When most of us set out to adopt for the first time, we have a naïve enthusiasm, and don’t suspect the adoption world of being flooded with worthless agencies and corrupt lawyers/facilitators. Some of us luck out, and hit on an honest, reputable agency with good lawyers. Others, not so lucky, can get held up for YEARS, or worse yet, never bring a child home. Stories like this are abundant and tragic.

To be honest, I was one of those naïve folks when I started researching adoption three years ago. There were so many agencies online, and I picked one that had a pretty decent website (NOT a good criteria to go by). To make a long story short, I got out in time, and my application check was refunded because I think they were hoping to shut me up. It was then that I realized that I was going to be spending a lot of money (most adoptions from Guatemala are anywhere from $25,000 - $35,000) on the adoption process, and I better be a savvy consumer. I certainly don’t want to compare adoption to purchasing a new car, but the amount of money you will spend is similar. Research, research and research again.

Some agencies have an excellent program for one country, but not for another. Usually a country’s program is as good as the director and the individual coordinators. Ask for references from people “in process” as well as people who have completed the process very recently. Ask other adopting parents to recommend a coordinator, and if you aren’t happy with your coordinator, request a change.

In defense of the Guatemalan coordinators today, they have a tough job. Adoption news from Guatemala is unpredictable and scary, and each new rumor sets off a bombardment of emails and phone calls. If the agency has a parent adoption forum, join it immediately. The support and information on these sites is invaluable. Also, read and reread your dossier guide until you can score 100% on a pop quiz. It will save you time and probably even money. You will feel like you have some control over the process if you understand it. Also, you won’t be bothering your coordinator with questions about information that has been provided to you.

With the Hague looming in the near future, it is essential to ask the agency what they plan on doing if your adoption is temporarily or permanently disrupted. What will happen to your child in foster care? Will he/she have to go to an orphanage or be returned to the birth parents? Who will pay the foster parents if the child stays with them? The lawyer? The agency? You? How much money (if any) is refunded; can you switch to another country (if you want)?

Basically you want to hear what their Plan B is going to be. If they don’t have one, and promise that everything is going to be fine, I suggest that you walk…perhaps run. Even in the best of times one needs a lot of strength, determination, and patience to adopt from Guatemala.

For more information about researching agencies, I strongly recommend that you read here, here here, and here.

For a yahoo group that discusses adoption agencies openly and frankly, go to the yahoo forum, Adoption Agency Research.

For a list of agencies state by state go here.