From Judith Ashton, Executive Director, NYSCCC:

State licensing procedures come under attack nationally because licenses are sometimes given to dishonest, incompetent, and/or disreputable individuals who know there is big money to be made in adoption. Over and over, we caution prospective adoptive parents to do the homework, and be sure the agency they work with is ethical, responsible, experienced, and safe. We need to continually reinforce this message with anyone who is pursuing adoption.

From Marie Dolfi, President, Adoptive Families Coalition, Inc.:

It amazes me how many people will work with an agency or attorney without investigating the professional. After hearing too many stories of people not doing their homework and complaints of impropriety I'm including the following paragraph in AFC's fall newsletter.

All prospective adoptive parents [residing in or adopting from New York State] should contact the NYS Office of Children and Family Services to learn if any agency they are considering working with is licensed in NYS and if there are any complaints against the adoption agency. If you are doing an agency adoption and the adoption is to be finalized in New York, the agency is required by law to be a licensed NYS agency.

• Go to www.ocfs.state.ny.us/adopt/adagcy.asp for a listing of adoption agencies licensed by NYS.
  
• Contact Carol McCarthy, NYS Office of Children and Family Services at 518-473-5754 to verify current agency licensure and learn of any specific complaints.
  
• If you wish to file a formal complaint against an adoption agency, you should send a letter to Carol McCarthy, NYS OCFS, 52 Washington St, Rensselaer, NY 12144.
  
• If you plan to finalize the adoption in a state other than New York, check to see if the adoption agency is licensed in that state.
  
• To verify an adoption attorney is in good standing in New York, call the Office of Court Administration at 212-428-2800.
  
• If you are considering international adoption, International Concerns for Children in Boulder, Colorado, Maintains a list of approved international adoption agencies that ICC has personally verified is licensed. ICC can be reached at 303-494-8333.
  
• For additional international information, the U.S. State Department at www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption.html is a wonderful resource.
  

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NYS Citizens' Coalition for Children, Inc.
410 East Upland Road • Ithaca, NY 14850
607-272-0034 • fax 607-272-0035
office@nysccc.org
01/31/2008