THE BABY BROKERS

Regarding “The Baby Brokers,” by Karen Stabiner (Aug. 14): Although it is not widely known, public and private licensed adoption agencies today offer a full range of “open adoption” services, as well as traditional, confidential adoptions. In marked contrast to independent adoptions, agencies recognize the intense emotional complexities inherent in the adoption process. Agencies offer free counseling services to help expectant parents and adoptive couples during the adoption to ensure that all parties are comfortable with the decisions they are making. Also in contrast to independent adoption, communication between the parties can be facilitated with the agency’s assistance. Each party always has the agency as a neutral third party whom they can call upon for help or information long after the adoption is finalized.

Agencies do direct placement of children from the hospital to the adoptive family; identities are shared when parties wish to share them, including follow-up plans for the child; agencies process requests of couples and birth parents who come in together having pre-selected each other; agencies always place the child’s best interests above all other considerations. To us, this is the greatest benefit offered to the adoptive triad.

DONNA WILKERSON KENDALL

CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY OF

CALIFORNIA

Los Angeles