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Recent Adoption ArticlesHow to Interview an Adoption Professional
http://usaadoptions.com/adoption_professional.htmlRegardless of the type of professional you are hiring, there are some essential questions to ask before committing to anyone. Most of these questions apply to both the hiring of attorneys, qualified adoption facilitators, social workers and private agencies.
The book Adoption, Your Step by Step Guide provides a lot of information for families beginning their adoption journey.
Here is a list of questions from the book that you need to ask an adoption professional as you start your search for a professional who will become your partner in building your family through adoption:
1. How did you first become involved with adoption?
2. How long have you been in the adoption profession?
3. What services do you provide, both for adoptive parents and for birth parents?
4. What services don't you provide?
5. What are your fees?
6. Do you have a formal contract?
7. Depending on the type of service that is offered, are you licensed, bonded, or certified?
8. What is your success rate and in what time frame can the average family expect to wait to adopt?
The best tools you will use while conducting your adoption research are the notes and files you will keep during your search. Keep hard copies or electronic files. Your files should include all the information, literature and notes you have obtained on the professional you are considering. Keep a list of dates and the people you speak to.
I recommend you also write down how the phone conversation went, did they answer the phone with a live person or did you have to leave a message during regular hours? Was their website informative and helpful? What type of track record do they have in international adoption, domestic adoption or in FosAdopt success?
Working with an adoption professional in another state is very common and easy with the use of the Internet. Don't feel rushed and be sure to do your homework. With planning, patience and the determination to follow through on your information, you should feel confident in the adoption professional you finally decide on. You will save time, money and frustration when you plan and use the questions above. Print this out and keep it with you while speaking to anyone you are considering to use. It will become invaluable to you and your success.
Be wise, take notes and ask questions. You too can adopt successfully!
Author:
Mardie Caldwell, COAPAbout the Author:Mardie Caldwell, COAP is nationally recognized as an authority on adoption and adopting safely on the Internet. Mardie has helped build families though open adoption since 1986. Her organization Lifetime Adoption helps birth parents and adoptive parents come together. She is an award-winning author of AdoptingOnline.com and Adoption: Your Step-by-Step Guide, as well as the radio talk show host of “Let’s Talk Adoption…with Mardie Caldwell”. Mardie has written and spoken on parenting, adoption, infertility, and women’s concerns in all areas of the media. She speaks nationwide to groups on issues of adoption. Contact Mardie through her radio site at Let’s Talk Adoption with Mardie Caldwell.
NBC’s Today Show in New York on Wednesday, May 9th, discussed recent changes in adoption. Mardie appeared live, as an expert on adoption. She was one of the special guests during the month of May. The series focused on various ways to build a family.
As an adoptive parent who experienced many of the challenges adoptive families might face, Mardie knows the sorrow of dealing with infertility including 7 lost pregnancies. She understands the important steps that must be taken to complete a safe and secure adoption. Mardie knows the joys of loving and raising an adopted child.
Mardie’s life work is dedicated to helping adoptive parents and birth parents find each other to build happy families and provide a loving and secure future for these precious infants and children. Honoring birth mothers for their courage and love to provide their babies a more secure, happy future is a hallmark.
Mardie has been a guest on numerous television networks, including CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, and BBC, PBS and radio talk shows. She is regularly interviewed by family and parenting magazines. Mardie has authored numerous articles on adoption resources, challenges and joys of adoption and parenting.
To contact Mardie please visit www.adoptingonline.com
December 21, 2007 10:14:54 PM
