Michigan Adoption Agencies?
April 6, 2008
Like I mentioned earlier due to my Big Fat Negative this morning, we’ve been doing a lot more thinking and talking about adoption. We are now 100% ready to go. So the more I’ve been thinking about it, the more I’ve realized that I want to make sure we consider all our options as far as which agency to choose.
So do any of you have any recommendations for adoption agencies? I got one recommendation (the one we got the packet for) but I’m a little afraid that us being Catholic might be a problem.
Even if the agency would accept us if we were Catholic, I don’t want their typical clients to be heavily weighted protestant and then have no one pick us because we are Catholic. Does this make sense?
Also, let me know if you have done a private adoption and if you think that’s the better way to go? Thanks so much!
April 6, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I have no idea! But I am sure that someone out there knows the perfect place for you.
April 6, 2008 at 10:00 pm
My friends who have adopted all say they knew the right agency when they found it. I guess it’s kind of like finding your husband-you date around a lot but, when you meet him, you know! Just look around, ask lots of questions, pray about it, and trust that the right path will become clear to you.
April 7, 2008 at 2:49 am
Hi KC -
The one’s I’ve looked into were Bethany Christian (Madison Hts), Adoption Associates (Farm. Hills), and Family Adoption Associates (Sterling Hts.)
ALSO … did you see the RESOLVE events for May? Check out this link: http://greatlakes.resolve.org/site/Calendar/1047214357?view=Detail&id=20001
Anyway, I hope this helps. This is as far as Hubby & I have gotten as far as our research.
April 7, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I know two of my sister’s friends used Bethany Christian and were very pleased. I asked my mom what ones that her and my dad used years ago to adopt my brother and sister and they said they went through the Arch Dioc. of Detroit. She said that she didn’t remember the name but she would look today. If she calls I’ll let you know.
April 7, 2008 at 9:26 pm
We did choose domestic adoption instead of pursuing ART and got burned so now we are pursuing ART. Our story is NOT typical. Be very careful and do your homework. You can go wherever you want. Ask for references of people who have adopted through the agency and call ALL of them! I know we wish we had.
The one thing I wish I had realized when we began was that like anything else adoption is a business and (unfortunately!) the rose colored glasses need to be removed.
I found this blog and she gives a lot of good suggestions: http://adoption2007.wordpress.com/read-first-thinking-about-adoption-in-process-read-first/
Check out:
http://www.adoptionagencyratings.com/
I’ve been polling (for myself) and I’ve heard good things about: http://www.adoptionsbygladney.com/index.shtml, http://www.adoptionadvertising.org/index.html, http://www.agiftofhopeadoptions.com/
Try not to worry about religion to much. The birth mother (that is so not pc…the expectant mother) is just looking for something she has in common with the adoptive parents.
As for Bethany? I have multiple sclerosis and when I called them they told me I didn’t qualify because of that when in actuality I learned that a medical condition is not an issue as long as it doesn’t shorten your life span. Check the adoption rating website and read other peoples feedback.
Good luck w/you huge decison!!
April 7, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I’m not sure if you are considering domestic only or IA, but we used Bethany for our China adoption and I will most certainly not use them again. Their communication leaves a lot to be desired and they do not share information willingly or easily. I prefer open, honest, and straightforward communications and I did not receive that at any point throughout the process from our local branch (VA) or the corporate headquarters. We also do not consider ourselves practicing Christians and this became a contentious point several times depending on whichever social worker we had at the time.
As always, YMMV and the above represents my experiences with them only. I did not choose well or knowledgeably and I take full blame for that. I will research more and ask harder questions when we start the process for our second.
Good luck!
April 8, 2008 at 2:09 am
My mom for the life of her can’t find anything with the adoption agency name on it. She’s going to do some looking around in their house.
April 8, 2008 at 4:07 am
I would choose your country 1st-then agency. We worked adopted from a Catholic Agency in Taiwan- religion never became an issue or was questioned. Our US facilitator was Commonwealth. Check out Michigan’s Yahoo Adoption group too.
Good Luck!
Katie
April 8, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Being Catholic would keep you from being accepted from that agency? That is crazy.