Questions

I have received a couple of questions.  The first one was how did I pick an adoption agency and the second was what is a Home Study?

It was really a challenge picking an agency.  It isn't everyday that someone adopts internationally.  So I investigated via the internet.  There are many agencies with flashy sites and others with boring/bland sites.  What I found is that many of the agencies that I attempted to contact never responded to my requests.  The ones that did responded a week or two later, and then there were those that were associated with one religion or another. Some agencies do not even work with Single Women, like we have the plague or something.  So it was easy to narrow it down.  At that point I looked for non-profit agencies and looked to see who was on their board.  Educators and service oriented folks (nurses, social workers) seemed to be on the boards of the better agencies.  Then I researched which countries I would consider adopting from.  There are not many countries that currently have an agreement with the US for adoption.  I had really thought I would go with a South American country, but there aren't any currently with an agreement with us.  Kazakhstan was an easy choice because their children tend to be much healthier than the other countries we work with.

So I called and emailed a bunch of agencies and then one night I found (with the help of my mom) European Adoption Consultants or EAC.  It was about 9PM and their website said that they have someone in their call center until 10 PM Eastern.  So I called and the phone was answered immediately.  The consultant then spent 1 1/2 hours on the phone with me answering my 25 plus questions that I had prepared.  I felt very good about this agency and I took it from there.

Ok, a Home Study is where a Social Worker interviews me at my home and collects all kinds of information on me and then fills out an extensive report explaining why or why not they recommend me for adoption.  I had to get a criminal background, provide a proof of insurance, give them info. on my financial situation, and a bunch of other things.

I hope I answered your questions.  Keep them coming.

Rachelle