One of my complaints during my pregnancy was that I didn't have a lot of information. That's why I strive so hard to get information "out there" for expectant mothers considering placement. And so I come here today imploring birth parents to take a few minutes, visit this site and put up a review of your agency experience.

Adoption Agency Ratings is mostly filled with adoptive parent reviews. Some are good, some are bad. It's a great resource. But we, as birth parents, can improve upon what is already pretty awesome. By including our experience, expectant parents considering placement can use it as well and potential adoptive parents could learn "the other side" of an agency that they are considering.

True. I know you're thinking it before you even say it. I think it all the time as well. "But no one listens to a birth parent. No one cares if we are treated unethically. Our experience in adoption simply doesn't matter." There are some people who will read your review and think, "What the heck is a birth mother doing on here? What does her opinion matter? She's not forking out the cash!" Unfortunately, people with that outlook aren't going to be helped no matter what approach you take. But there are kind souls out there that want to adopt in an ethical manner. If you can help one family do that, it makes a difference.

Beyond that, if you had a good experience with an agency, it needs to be heard as well! Expectant mothers considering relinquishment need to know that there are agencies that will treat them with respect and honor their rights! Those adoptive parents seeking an ethical agency can benefit from your good review as well. Don't think that you don't need to share just because your experience was good. You're needed, too!

I reviewed my unethical agency. I kept it down to the factual wrongs in the process and left emotions out of the review. Why? The list of factual wrongs should speak for itself, really. People also tend to get turned off when you get overly emotional. So I laid the facts on the line. I believe they speak for themselves. I encourage you to leave emotion out if you can and speak factually so that others may be able to understand what happened.

No matter your experience, your voice needs to be heard. Share it.

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For more on agencies, read these posts.