Do you think agencies should be held accountable for knowingly deceiving their clients about timelines?

Question

Particularly for China?

I know a PAP with her head so far up in the clouds that she believes what her agency told her regarding timelines: that she'll receive a referral in 2009!!!

She was LID in February of THIS YEAR!!!

This to me is unethical & even immoral. The families who just received their referrals for the month of April waited 27 months, so they cannot hide behind "Well that is how long people are waiting now."

The CCAA has only matched the 1st two weeks of January/06 and we are almost in May/08 and if you factor in the predicted shut down or severe slowdown during the Olympics, well that just pushes the wait back even farther.

I hate to burst anyone's bubble who is starting their home study for China or just sent their dossier or just making the decision to adopt from China, but I think as hearts are on the line, agencies owe their clients thr truth. My agency, who has always been upfront & honest has updated their site to say up to 5 years. Scary, but honest.

Answer 1

somebody, anybody hold them accountable. The state was involved in my adoption so I hold THEM accountable, but I wish more people would sue or take these agencies to court than do. This goes for all sides, pre=adoptive parents, surrendering parents, and adoptees we all need to stop letting them turn us against eachother and take the middle men OUT!

Answer 2

yea

Answer 3

Jennifer is right that it is possible for something to change in country programs and for time estimations to change very quickly.  This happened in the program we went through, and it was no one's fault.  However, agencies are often intentionally misleading about time estimations.  In Feb. of this year in the China program, it is absolutely absurd to be told to expect a referral in 2009!  Obviously intentionally misleading.  I don't know how this agency is getting away with it because there are so many people in the China adoption "community" that it is well known that it is a REALLY long wait right now.  I'd think they'd quickly get a really bad reputation for being so intentionally misleading, and I hope they do.  What agency is it?

eta:  I just had a thought.  Is your friend in the special needs China program?  It probably IS possible to receive a referral in 2009 if she is.

Answer 4

I think that agencies should give the best estimation that they have, at that time.  But of course, adopting from overseas is fraught with delays, most of which are unpredictable, unavoidable and are completely out of the hands of the agency, the adoptive parents and the US government.  

The time frame quoted by your friend's agency may have been their best estimation at the time she requested the information or sent in their dossier, but changes happen very frequently.

I do feel that agencies should keep the PAPs informed of these changes in a timely fashion and should not knowingly misquote time frames in order to attract clients.

I agree with Oedipal, however.  In much of international adoption, the PAPs must educate themselves and keep informed.

Answer 5

I think when using agencies it is buyer beware and people should do their own research.  In fact, no promises should ever be given in adoption, we are here for children in need, not the other way around.  

Yes the agency should be honest, but really people who are going to spend 25K need to do as much research as they can before they move ahead.

Good luck to your friend, I hope she does receive a child she was meant to have.

Answer 6

I agree with you that agencies should be held accountable for giving unrealistic timelines. I would like to point out, however, that if she is adopting an older child or a child with special needs (especially one requiring surgery), those timelines don't apply.  The primary slow down is simply getting the Visa from the US government.

Answer 7

NO agency should be hiding information from paps! from what ive read it's not unheard of especially in foster care adoptions for adoption workers to hide information about the kids on their caseload to get them adopted. i feel sorry for those who really believe that their child has no problems whatsoever, even if that's what the worker told them. just the fact that they were removed from the birth family's care is enough to give them some issues. sure, some have a better time of it than others, but too many adoption workers will hide the fact that a child has severe problems just to get a family to take them. then you have a family in shock and unable to cope with the child's problems...what good does that do for the poor child?

i realize that there is a huge shortage of social workers for these kids, but things like this have to be stopped. if you're not prepared for every possible contingency, you could find yourself blindsided and not knowing what to do, and making the wrong decision.