OK, I hope I can explain this right!  J

We didn’t use an agency exactly.  (They are NOT facilitators, though, which are illegal in some states).  I went with Step by Step Adoption consultants http://www.astepaheadadoption.com/founder.php .  They are networked with over 30 agencies and adoption law firms across the US.  You might not believe this, but there were no domestic waiting families for my twins!  That is why the agency called SBS.  We submitted a portfolio along with several other families and we were chosen.  They also help with budgeting, financing, legal advice, counseling, adoption education, and lots of other things.  One thing that we did NOT want to do was be tied down to the “wrong” agency.  I head so many stories of people signing on with agencies and being in the waiting pool for years.  (They also help people who have signed with agencies as long as the agency doesn’t mind.)  They couldn’t go anywhere else because the agency had required a huge deposit.  SBS has a very low one-time fee that is SO worth it- I can’t believe they don’t charge more for what they do! We didn’t pay our fees (to the birth parents agency) until the boys were home in NC with us.  They are still supporting and helping us as we work through finalization.  OH, and they help with International and Domestic adoptions.  I don’t know much about the international side since we knew we wanted domestic when we signed, but if you have any questions, please ask!  J

Jen

-----Original Message-----
From: OASIS-Adopt@yahoogroups.com [mailto:OASIS-Adopt@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Melanie
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 4:52 AM
To: OASIS-Adopt@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: RE: [OASIS-Adopt] International vs. Domestic- Jen