this is a MUST-join if you're considering adoption!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Adoption_Agency_Research/

also i know this is already posted on this site in another spot, but here's another group "mothers wanting daughters" might want to consider

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/motherswantingdaughters/

if anyone lives in the OR/WA area who is *seriously* considering adopting and looking for a social worker...  please PM me so i can tell you the one i would NOT recommend, mine!!  somehow this guy keeps getting business

and here are a couple tips about choosing a social worker (for your homestudy), choosing an agency, and just adoption tips in general:

- don't pay any big fees up front!

- get everything in writing!

- read the fine print!

- don't be impatient!  don't come off as too anxious, people prey on that!  act cool & like you have all the time in the world, you're not worried about it...

- RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!!!

- get LOTS of references!!!

- narrow your agency choices down to at least 3, before making a final decision.

- talk to other people via online groups, blogs, e-mails, etc. to find out the current situation of things!

- and of course, be careful what information you share on your blogs, if you have one!  i've seen things people have said, come back to bite them in the a$$ because of a blog!

- expect things to take longer than planned.  expect to have obstacles.  expect to spend more money than you originally thought.  IA is NOT an easy path!!   try to "go with the flow" or you'll drive yourself crazy!!!

in the adoption world they say, "expect the worst, hope for the best!"

Anyone who has joined the Adoption Agency Research Yahoo group.  Can you please tell me how long it took to become a member.  I signed up right around the time of this post.  I am still waiting does that sound right to you?  Thanks just dying to get on it and see if the agency we are about to sign up with has any complaints against them and if so what they might be.

fratmom i got in in like a couple days.  did u fill out the automatic survey they send you, and send it back??  there is definitely stuff in there about CHI, mostly good don't worry   if you look under polls there's a small poll about them.  also just search that site thoroughly, there's all kinds of info...  click on all the side bars like database, files, polls, etc...

maybe try requesting to join again??  i'm sure you'll get in soon!!  have u tried e-mailing the moderator??  if you PM me your info, maybe i could pass it on to the moderator??

 "see you" in there soon!

Thank you so much for the info.  I think I may need to reply again or as you suggest email the moderator.  I dont recall a survey.  Good to hear that CHI has nothing bad on them.  We are ready to pick our agency and just want to make sure I do all my research.  Thank you again so much.  You know your agency is still on our list of possibles... are you feeling confident with them?  Thanks again. 

fratmom there were some negative things on CHI, but every agency is going to have some negative review... some more than others.  as far as my agency & Vietnam...  i'm in a "wait & see" mode right now...   : /

Would you pretty please PM with what you read on CHI.  I am not in a big rush and I know that is a lot to ask of you.  If you can't do it no prob.  Wait and See seems like a very intelligent move right now. 

i don't know how i missed this one, but there's another Yahoo group you can join if you're interested in VN adoption, called "Rate Your Vietnam Adoption Agency."  i just got in & was really pleased to see that the agency that i am thinking of using has all positive reviews in there, with all 5's on a scale of 0-5.  CHI also had 5's fratmom   i've been learning a lot lately and i'm feeling more confident in my original choice of agency, despite some of the things going on lately in VN adoption world.  if adoptions resume (as many people seem to think they will) then i'm pretty sure i'll use my original choice.  if anyone wants to know more you can PM me.