We went to our first adoption seminar yesterday. I never realized there was so much information! It's taking awhile to process things, but I think we are about 90% certain we are going to adopt, probably with this group. DH and I are going to take a couple more weeks to research before we decide though.
The seminar we went to was for AdoptHelp. Anyone had experience with them? They are a law firm. (www.adopthelp.com) One of the main things I liked was the fact that if a match falls through, they keep working to match you again without paying again.
Re: Wow, that was overwhelming
I was just looking over the web site. Did they go over how much counseling and support is given to the BM? I am just curious.
Thanks,
Amie
Many agencies keep working with you if a match fails, and they role over the 'base' fees generally. It is the living expenses and other at-risk expenses that you generally lose, does this law firm ensure all of those expenses (medical, legal, living expenses, counseling). Otherwise, not that it should change your mind but that might not be a 'special' reason for selecting them.
I posted a week or so ago that on adoption.com they have a forum in which its members who have worked with agencies/law firms post who they worked with and then you can email/message them for their experience. You might be able to get more first-hand experiences through there. Not sure if your firm was listed.
Good luck!
If the BM does not have insurance, they will get her onto Medical or Medicaid so we wouldn't have to pay any medical expenses. We would pay living expense for the last trimester (which we would lose in a failed match).
I definitely will check out adoption.com. Thanks!
Okay, that's pretty typical then. I'm glad, aside from being over-whelming it was productive for you! Yeah adoption.com is a much more 'rooted' forum and so even if you don't see anyone listed as having used your attorney, you can always make a new thread asking. Just remember that they cannot talk about the agency in public forum, you have to ask them to just PM you with their personal experiences. It's against their policy to talk specifically about an agency in public forum.
We talked to AdoptHelp over the phone, and decided they weren't right for us. That doesn't mean they aren't right for you--everyone has to find who they click with.
The agency we're going with also re-matches with no additional fees. I think that's pretty standard, and I'm glad you found a place that does that.
TTC since May 2006. After 3 failed Clomid cycles, 2 failed Injectibles/IUIs, 2 failed IVFs and 1 failed FET, we moved on to adoption!
Last ditch FET resulted in BFP, and identical twin girls!
We are using AdoptHelp.
I'll PM you too!
Our first seminar was so overwhelming too, but since then, we have "chipped" away at all the important factors and find ourselves narrowing agencies down.
Good luck to you! It is an exciting journey.