Interviewing an Adoption Professional
by Mardie Caldwell, COAP, for About.com
Regardless 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, adoption facilitators, social workers and private agencies.
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. Make a list of questions, see below for some excerpted from the book www.AdoptionStepbyStep.com.
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 site informative and helpful and what type of track record do they have in international adoption, domestic adoption or in FosAdopt success?
Here are some questions taken from the book Adoption, Your Step by Step Guide Questions to ask an adoption professional:
- How did you first become involved with adoption?
- How long have you been in the adoption profession?
- What services do you provide? For adoptive parents, for birth parents?
- What services don’t you provide?
- What are your fees?
- Do you have a formal contract?
- Depending on the type of service that is offered, are you licensed, bonded, or certified?
- What is your success rate and in what time frame can the average family expect to wait to adopt?
Working with an adoption professional in another state is very common and easy with the use of the Internet. Be wise, take notes and ask questions. You too can adopt successfully. Visit www.LetsTalkAdoption.com for audio interviews about all areas of adoption.
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 this pre adoption list. Print it out and keep it with you while speaking to anyone you are considering using. It will become invaluable to you and your success.
Information published on The Rainbow Babies website is not a substitute for proper medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or care. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Disclaimer: The Rainbow Babies provides sample contracts and legal/social health articles for informational purposes only—please do not consider it as legally-binding advice of any kind.
