Adoption Agencies

There are thousands of adoption agencies....where in the world do I start? How do I know who is good?

The first thing is to listen to others and ask around. It is not a guarantee that because someone says an agency is good, that it really is. Are your expectations the same as another person's? How much times has lapsed between the referral's adoption and when you are starting (agencies performances can change).

Check the Better Business Bureau and Attorney General for complaints filed. Use search engines to look up the agencies online, for feedback.

Use checklists to thoroughly look at agencies. A good website is:
Adoption Agency Checklist

Next check agency rating websites. Here are some good ones.
Adoption Agency Ratings
Adoption Agency Reviews

There are private groups that share their feelings regarding agencies as well:
yahoo adoption agency rating group

Ethica does a good job explaining what to look for too
Ethica

One thing to remember is that there will always be complaints. As the parent, it is hard to "sit in the passenger seat, while the agency and/or lawyer drives the car" (although we know God is in control) Look for red flags, repeated complaints across the board. Also keep in mind that people who are angry at an agency might use various names on the same website to post multiple complaints. On the flip side, sometimes agencies report good claims about themselves. Just educate yourself before making the decision, then trust God to carry you through!