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Adoption Network Law Center treats Birthparents unethically with a general disrespect for their rights as human beings and as parents. ripoff Laguna Beach California
Adoption Network Law Center is an adoption facilitating company, parading themself as an agency to unsuspecting birthparents. While reading their Better Business Bureau report, you will see that many adoptive families are upset with their services. However, I would like to make it known that their treatment of birthparents is no better. I cannot state if it is worse, but it certainly is not better!
Specifically in my case, I was mislead as to what birthparent assistance was available in my state. When I asked why I was told something that was obviously far from the truth, they responded that they did not know. My response was that if they were a nationally based law center, dealing with all states, they should know the laws. It constituted huge negligence on their part, but I continued on with their services.
I was not told, prior to placement, that open adoptions were not enforceable in my state. When I found out this information post-placement, I was asked "where I got this information" and that the woman (Kathy Howard) didn't know about such a thing. I was blatantly lied to when I caught them in a very unethical omission!
Due to their lack of concern for me as a birthparent, I was forced to sign relinquishment papers twice, again due to their lack of knowledge of anything involving my state or case.
Months later, when I realized that I needed post-placement counseling, I was offered no help until I threatened the company with my lawyer. Only then was I given one name. Their promises of post-placement counseling were empty.
All in all, it was a very disheartening experience. It breaks my heart that women who aren't as strong as I am are going to be emotionally broken by their complete disrespect for birthmothers. It is unfortunate that they will do nothing to change their ways.
Jenna
New Concord, Ohio
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Sylvia
Laguna Niguel,California,
U.S.A.
Good for you Dani!
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, August 28, 2008
Dani I appreciate you standing up and reminding people that no one makes the choice to place their child for adoption except themselves. In Jenna's case if she signed twice, that means she had at least 30 days twice to change her mind and had to be advised twice of her rights - it is part of the paper trail of an adoption.
I have read many of Jenna's blogs on other sites. May I say this is an example of how anyone can say anything they want on the internet.
Jenna forgets to state here that she has a very open adoption - even had the adopting mom in her wedding. I actually think her adoption is too open and will confuse her child in the end. Adopting parents are not babysitters for a child; they need to be seen as the parents to provide stability for that child's childhood. If it is about what is right for a child - they will allow the adopting parents to be the parents.
Adoption should always be about what is in the best interest of the child. Like you say, people make choices with very difficult consequences. It would be nice for Jenna to once admit that she is unhappy with her choice - not blame it on others.
I'm sorry she had an unwanted pregnancy, I'm sorry she is unhappy with her choices, and most of all I am sorry that her child will grow up so confused because her birthmom isn't willing to own her choice.
I am not a fan of Adoption Network by any means of the imagination, but when people make false allegations like Jenna's, in muddies the water for people who truly have valid complaints.
Adoption is not the right choice for many people, but for many people it allows a child to have stability in their lives that their Firstmom could not offer them. I applaud mother's who have their children's best interest foremost in their minds whether they choose adoption or another alternative.
I am sorry for Mom's who cannot own their decision. If anyone has seen parental termination papers - no one can say they were not informed of the finality of such a decision.
Dani
Clive,Iowa,
U.S.A.
Oh I like this one......
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, August 17, 2007
So, what your saying is, you would rather see a 15 yr old girl keep her baby, drop out of high school, be on state assistance for the rest of her life and your tax dollars pays for it all?
Adoption is an option in lue of abortion. Just because you had a bad experience with an agency because you didn't look into them enough before you chose them, doesn't make adoption a bad thing. It is an alternative to living the stereotype single young parent. What about rape victims? Say you have a woman who is completely against abortion, but got prego from a rape. Would you suggest she keep the baby? It wasn't her choice she got raped, she didn't choose to get pregnant. That baby will grow up knowing how it came about and not knowing anything about it's father, more than likely. Ultimately, it comes down to being the parents fault. They got pregnant when they weren't ready, not the adoption agency.
People on here make it sound like the adoption agency forced the parents to have sex, unprotected, and then give up the baby. I do consider myself a birthmother, not a firstmother. I gave my daughter up for adoption. I was 15 and pregnant. I did not believe in abortion, still don't, and I needed a way out. I was smart and looked for moths into adoption agencies to choose the one right for me. I went with one that was all wrong at first.
I've been through part of this story, but instead of me calling them all the time, I went banging on their doors demanding answers, and I got them because I was persistent and did enough to get what I wanted. I got all my personal info from them and went to another agency. They were awsome. My daughter is in a very excellent home. Her parents (as in all of us) love her very much and spend plenty of time with her.
The moral here is, use protection and birth control, and if you do get pregnant and have to make the decission to give up your baby (because thast is what your doing) look into it long and hard and choose wisely.
Rebecca
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Jenna were in the same boat
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, December 01, 2004
Jenna,
I read you complaint and the exact same thing happen to me except it was another agency. Adoption is a bold face lie. I am so sorry you lost your child to adoption. Young woman get taken advantage of everyday by adoption agencies, attorneys anyone and everyone who stands to make money. Baby's are profits to them. My son was worth 125,000 to the agency. Your not a birthmom your a firstmom. Don't let anyone call your a birthmom thats disrespectful. Birthmom means breeder. There are groups on the internet that are great. They are very anti-adoption I have joined many of them and I think the world of them. There hope is to be able to stop adoption and keep real families together. If you would like to join any groups you can notify me at Firstmom2Ben@yahoo.com. Trust my I get it I really do cause it was done to me just 4 years ago.
Rebecca firstmom2Ben lost 3-5-00