Beacon House??

JSquare · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 07:15 AM

After speaking with 4 agencies/attorneys last week I was exhausted! Yesterday we received the packet from the adoption attorney that I liked last week. Just the pre-application fee is a non-refundable $750

and their time frame is 18-24 months! I'm not happy with that news. The other agency, who we are meeting with next week, has shorter average wait times and costs a little less, but DH is worried about the religion thing. On their website it says "interdenominational adoptions" but they also say as the #2 requirement for adoptive parents that the child is raised in a "religious and moral home" and I don't know if that means they won't like us because we don't belong to a church or go regularly? We believe in God and have good morals, but how do they judge that?

So I started more research today and found Beacon House. They have an office in Florida and I liked all the info on their website. Do you ladies have any information on them? The costs look about the same as the others and the average wait time is a little shorter.

I'm on research overload

theluvof2moms · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 09:01 AM

You go Jsquare getting all your homework done.

I would ask each agency about the religous part of things, I know some require the religion others are much more lean about it. I have not heard of Beacon House but that doesn't mean anything.

I'm sorry I am no help right now but you are doing a great job finding what will work best for you guys!

nicoleb · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 11:22 AM

I haven't heard anything about Beacon House. I agree with Kristine about just asking them upfront.

Just a word of caution, just because they quote an "average wait time" doesn't mean your time will fall within that wait. It could come within 2 days of being in the birthmother book or 4 years. It is all up to the birthmom.

It depends on your budget, but from all our research, we found we got WAY more bang for our buck using an attorney. They don't have NEAR the amount of clients that agencies have.

JMO!

Good luck.

leanrog · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 02:03 PM

I haven't heard of Beacon House either so I'm sorry that I can't offer any advice on that. It sounds like you are really doing your homework though and I'm sure when you find the right agency you will feel it in your gut. I know that's no help...sorry

JSquare · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 02:52 PM

It's always helpful to get encouragement

And yeah, I'm not taking any agencies "we place in XX months" as reality. I know it depends on so many factors and intangibles that they cannot possibly promise anything in terms of a time-frame.

I requested a packet from Beacon House since I wasn't able to get them on the phone today. I spoke with another agency today too and I really liked them. The lady who runs it and I have a mutual friend which is cool. We have an appointment with that agency in a couple of weeks. So that's 2 packets and 2 appointments. I really hope one of these is "the" one!

mildlydelirious · #6 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 11:48 PM

Wow! You are really moving along. You go girl.

I have heard of Beacon House but I don't know anything about them to share.

It sounds like you are getting pretty close to deciding which way to go though.

~m