The Face Time Interview

On Monday I had a Face Time call with the agency, the meeting took about an hour. They discussed the process, learned about me, and used this to help determine if they think I am a good fit for the agency. She showed me about  the profile they create for you looks like.
I was really nervous, the person I spoke with was great.

This agency has five criteria they have you set, and the mother sets some as well. The first criteria is race, second criteria is gender, third is post placement communication, this means closed, open or semi-open adoption, the fourth criteria is expectant mother support, and the fifth criteria is drugs/alcohol. I don't have a preference in the first three categories. The fourth category is expectant mother support in the third trimester, some examples of this include paying expectant mother rent, utilities, and groceries. The agency has an average amount that is given, do I worry that if I give this money to the expectant mother I will be worried she won't place the baby for adoption, yes of course. This money can be used for the adoption tax credit, if there is a failed connection. All money, support is handled through a lawyer, or an agency and they ask that cash not be sent directly to the mother.

Speaking of failed connections, 50% of adoptive parent have an average of three connections.
The fifth category of drugs and alcohol can be broken down into: any THC use during the pregnancy, alcohol use after the first trimester, legally prescribed drug use, this can be suboxone, methadone, psychiatric medications, and illegal drug use. This fifth category is of course the most scary and probably most complex. I am able to set my preferences and if I am approaching the end of my contract, and have not matched I can change my preferences. In fact I can change my preferences at any time.

Last year this agency had 105 completed adoptions, this year 45 adoptions have already been completed, 10 % of the 105 adoptions were single parent adoptions. The average time with the agency is 13-15 months. The agency has a 95-98% completion rate.

I got the name of a social worker who does home studies and have been in contact with her and as soon as I get home I will start the home study process. The home study has to be ICPC approved, which is Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. When I am matched I will have to have a lawyer in the baby's birth state. I will have to wait until the parents terminate their parental rights, usually 24-72 hours after birth, and until the revocation period ends usually 0-10 days, once those two things occur I will have to get ICPC clearance and then I will get to bring my baby home. This process usually takes 7-14 days. I may be asking for friends and family across the country when this time comes.

This agency is affordable but there are still costs involved, this agency uses market research to help keep their name out there for expectant mothers to find them. There is a fee for the home study and there will be lawyer fees. Also if I decide to provide expectant mother support.

Are you curious if I have heard yet?


I got off the plane in West Virginia and had an email from the coordinator I talked to, and I have been accepted into the agency. I was and am still a ball of excited nervous energy, little tears of joy, a lot of telling myself to calm down,  and entering a time of unknowns, but so so hopeful. Now means it is go time, time to sign a contract and pay the fee, time to build my profile, and hope pray wish and wait until I AM picked to be someone's Mom.