Agencies That Receive Compliments

We are sometimes asked if we have any recommendations other than to stay away from ANLC. I have 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. We have not used these agencies (obviously) and recommend that you RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! 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! This list is provided only as a resource. It should not be considered a list of the best adoption professionals of our time. You should get multiple recommendations for an adoption professional before you choose to use them to help you. Also, please note that many of these agencies specialize in placing black and biracial children. Note It has been brought to my attention that some of these agencies may discriminate on the basis of religion or sexual orientation. I may cull these from the list at some point, but right now, I do not have the resources to check the policies of each agency or service. If you pass on the information you find, I’ll try to get it into future updates. Thanks! Thanks! to Meg Mayo Lucas who actually went to all of these web sites and recorded some notes. Also, Thanks! to Kerry Woodward for keeping me informed of certain discriminatory practices. Updated: January 1, 2009 Agencies ABC Adoption, Lenexa KS, http://www.abcadoption.com/ or, ABC Adoption Services, VA, http://www.abcadoptions.org/ (it's unclear from the post which was used)
Notes: ABC in KS has an age restriction: the adoptive parents must be under 45. Fees from $6000-16,000. ABC in VA isn’t accepting applications for domestic adoption. They only place with families in VA. Abrazzo Adoptions, TX http://www.abrazo.org
Note: Must prove medical infertility. Fees of approximately $14-20,000. Adoption Access, Dallas, TX, http://adoptionaccess.com/
Note: Higher fees, but they pick up all expectant mother costs. They are also open to parents of any (or no) religion, as well as singles. One parent must be 52 or younger. Place children in every state except NY. Fees are on a sliding scale, based on the race of the child, from $20-34,000. Adoption Advisory, Dallas, TX, http://www.adoptadvisory.com/ Adoption Arc in Philadelphia, PA, http://www.adoptionarc.com/
Note: Adoption Arc accepts single adoptive parents, “nontraditional families”, and people of any religion. Adoption Associates, Jenison, MI, http://www.adoptassoc.com/
Note: 124 domestic adoption in 2007. Does not work with homosexuals. Single mothers aren’t allowed in the domestic programs, but can adopt internationally. Domestic adoptions cost an average of $19,000. Adoption Bridges of Kentucky http://www.adoptionbridgesofkentucky.org
Note: Fees average $20,000. Adoption by Gentle Care, Columbus, OH, http://www.adoptionbygentlecare.org/ Adoption by Shepherd Care, Hollywood, FL, http://www.adoptionshepherdcare.com/ Adoption Center of Choice, UT, http://www.theadoptioncenter.com/ Adoption Circle, Columbus, OH, http://www.adoptioncircle.org/ Adoption Link, Oak Park, IL, http://www.adoption-link.org/ Adoptions from the Heart, Wynnewood, PA, http://www.afth.org/
Note: Adoptions from the Heart works in 7 states. Their African-American program is open to all states. They do about 120 domestic adoptions per year, as well as many international adoptions. Adoptions from the Heart accepts single and homosexual adoptive parents. You can’t specify gender. To adopt a Caucasian baby, you must be infertile. Adoptions Together, several locations in MD, VA, DC, http://adoptionstogether.org/
Note: Adoptions Together requires that adoptive parents be over 25 years old, and at least one parent must be 45 or younger. Parents must have been married for at least one year. Adoptions with Love, Newton, MA, http://www.adoptionswithlove.org/
Note: Adoptions with Love has different requirements for its Caucasian and non-Caucasian programs. Adoptions with Love only works with married couples for domestic adoption. American Adoptions, Overland Park, KS, http://www.americanadoptions.com/
Note: American Adoptions has different requirements for its Caucasian and non-Caucasian programs. Adoptions with Love only works with married couples (for two years or more) for domestic adoption. They may make exceptions for situations listed on their site, for which they don’t have clients. Antioch Adoptions, Redmond, WA, http://www.antiochadoptions.org/
Note: Antioch Adoptions works only with Christians residing in WA. Bethany Christian Services Adoption Agency, nationwide, http://www.bethany.org/
Note: You must be a churchgoing Christian to adopt. A Bond of Hope Ministries, Jacksonville, FL, http://www.bundleofhope.org/ Betty Smith, Little Bit of Heaven Adoption, OH, http://littlebitofheavenadoptionreferral.com/ A Bond of Love Adoption Agency, Sarasota, FL, http://www.abondoflove.net/ Bundle of Hope, FL, http://www.bundleofhope.org/index.html CASI Foundation for Children, Inc., Boise, ID, http://www.adoptcasi.org/ ChildPlace, Jeffersonville, IN, http://www.childplace.org/
Note: Adoptive parents must be non-smoking, younger, and Christian. Children’s Connections, Lubbock, TX, http://www.childrensconnections.org/
Note: Children’s Connections prefers to work with families in Texas. Children’s Home Society of Missouri, http://www.chsmo.com/ Christian Adoption Services, NC, http://www.christianadopt.org/ The Cradle, Chicago, IL, http://www.cradle.org/
Note: The Cradle accepts single adoptive parents. Family Resource Center, Chicago, IL, http://www.f-r-c.org/
Note: Family Resource Center accepts single adoptive parents. Family To Family, Richmond, TX, http://www.fam2fam.org/
Note: Family to Family is a newer agency that does about 40 domestic-only adoptions per year. Friends in Adoption, Middletown Springs, VT, http://www.friendsinadoption.org/ Gladney Center for Adoption, Fort Worth, TX, http://www.adoptionsbygladney.com/index.shtml A Guardian Angel Adoptions, LLC, UT, http://www.aguardianangel.net/index.htm Heart of Adoptions, Inc., FL, http://www.floridaadoptionagency.com/ Heart to Heart Adoptions, Sandy, UT, http://www.hearttoheartadoptions.net/index.html Heaven Sent Adoption Services, Fulton, MI, http://www.heavensentadopt.com/
Note: Heaven Sent Adoption doesn’t accept gay or lesbian adoptive parents. Independent Adoption Center, Pleasant Hill, CA, http://www.adoptionhelp.org/ Keane Center for Adoption, Dearborn, MI, http://www.keaneadoption.org/ Kids First Adoption Services, Indianapolis, IN, http://www.kidsfirstadoption.com/home.php Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri, http://www.lfcsmo.org/ Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, http://www.lssmn.org/ Lutheran Social Services of Texas, http://www.lsss.org/children/children.htm Methodist Mission Home, San Antonio, TX, http://www.mmhome.org/index.html Morning Star Adoption Center, Southfield, MI, http://www.morningstaradoption.org/ New Beginnings, NY, PA, and FL, http://www.new-beginnings.org/ One World Adoption Services Inc., Deerfield Beach, FL, http://www.oneworldadoption.com/
Note: Adoptive families are considered by referral only. An Open Door Adoption Agency, Thomasville, GA, http://www.opendooradoption.org/
Note: An Open Door accepts only Christian families. 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. PLAN accepts single adoptive parents. Reach Out to Haiti, Barbara Walker, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, no web page, but there is a blog for families who have adopted through them, http://reachouttohaitikids.blogspot.com/ Shepherd Care, Hollywood, FL, http://www.adoptionshepherdcare.com/index.htm Spence-Chapin, New York City, http://www.spence-chapin.org/ Transitions Adoption, Haverford, PA, http://www.transitionsadoption.com/
Note: Transitions accepts all types of adoptive parents - single or married, regardless of sexual orientation or religion. Vista Del Mar, Los Angeles, CA, http://www.vistadelmar.org/services.php?recordID=4 WACAP, Seattle, WA, http://www.wacap.org/ Adoption Professionals Not agencies, but attorneys, facilitators, or services that have been recommended: Adopt America Network, specializing in adoptions of special needs kids, http://www.adoptamericanetwork.org/ Adoption Choice Unlimited, http://www.adoptionchoiceunlimited.com Amy S. Davis, Attorney, Concord, NC, http://www.amysdavislaw.com/jsp2213481.jsp Betty Smith, A Little Bit of Heaven Adoption Referral Service, OH, http://www.geocities.com/merts1234/Littlebit2index.html Brandon Family Law Center, Brandon, FL, http://www.brandonfamilylaw.com/PracticeAreas/Adoption.asp Cathy Raidna, Grand Rapids, MI, adoptionlawoffice@yahoo.com Hands to Hold Referral Service, http://www.handstohold.com/index.html Jeanne Tate, Tampa, FL, http://www.floridaadoptionattorney.com/ Kirsh & Kirsh, Indianapolis, IN, http://www.kirsh.com/ Krigel & Krigel, Kansas City, MO, http://www.krigelandkrigel.com Kristen Bays, Crouse, Cobb, & Bays, Collinsville, IL, http://www.iladoptlaw.com/ Madonna Finney, FL (ask for Marilu, the "best social worker"), http://www.madonnafinney.com/ Maricic & Goldstein, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, http://georgemariciclaw.com/ Michelle M. Hughes, attorney, Chicago, IL, m.hughes@adoptionattorneys.org Michael Belfonte (our attorney), Kansas City, MO, (816) 842-6228 PACT, Oakland, CA, http://www.pactadopt.org/adoptive/ Project Cuddle, Costa Mesa, CA http://www.projectcuddle.org/default.asp Special Link, SC, http://www.speciallink.org/ Summit Adoption Home Study Services, St. Paul, MN, http://www.summitadoption.com/ Terri Debnam, Monroe, LA, http://www.centerforadoption.com/ http://forums.adoption.com/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Transracial_Adoption_or_Placement/?yguid=124672238http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AAdomesticadoption/?yguid=124672238http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AAdomesticadoption/?yguid=124672238http://forums.adoption.com/showthread.php?threadid=152762http://www.abcadoption.com/http://www.abcadoptions.org/http://www.abcadoptions.org/http://www.abrazo.org/http://adoptionaccess.com/http://www.adoptadvisory.com/http://www.adoptionarc.com/http://www.adoptassoc.com/http://www.adoptionbridgesofkentucky.org/http://www.adoptionbygentlecare.org/http://www.adoptionshepherdcare.com/http://www.theadoptioncenter.com/http://www.adoptioncircle.org/http://www.adoption-link.org/http://www.afth.org/http://adoptionstogether.orghttp://www.adoptionswithlove.orghttp://www.americanadoptions.com/http://www.antiochadoptions.org/http://www.bethany.org/http://www.bundleofhope.org/http://littlebitofheavenadoptionreferral.comhttp://www.abondoflove.net/http://www.bundleofhope.org/index.htmlhttp://www.adoptcasi.org/http://www.childplace.org/http://www.childrensconnections.org/http://www.chsmo.com/http://www.christianadopt.org/http://www.cradle.org/http://www.f-r-c.org/http://www.fam2fam.org/http://www.friendsinadoption.org/http://www.adoptionsbygladney.com/index.shtmlhttp://www.aguardianangel.net/index.htmhttp://www.floridaadoptionagency.com/http://www.hearttoheartadoptions.net/index.htmlhttp://www.heavensentadopt.com/http://www.adoptionhelp.org/http://www.keaneadoption.org/http://www.kidsfirstadoption.com/home.phphttp://www.lfcsmo.org/http://www.lssmn.org/http://www.lsss.org/children/children.htmhttp://www.mmhome.org/index.htmlhttp://www.morningstaradoption.orghttp://www.new-beginnings.org/http://www.oneworldadoption.com/http://www.opendooradoption.org/http://www.planlovingadoptions.org/http://reachouttohaitikids.blogspot.com/http://www.adoptionshepherdcare.com/index.htmhttp://www.spence-chapin.org/http://www.transitionsadoption.comhttp://www.vistadelmar.org/services.php?recordID=4http://www.wacap.org/http://www.adoptamericanetwork.org/http://www.adoptamericanetwork.org/http://www.adoptionchoiceunlimited.com/http://www.amysdavislaw.com/jsp2213481.jsphttp://www.geocities.com/merts1234/Littlebit2index.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/merts1234/Littlebit2index.htmlhttp://www.brandonfamilylaw.com/PracticeAreas/Adoption.asphttp://www.brandonfamilylaw.com/PracticeAreas/Adoption.aspmailto:adoptionlawoffice@yahoo.comhttp://www.handstohold.com/index.htmlhttp://www.floridaadoptionattorney.com/http://www.kirsh.com/http://www.krigelandkrigel.com/http://www.iladoptlaw.com/http://www.madonnafinney.com/http://georgemariciclaw.com/mailto:m.hughes@adoptionattorneys.orghttp://www.pactadopt.org/adoptive/http://www.projectcuddle.org/default.asphttp://www.speciallink.org/http://www.summitadoption.com/http://www.centerforadoption.com/shapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3shapeimage_2_link_4shapeimage_2_link_5shapeimage_2_link_6shapeimage_2_link_7shapeimage_2_link_8shapeimage_2_link_9shapeimage_2_link_10shapeimage_2_link_11shapeimage_2_link_12shapeimage_2_link_13shapeimage_2_link_14shapeimage_2_link_15shapeimage_2_link_16shapeimage_2_link_17shapeimage_2_link_18shapeimage_2_link_19shapeimage_2_link_20shapeimage_2_link_21shapeimage_2_link_22shapeimage_2_link_23shapeimage_2_link_24shapeimage_2_link_25shapeimage_2_link_26shapeimage_2_link_27shapeimage_2_link_28shapeimage_2_link_29shapeimage_2_link_30shapeimage_2_link_31shapeimage_2_link_32shapeimage_2_link_33shapeimage_2_link_34shapeimage_2_link_35shapeimage_2_link_36shapeimage_2_link_37shapeimage_2_link_38shapeimage_2_link_39shapeimage_2_link_40shapeimage_2_link_41shapeimage_2_link_42shapeimage_2_link_43shapeimage_2_link_44shapeimage_2_link_45shapeimage_2_link_46shapeimage_2_link_47shapeimage_2_link_48shapeimage_2_link_49shapeimage_2_link_50shapeimage_2_link_51shapeimage_2_link_52shapeimage_2_link_53shapeimage_2_link_54shapeimage_2_link_55shapeimage_2_link_56shapeimage_2_link_57shapeimage_2_link_58shapeimage_2_link_59shapeimage_2_link_60shapeimage_2_link_61shapeimage_2_link_62shapeimage_2_link_63shapeimage_2_link_64shapeimage_2_link_65shapeimage_2_link_66shapeimage_2_link_67shapeimage_2_link_68shapeimage_2_link_69shapeimage_2_link_70shapeimage_2_link_71shapeimage_2_link_72shapeimage_2_link_73shapeimage_2_link_74shapeimage_2_link_75shapeimage_2_link_76shapeimage_2_link_77shapeimage_2_link_78shapeimage_2_link_79shapeimage_2_link_80shapeimage_2_link_81shapeimage_2_link_82