Closing Domestic Adoption Programs

caliblondieus

Are any of you hearing that more agencies are "closing" their domestic adoption programs. I'm not entirely sure what this means but as we make the decision whether to pursue newborn domestic adoption or do foster-to-adopt I'm feeling unsettled about an agency's ability to help us find a birth mother.

I see here that some agencies don't and they are just a conduit for the actual adoption once a match is made but it also seems like many of us are seeking assistance in that area -- hoping that the agency finds them the match. In your journey did you pick an agency that you expected to help find the birth mother or not?

In other words, I'm confused! Any words of wisdom are appreciated. I'm just wondering if overall, the availability of domestic infants is dwindling and this is the reason why agencies are struggling.

Cali

bumpuser794640

From the little I've read, some agencies are doing away with their domestic infant adoption programs because of the lack of birthmothers.  This may not be the case in all states or regions, however.

We will be adopting with an agency with the expectation that they will find our birthmother.  Some people choose to advertise for their own birthmother, or use a facilitator or other adoption professional to find a birthmother.

Dr.Loretta

I haven't, but we haven't been active in 2+ years. Our agency works in 7 states and has 150+ matches/year, so we're not worried about them closing their program. And another we looked at had more e-parents than PAPs.

Personally, I think some of it may have to do with (wait for the cliche) the economy. It costs $ to advertise, etc., and nonprofits (as some agencies are) aren't necessarily getting the $ they used to.

And I'll agree it's somewhat regional.

silliestbunny

I hadn't heard this... but it also doesn't surprise me.  My guess is that small agencies are having a harder time keeping up with larger agencies that launch major advertising and recruitment.  From a business perspective, there are only X-number of e-moms... and if the large agencies swoop in and lure them into their programs, small agencies will struggle.  No difference that small business America. 

It does put you/us as PAPs in a difficult position.... do you sign w/your local small agency or a large national agency.  We did the latter and it wasn't our best decision.

jacksjerseygirl

Although domestic adoption numbers are down (due to single women no longer having an intense social negative experience as a single mother, increase in abortion, increase in foster care (though this could more do have a relationship with other factors) our agency is up in numbers consistently and continue to maintain short waits and financially backed up matches. 

International is also down.  

adoptivemama

There was an agency in our state that closed their program, and our agency took on all of their prospective adoptive parents. It was good for those people, that they didn't just get completely left in a lurch, but it was frustrating for us, because all of them got placed ahead of us on the wait list. So while the people we knew who had their home studies 2 months before us are already in the profile book, we're stuck back at #20...