home but a few younger ones have. The wait will probably be longer as most very young children are adopted by Polish citizens living in Poland.
Good luck and welcome to the boards!