Adoption Agency Ratings

We used Adoption and Aid International for our Russia adoption in 2007, they merged with Partners for Adoption right after we brought home our son. We loved them, and couldn't have been happier with their organization, both here and in Russia. They were very thorough with paperwork, and preparing us for travel, but also made us feel like they really cared. They are smaller and everyone knew us when we called. We didn't sign a non-disclosure contract, nor were we told not to share our experience, we were told not to share our referral on the internet, but that's all. I would use them again in a heartbeat. I felt they were very well connected in Russia, and everything there was just as they said it would be. We were always kept up to date, and there were no surprises. Most importantly, our son is wonderful and truly the best thing that ever happened to us.

Overall, our experience was very mixed. They did come through with our child, so that's obviously a very big plus. On the other hand, the entire 2+ years we worked with the agency, information and communication was limited. Phone calls updating on the fluid situation with Russia never happened with any of our coordinators. You will never know where you are "in line" for a referral or be given any specific information about your case that will comfort you while you wait for a referral, court date, whatever. Part of this I'm sure is to prevent you from comparing notes with other parents in process with you, or to insulate the agency should changes in Russia mean a change in how your case is being processed, which can and does happen of course. When you are waiting for a referral, you will be told they need to focus on the parents that have referrals and are waiting for travel dates. When you finally get your referral, you will told they need to focus on the parents that are waiting for court dates. When you become a parent that has travelled on trip 1, you will be told they need to focus on the parents that are then in country for court. Someone else's case is always more important that you are, and you will be reminded of that.

We were persistently reminded that we weren't to share our information or anything about our adoption experiences with others. We were threatened that if we shared information it would damage our adoption and probably others as well. This is agency that will require you to sign a non-disclosure agreement. They do not want you sharing information about them or your experience with anyone. Some of this is understandable -- there are parents that become emotional and forget to use discretion -- but by the time we finished it became apparent that most of this is not because sharing will endanger anyone's adoption, but because the agency wants to protect its business contacts abroad from other agencies and, of course, would not want negative information shared.

On the positive side, this agency is very good with paperwork and that is tremendously important and a big plus!! You do not have to worry that you will get to Russia and the judge or the government wants yet another document that you cannot possibly get while you are there. This happens with a lot of agencies, so this is a big plus if you use this one. It is obvious when you are in country that the facilitators have good connections and are very experienced and careful with what they are doing. With all the emotion that comes with meeting your child and getting them back home with you, this is a really big thing to not have to worry about at all.

Our in country team overall was excellent. We did have an interpreter that subbed in that was not very good, but thankfully she was replaced during our stay.