In 2007, Robyn compiled a list of agency, attorney, and facilitator recommendations from adoptive parents at the forums at adoption.com, and the Yahoo! groups Transracial Adoption and Placement and African-American Domestic Adoption.

People have told us that they find these links very helpful. At the same time, people have also asked for “un-recommendations” - adoption agencies, attorneys, and facilitators that they should avoid. In March 2008, Robyn started this list of agencies and adoption professionals to avoid.

How does an agency or other adoption-related resource end up on this list? Mostly, through the negative experiences of members of the aforementioned forums and groups. In addition, some of these services have been in the news as being less than ethical. Unlike the recommended list, Robyn has included at least brief notes of why these services are not recommended.

I will clarify what I mean by “NOT” recommended:

1. •  The reporter must have firsthand experience or knowledge of the agency/service. That is, whatever happened must have happened to the individual or to a close friend or family member. Not, “I read that this person on some forum who had a bad experience.”
   

2. •  When it comes to web sites, having a poorly designed or worded web site won't be a reason to not-recommend. However, if there is blatantly sexist, racist, etc. text on a web site, then I will not-recommend them.
   

3. •  Unlike on the recommend page, on the not-recommend page, I am including why the agency/service is not-recommended. For example, “the agency has been involved in high profile scandals, such as (link)”.
   

4. •  An agency/service will not be not-recommended just because one individual felt things weren’t right, a conversation left a bad taste in the mouth, etc.
   

5. •  If an agency/service has been in the local news as having done something improperly, then please forward me a link to that article. I don’t want to not-recommend an agency just on hear-say. However, if an agency has actually been accused of wrongdoing, then that at least merits a note of caution.
   

I have no interest in tearing down legitimate services. That's why I didn't do a not-recommend page in the first place. However, people have been asking me which agencies to stay away from. I'm trying to be very careful here.

If you are beginning your adoption journey, a great place to start is the Agency Feedback List at the Adoption.com Forums. Each member of the forums can post a message including the name of their agency, attorney, or facilitator. Prospective adoptive parents can send these people private messages, asking for their opinion and experience. Highly Recommended!

Updated: January 1, 2009

Agencies

1. •Abby’s One True Gift, Waukee, IA,  http://www.onetruegift.com/
   

2. •They charge a great deal of money upfront, only some of which is “rolled over” for other matches that never seem to materialize.
   

3. •Several complaints have been lodged against them, and they may currently be under investigation in their state.
   

4. •“They have been heavily investigated and many complaints have been lodged against them. They have a lengthy contract and require 12K at match...  [We] heard from many people that once they take your money they will not rematch you (although they are, of course, supposed to roll the money over). And they don't provide any real services to the birthmoms. Generally they don't meet them and there is no real screening process, so a lot of matches fall through.”
   

5. •Adoption Center of Choice, UT, http://www.theadoptioncenter.com/
   

6. •There are several cases pending in which the agency allegedly circumvented birthfathers’ rights.
   

7. •Adoption Link, Oak Park, IL, http://www.adoption-link.org/
   

8. •You must be an interracial couple, or parenting a child of a different race, to adopt a biracial child.
   

9. •One member of the AA Domestic Adoption group had a frustrating, less-than-ethical experience with Adoption Link.
   

10. •They have a “waiting list”. Instead of allowing an expectant mom to see all the profiles that meet her criteria, they start by giving her the profiles of prospective adoptive parents who have been waiting longer.
    

11. •A Baby to Love (Tina Cox), Mansfield, TX, http://www.ababytoloveadoption.com/
    

12. •Very hard to work with, very judgmental, and if you even ask about fee explanation or if a special needs child may qualify for adoption subsidy she will get very defensive. She also will accuse you of adopting for the subsidy $$$$. We had a failed adoption thru her agency and lost 7000.00 dollars due to that.”
    

13. •A Bond of Life, Zionsville, IN, http://www.abladoptions.com/
    

14. •Matched a couple with a birth mother who was unstable. Birth mother signed the TPR, but changed her mind immediately, saying she had been coerced by the agency. The agency told the couple to keep the baby, despite the fact that the proper papers hadn’t been filed, which would lead to a major legal battle.
    

15. •A Child’s Dream, http://www.achildsdream.org/
    

16. •“They were all about the money.”
    

17. •In the news: an adoption was contested by a birthfather who was never contacted by the agency, although the agency told the adoptive parents all of the rights had been terminated.
    

18. •A Child is Waiting, Akron, OH, http://www.achildswaiting.com/
    

19. •The agency allegedly encouraged a minor to run away from home and then coerced her into placing her daughter. The birthmother wasn’t aware of her rights, and decided that she wanted her daughter back. The agency apparently told the adoptive parents to “hide” and refuse to give the child’s birthmother any information. http://sendevelynhome.com/default.aspx and http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2007/04/16/blog-blitz/
    

20. •A Guardian Angel Adoptions, UT, http://www.aguardianangel.net/index.htm
    

21. •“Their care of (our son’s) birth mom has basically been non-existent.  Their care of us was also basically non-existent, once they got our fees, and everyone at the agency gave us a different story regarding the support “system” that they flew out to be with her.  In the end, it was basically described to us that they sent two random people so someone would always be with her so she wouldn’t be alone with the baby and change her mind.”
    

22. •There is some debate about A Guardian Angel. The consensus seems to be, that if all goes well, then the agency is great. However, in difficult situations, the agency fails to deliver. It reminds me of the adage “When she was good, she was very, very good. When she was bad, she was horrid.”
    

23. •Adoption Wise, aka Adoption Insight, CA, http://adoptioninsight.com/
    

24. •Money is due at the time of the match, and if the match falls through, the adoptive parents’ money is not returned or rolled over.
    

25. •Plan Loving Adoptions Now, Inc. (PLAN), McMinnville, OR, http://www.planlovingadoptions.org/
    Note: PLAN’s domestic program is recommended. However, PLAN’s international programs are plagued by ethics concerns, such as this one:
    

26. •Although I asked repeatedly about all in-country facilitators and staff, PLAN did not disclose to me that they were using a person previously investigated by the INS as someone to help coordinate some  things in Vietnam now. They admitted it after I found out elsewhere.  Although this person was not convicted, I find it too risky that they  choose to use someone previously targeted by the INS.
    

Adoption Professionals

1. •Adoption Network Law Center, Lake Forest, CA, http://adoptionnetwork.com/
   

2. •See our page.
   

3. •ANLC treats expectant mothers and birthmothers unethically, http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/115/RipOff0115152.htm, and http://www.adoptionagencyratings.com/adoption-network.htm
   

4. •Lifetime Adoption Center, Rough & Ready, CA, http://www.lifetimeadoption.com/
   

5. •“They specify exactly what services they offer. It's a two year contract, in which, they give you a formula (of their own design that they guarantee works) to follow. If you deviate from the  formula and/or don't like any of the birthmothers presented to you during that time, they don't have to refund any of your money.”
   

6. •Although they can’t discriminate by law, Lifetime only works with married couples.
   

7. •Unique Adoptions
   

8. •Awaiting information.