The only entity you can pay to help you match with a birthparent or child is a licensed child-placing agency.

Be very careful to confirm that the entity has an “agency license” and not something else or nothing at all.

If you aren’t sure and need my help you can send me the information about the entity you are interested in and I can figure it out.

Also agencies vary in ethics and financial stability. Sometimes they go out of business or have their license revoked after families have made initial payments and the money is almost always lost.

You can conduct “Due Diligence” on agencies by first Googling them and looking back in the search 6 or 7 pages, as some unethical business hire help to move their negative press far back in the site. Also Google their principals, directors and attorneys.  Then check with agency licensing in the state where they are licensed to review complaints.  If all that checks out, then you are probably safe to proceed.

Some families will also hire me to call colleagues where the agency is located to get a reference.

Basically, yes, be aggressive and reach out to solid agencies that are placing more children than our local agencies seem to. But be careful. Particularly out of state, there are about as many bad actors as good ones. And avoid facilitators or consultants all together.  For more information on facilitators, click here.