We used Better Living for our homestudy to adoption a baby from Guatemala. They were professional, accurate and compassionate. The home study process went quickly and we were on our way to completing our dossier.
My placement was a private adoption in 1998. It was mainly through the attorneys and the agency was used as 'back-up' (I believe it is also the law in NJ).
I first want to make clear that although the adoption was extremely difficult for me, I do not have any regrets in my decesion to give him a more stable life.
That being said... the counseling through the agency during the transition, placement & after was practically non-existent. When they did meet with me it was generally 15-20 mins.
Throughout the first year I called them numerous times asking for support only to get an answering machine each and every time. When I did get a call back it was typically just someone saying they would have someone call me as soon as possible.
I completely gave up reaching out to this agency. Perhaps in a regular adoption this would not be the case. Perhaps it was simply that in my 'private' adoption they were there for legal purposes only and the attorneys are the actual ones to blame.
Printer-friendly version
Reviews
Highly recommend for a home study
We used Better Living for our homestudy to adoption a baby from Guatemala. They were professional, accurate and compassionate. The home study process went quickly and we were on our way to completing our dossier.
Would not recommend
My placement was a private adoption in 1998. It was mainly through the attorneys and the agency was used as 'back-up' (I believe it is also the law in NJ).
I first want to make clear that although the adoption was extremely difficult for me, I do not have any regrets in my decesion to give him a more stable life.
That being said... the counseling through the agency during the transition, placement & after was practically non-existent. When they did meet with me it was generally 15-20 mins.
Throughout the first year I called them numerous times asking for support only to get an answering machine each and every time. When I did get a call back it was typically just someone saying they would have someone call me as soon as possible.
I completely gave up reaching out to this agency. Perhaps in a regular adoption this would not be the case. Perhaps it was simply that in my 'private' adoption they were there for legal purposes only and the attorneys are the actual ones to blame.