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Adoption Agencies
What You Need to Know about Adoption Agencies
By Charlene Torkelson
With Internet Web site costs so low, there is greater need for prospective parents to investigate their agency of choice properly. Have a good idea what your expectations and requirements are. Are you interested in domestic or international adoption? Are you looking at independent adoption involving interaction with the birth 
mother? Would you prefer a closed or open adoption? Do you have a single parent or gay/lesbian situation? Are you considering an older or special needs child? Do you have financial limitations? Many agencies/agents specialize in specific types of adoption, so finding the one that fits your situation is an advantage.
Rod and Sonja Elofson from Minneapolis, Minn., adopted two children after their own were grown. Although they worked through two agencies, they used the same social worker in each case because she specialized in the type of adoption they were interested in – trans-racial. That social worker moved from one agency to another, but the Elofsons were so satisfied with the relationship they had established that they not only followed her to the second agency, but recommend her to others. The Elofsons founded The Micah Fund, named after their first adopted son. This fund helps other families who are interested in trans-racial adoption.
Most agencies are reputable and determined to provide the best service for your needs. Good pre- and post-adoption services that include counseling are beneficial not only for the parents but for the adopted child.
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