I noticed on one of my groups the posting from parents just entering the adoption process and how nervous they were about their first home visit. My heart goes out to them – I remember it all too well. Rebecca’s father and I spent months preparing our home for that visit – we painted, we scrubbed, we shampooed carpets, we overhauled every closet in the house and even scrubbed garbage cans till they sparkled! I vividly remember getting pulled over by a police officer for not stopping completely at a stop sign – I had gone to borrow the edger... more

Zip it, lock it, put it in your pocket --- or would they prefer to throw away the key?

Have you ever wondered why posting or emailing about a negative experience in international adoption is so strongly debated by those in the process of adopting? Many prospective adoptive families will post to inquire about an agency – and those with past negative experiences will respond only to be “blasted” or “flamed” by those who had a positive experience or are in the process of adopting and it “scared” them to read this. I feel like many want... more

This is our chance as adoptive parents to weigh in and report problems with specific agencies and their practices. Let's make our voices heard loudly, clearly, and in great numbers!

The agencies listed at the link either will or won't be licensed.

The licensing body should be made aware of specific problems adoptive parents have had with specific agencies.

This is a concrete way for ALL adoptive parents can work to raise the standard of adoption practice in the US.

Please note the deadline---January 31.

Please spread this message far and wide in the online and local adoption communities.

Let's weed out the agencies that shouldn't be licensed... more

The home study unnerved me the most during my first adoption – after all I had looked at this person as the “one” who would say I was fit or unfit to parent a child. I think EVER inch of my house was cleaned and my yard looked picture perfect. During my second and third adoption – I had the amazing experience of a wonderful social worker who talked and worked as a team with my husband and I! I guess the use of the Internet really paid off in that case (I had posted and asked about a local home study coordinator) and was directed to this wonderful person.

There are a few things everyone needs to remember about the home study --- your agency may have policies and procedures in place... more

Part of me feels guilty for even writing about this process – since we personally did not do all that well with this! But I know – it is an IMPORTANT step and I hope anyone considering adopting from Kazakhstan does their research. Please remember in today’s day and age – you do not have to adopt from an agency that is within your state – you can email, fax and mail so much – so do not limit yourself to your state in your search. We worked with out of state agencies and that portion was NEVER an issue.

As with any business, you have people who are ethical and those who are not. And although some agencies are “non-profit” they still have a “business” to run – and as much as they’d... more