Questions to Ask When Hiring An Adoption Consultant

There are a lot of critical decisions to make when it comes to adoption. Domestic or international? What about foster care? Agency or private adoption? Go it alone or hire a consultant to help guide you on your journey?

But once you decide on domestic infant adoption and that you want a consultant to walk with you, how do you decide which consultant group to work with? With several consultant firms to choose from, how do you know which one is the best fit for your family? 

I've compiled a list of questions to ask when you interview potential consultants. Use this list to get the most information, educate yourself on the specific services available, and how things work with each consulting firm.

Services

• How long is your contract?
• Do you offer profile creation or review services?
• What kind of ongoing support and communication is available throughout the length of our contract?
• What are your stats: number of successful adoptions, percentage of failed adoptions, average wait times, etc.?

Recommended Agencies and Attorneys

• What are your standards for the agencies and attorneys you recommend?
• What kind of services do the agencies and attorneys offer for expectant and birth families?
• What kind of vetting does an agency/attorney go through to be a part of your recommended agency list?

Situations

• Are there requirements to saying yes or no to presenting?
• How much time do we have to decide if we want to present?
• Will we know when we see a situation what agency or attorney it's from?
• Do we need to pay a fee to present to situations?
• How much information are we given to review for each situation? Do we have access to social/medical history, information on the birth father, prenatal records, etc.?

A few other things to consider:

• It should be easy to get a hold of a consultant. Communication is key when you're adopting and being able to easily reach someone in a timely manner matters!
• In the same vein, you should feel like they are happy to answer your questions and knowledgable about the entire adoption process. Ask about their professional and personal experience in adoption.
• Don't hesitate to ask for references of other adoptive families who have used their services.

Ultimately, you want to feel confident and comfortable with the consultant you choose. They will be walking with you during your adoption journey to guide you, advocate for you, and educate you. But they will also be there to be a listening ear, possibly a shoulder to cry on, and to pray with you as you work to add a baby to your family. Finding someone you trust will be invaluable.

If you want to find out more about Christian Adoption Consultants and our consulting services, feel free to email me for a info packet. I'll be happy to answer these (and any) questions you have!