Once you have chosen the country from which you wish to adopt a child, we recommend that you focus your search on the international child-placing agency that will best suit your needs to complete your adoption. You should choose a qualified and experienced international adoption agency to work in partnership with you throughout the process. It is best to interview or research several agencies thoroughly. Below are some questions that you might ask during the interview or research process.  Please be sure to visit the section at the end of this page entitled "Red Flags" to look for when choosing a China child placing agency.

Again, experience in successfully placing children is very important when selecting an agency. Expertise develops only over time, by assisting with the completion of many adoptions and through years of experience.

It is important that before you select your agency you select the country from which you wish to adopt. Often, families will select an agency that may be located in their state or geographically close to them and only after selecting the agency will they determine which of that agency's programs best suits their needs. We believe that properly informed families are best served if they choose the country from which they wish to adopt before selecting the agency.

Understanding how many children an agency places each year from the country you wish to adopt from is very important in understanding and evaluating that agency's experience with your chosen country. While you do not have to select the largest agency, you should look to see that your chosen agency places enough children to have a very good experience base with the many different situations that routinely occur with adoptions. An agency that places hundreds of children each year is probably better experienced and better prepared with a particular adoption program than an agency that places ten children a year. La Vida is one of the largest China child placing agencies in the U.S.

Agencies utilize in-country representation in many different ways. Some use in-country representation to remain visible to the adoption authorities in a particular country; others use in-country representation for translation and delivery of documents; and still others utilize in-country representation primarily for arranging travel and guiding the adoption trip. While in-country representatives play an important role in an agency's international adoption program, we believe that the most important role and the greatest responsibility should be to manage and guide families through the process to make their trip and adoption experience the best that it can be.

In addition to having an overseas staff, it is important to understand the quality of that staff and their respective roles. La Vida strives to make your adoption trip the best experience that it can be. To this end we provide experienced and capable travel guides, translators, bus drivers, and facilitators for each travel group. Our country facilitators are some of the most knowledgeable individuals available and each has 10 or more years of experience and an excellent reputation.

Agencies provide families with a wide range of services. Some deliver only the basic services (like a guide book to assist you in completing adoption requirements), while others offer instructions and support staff to guide you through the paperwork process. Since international adoption is complex for most families, La Vida believes that telephone support is an absolute must for efficiently processing families' adoptions, and ensuring that the paperwork process goes as smoothly as possible.

Again, agencies offer a wide range of travel services. Some require that families make all of their own international arrangements and some even requiring families to make their own in-country arrangements, while others offer complete travel planning. La Vida offers full travel planning assistance including booking airline reservations, hotel accommodations, pre-arranging for meals and planning and staffing for all in-country activities including the adoption process, sightseeing, shopping and other leisure activities.

Since many families are not experienced international travelers and even more have not previously adopted internationally, preparation for the adoption process and travel to a foreign country is a very important activity that should not be overlooked. La Vida provides each family with a comprehensive educational packet of materials providing information about important issues involving health, culture, adoption, parenting, discipline, child development, and resources for future use. Additionally, La Vida also offers several educational seminars on the topics of international adoption and travel preparation. La Vida also provides full support for families as they ready themselves for the adoption experience and international travel.

While all families receive a medical report as part of their child assignment package, La Vida believes that understanding medical issues is one of the most important elements necessary for adequately preparing themselves for an international adoption. La Vida prepares families first by providing health educational materials throughout the entire adoption process. When a child referral is received, families are encouraged to have the child's medical information reviewed by an international medical specialist familiar with adoptions from that particular country. When possible, updated medical information is gathered, and occasionally additional medical tests are requested. When a family first receives their child, a doctor is available for initial consultation. In the China program, the doctor actually remains with the group for the provincial portion of the in-country stay. If any medical conditions are diagnosed, consultations with specialists and medical professionals can be arranged in order to give each family full information. Additionally, in an effort to understand any medical, emotional, or developmental issues that a family experiences, each La Vida family is surveyed periodically after returning home.

A good agency will have mechanisms enabling them to receive feedback from clients in an effort to continually improve the quality of services that they offer. International adoption is often an ever changing process and family feedback helps to assess the services that are being offered so that families' needs may be best met. La Vida surveys every family upon their return home and, on the basis of feedback from families, continually strives to improve every service.

When assessing the various fee structures of agencies, please keep in mind that it is often very difficult to compare agencies based on fees alone. Agencies vary widely on their fee structure and collection practices and many agencies do not always include or identify all relevant expenses for adoption in their overall cost estimates. So that you do not experience any surprises, you may benefit from asking for a time line of expenses to be incurred over the adoption process and a list of expenses that are not collected by the agency but are necessary to complete an international adoption. Please be sure to inquire about travel costs and in-country expenses. Additionally, be sure to understand the services that you will be receiving in return for your fees.

While every agency is bound to treat families confidentially, it is very common for families to request placement on a reference list. References can be useful to help guide you in your choice of an agency or they can be useful in helping you understand another family's experience in light of some similarity with your circumstance. For example, if you are a single mother adopting a boy, you might wish to talk with other single mothers who adopted boys. If you are a family interested in adopting an older child, it might assist you to talk with another family who has adopted a child of a similar age. Do not be afraid to ask for references and do not be afraid to ask for references that fit a particular criterion important to you. When you receive references, put them to good use. You will benefit from any information provided regarding the agency in question and you will learn more about the adoption process in general from individuals who have already experienced adoption.

It is important that families remain supported, not only during the important paperwork process but, during the wait for child referral. Frequent communication will help families remain focused, remain optimistic, adequately prepared for the adoption of their child and connected to the agency. La Vida publishes a quarterly on-line newsletter and sends monthly notifications to all families providing a summary of the previous months activities, updates on child assignments, and identification of any changes to the adoption program or adoption process. Additionally, phone calls are periodically made to families offering a personal connection and assistance whenever necessary and small gifts and country mementos are routinely sent at various stages of the process. Finally, phone calls from families are always welcomed whether the purpose of the call is to request information or simply to help you feel supported.

Agencies differ greatly in organizational structure. Some agencies organize their staff according to the country program, while others organize their staff according to job responsibility. Additionally, some agencies assign a specific social worker or staff person to a family while others utilize a team approach. Ultimately, the staff organization of the agency is not as important as the qualifications of the staff and their ability to answer your questions and provide you with the assistance that you need. La Vida utilizes both a team approach (for certain functions like dossier compilation, USCIS coordination, travel preparation, etc.) and a country specific approach (for functions like program coordination, communication with clients, etc.) These approaches have been designed so that clients receive efficient and quality services throughout every step of the process and during every communication. If an agency assigns one primary staff person to your case, you might request an opportunity to speak with them briefly to ensure that you will enjoy interacting with them during this potentially very long process.

Do not hesitate to ask an agency about their licensing and do not hesitate to contact the licensing authority. Most states will not be willing to give a subjective recommendation about an agency that it licenses however they should be able to confirm that the agency is licensed and that to the best of their knowledge, the agency has good practices.

While it may seem that a local agency located close to you might be a better choice than an out-of-state agency or one that is located a great distance away, we believe that the location of the child-placing agency you select is not nearly as important as the expertise and experience the agency has with international adoptions from the country that you wish to adopt from. With today's technology, communication and services can be provided anywhere with organizational efficiency and professionalism by utilizing the Internet, email, overnight mail services, and telephone communications. Of additional importance is the quality of the agency's written information, instructions, samples, information guides, training manuals, etc.

International adoption is a continually changing field where countries may close or change regulations at a moments notice. With this in mind, and because of the time it takes to complete an international adoption, flexibility and alternatives are important. If a particular international program appears unstable, will your agency allow you to either process parallel applications with multiple countries (at little or no additional costs) or will they allow you to switch countries (transferring and crediting fees paid from one program to another)? La Vida believes that flexibility and multiple alternatives are very important for every family to consider even if the adoption program has been very consistent and successful in the past.

There are many children all over the world that will not be adopted but can benefit from aid and assistance. Question whether your agency has humanitarian aid projects and if so, what are they. Often, families wish to pursue humanitarian aid projects in their child's country of origin after their adoption. If this is of importance to you, ask about how you might work together with the agency to assist these children in need.

The agency that you choose should offer a breadth of experience, honesty and responsiveness. The staff should be qualified and supportive. You must have a high level of confidence that you have chosen an efficient, ethical, and caring team that will represent and support your family throughout your journey of adoption. It is important to know that your agency will be there for you not only throughout your adoption but when you return home and as your child grows. Understand whether your agency sponsors events to celebrate country specific holidays or dates and do they offer opportunities for families that have shared the same experiences to continue to share the same experiences. La Vida believes that on-going communication and support are very important and they participate actively in sponsoring programs for families. La Vida sponsors an annual Chinese / Vietnamese New Year's Celebration, periodic summer picnics, specialty gatherings, country tours, etc. La Vida also publishes a family directory to assist families in maintaining contact with group members, friends, and neighbors.

Visit the agency's web site and review the information presented on the site. Is the information helpful to you as you consider international adoption? Does the information help to portray the agency, its philosophy, services, and staff? Is the information presented logically and is the site easy to navigate? Does the web site have links to important information and other web sites that will be of value as you consider international adoption? Does the web site adequately describe the agency's services and adoption programs and are the descriptions complete and easy to understand? Is the focus of the web site to educate you or to sell the agency? A good adoption-related site should do both, but focus on educating the community about the adoption process and the children who wait.

An international adoption is most successful when families are informed and prepared. Does the agency offer free information meetings and if so, what is the quality of the meeting? Does the meeting contain helpful and informative information? Do the representatives conducting the meeting exhibit expertise, experience, and professionalism? Are questions permitted at the meeting and are the questions answered thoroughly?

It is not practical for an agency to offer meetings in every area of the U.S.  If there is not a meeting in your specific area, does the agency offer telephone conferences evenings and weekends? Does the agency have a video so that you can view it and obtain a feel for the values and work style of the agency?

International adoption may be new to many families, therefore, it is important that an agency's information be adequate for several purposes, including: understanding international adoption; understanding the adoption program(s) that the agency offers; understanding the requirements for families; and understanding the costs of adoption. Each of the above subjects is important and should be addressed in the literature provided to you.

After you receive information from an agency, it is likely that you will have questions. Call the agency and speak to a staff person. Is the representative knowledgeable, friendly, and interested in you? Can the representative answer all of your questions and do the answers seem honest and open? If a representative can not answer a specific question, do they return your call promptly after researching the matter?

Many times, the quality of the agency is reflected in the quality of the work that they do. This "work" includes the web site, information meetings, marketing information, and support staff. A great web site with an educational focus, well-run and thorough information meetings, informative materials, and a knowledgeable and helpful staff are likely indicators that the agency itself is also very good.

International adoption is a process that can take up to a year and a half to complete, and it is a process that requires significant cooperation between a family and an agency. Ultimately, as you evaluate agencies and talk to agency staff, pay attention to how "comfortable" you feel with the agency, its materials, and its staff. Does the agency seem to understand that families come in all different shapes and sizes, each with different needs, different abilities, and different circumstances? Does the agency seem willing to acknowledge this and flexible in their attempts to assist you? In other words, do they seem like they really want to help you adopt and do you feel comfortable working in partnership with a particular agency? If so, then you probably have made a good choice in your selection of an international child-placing agency.

We wish you the best in your search for an agency that will be a perfect fit for your family and if La Vida is to be that agency, we will do our very best to help you build a family.

It is very common for agencies to try to "sell" you on how much better they are than another agency. There are truly many differences to understand between adoption agencies. Examples of such differences include the quality of services offered, the depth of services and handholding offered, their knowledge of the field of adoption, and their experience within a specific country, etc.

However, some claims that agencies make are not always accurate or in the proper context, given the country program(s) that they are offering. Prospective adoptive families must be careful and knowledgeable when evaluating certain claims. Below is information about a few of the type of claims that are often made by some China child placing agencies.

No agency can "guarantee" that you will receive a child nor can it "guarantee" a specific time frame that an adoption will take place in. There are many variables that are not within the control of the agency and there are other entities whose approvals are necessary for an adoption (approvals of your state, the U.S. government, and the Chinese government). It is possible to look at a country's placement history and ascertain stability and growth. It is also possible to look at an agency's experience. This information will assist you in making a determination about the likelihood for success however a reputable agency can never guarantee that either the United States or the foreign country will not change its requirements, time frames, guidelines, laws etc.

Some agencies claim that they have a very large agency staff working in China and this will result in a smoother adoption process. In fact, this staff can often include travel guides, bus drivers, travel agency personnel, etc. These individuals are usually service providers and not agency staff. Most adoption agencies sending families to China will use such individuals or agencies to assist with trip planning, group travel, and adoption facilitation. They are rarely "employees" though.

Further, even if they were actual employees, the number of staff in China is not what is critical. The more important factors include the relationship of the agency with The China Center For Adoption Affairs (CCAA); the length of time that the agency has been completing adoptions in China; the experience base that the agency has with a particular country, etc. One of the greatest strengths of the China adoption process has been is predictability, stability and consistent application of rules, assignment times, and the assignment of children. Most agencies and families receive equal and consistent treatment by CCAA adoption officials.

Too often we hear from families that an agency has promised them a "healthier" child and/or a shorter waiting time than other agencies have shared. Once again, this is simply not true because of the consistent application of adoption rules and the equal treatment of agencies and families by the China adoption officials.

Agencies may claim that they have "special" relationships with the foreign adoption officials, which will result in faster or smoother adoption process. Again, this is yet another claim that is not true because of the consistent application of adoption rules and the equal treatment of agencies and families by the China adoption officials.

Some agencies claim that their fees and/or adoption program is significantly less expensive than other agencies. In fact, fee schedules often differ dramatically between agencies appearing to supporting this claim. Often, however, there can be several possibilities for these apparent differences between quoted fees. Questions to be asked are: Are the fees and costs quoted true and complete?; and Do the costs represent similar services?

The fee schedule could be incomplete, omitting many of costs that will eventually be necessary. For example, are necessary costs outside of the agency fees included in the fee schedule or addressed? Outside costs can include cost of home study (which varies by state and agency), costs of U.S. immigration processing, costs to travel to China, costs for the adoption process in China, etc. Additionally, it is important to understand whether there will be necessary upgrades for the in-country trip. These upgrades might include sightseeing, cost of meals, costs of transportation, guided activities, etc.

Another difference in costs could result from the amount or quality of the services that are received during the trip or during the paperwork process. Many agencies do not communicate with you in person; relying simply on e-mail and other mass mailing techniques. Agencies might not allow access to support staff for questions about paperwork; relying instead on a printed guide or instructions. While these techniques might work for some families, there are others that need or want personal attention.

On the trip to China, how many guides and service providers are provided and what services are included in the fees charged? Many agencies supply only one guide for an entire group. Other agencies do not offer a full-service program including trip planning, meal plans, guided sightseeing, etc. Some agencies require that families plan their own trip.

Many times, the agency quoting the cheapest price is not necessarily the best choice and unfortunately, the fee schedules are not what they seem.

Being the largest agency does not indicate that it is the "best" agency. As described in the section above (regarding fees), there are definite differences in the services that agencies provide both during the paperwork processing and during the trip to China. While a larger agency can offer definite advantages because of their experience, being the largest does not determine the best.

Some agencies will claim that their small size or their "local" location makes them a better choice. As described in the sections above, experience and the quality and quantity of services being provided are very important. Too often, a small agency does not have the experience or expertise within a specific international adoption program. The fact that they are geographically close to your family also does not guarantee expertise or experience. Experience only comes with numbers of adoptions and length of adoption experience with a specific international program. For this reason, choosing an agency with sufficient size and experience may be the better choice. Again, this does not necessarily mean choosing the largest agency, but it is important to choose a large enough agency.

Agency representatives who are not fully qualified

If you attend an online or in-person information meeting and during the presentation the agency representative states disclaimers that the information they provide in part or in full is personal opinion and not official agency information, we suggest you disregard anything that you have heard from that individual.  If an agency is not willing to arrange presentations by a knowledgeable, professionally experienced individual who is prepared to speak on behalf of the agency, then we suggest that you be very wary!

La Vida International 
150 S. Warner Rd., Suite 144, King of Prussia, PA 19406
Phone: 610.688.8008 Fax: 610.688.8028
Birth parents may call collect
e-mail: info@lavida.org web: www.lavida.org
© 1998 La Vida International