I am trying to decide if I should change our foster - adopt placement agency. Where I live, there are many agencies that work with social services to place foster - adopt children. You interview the agencies, pick one, and then go through the home study process, training and licensing with that particular agency. The home study is not transferable, and stays with the agency. If we wanted to adopt an already waiting child, we could contract our own home study, but for the legal risk placements, we stay with only one agency.

We've been with the same agency for years now, but they've gone from a part-time small agency with great caseworkers and customer service to an almost non existent agency with no caseworker. They sub contract caseworkers and other services as they need them. We have to find our own training opportunities to keep up with the yearly requirements.

What's the trouble? Well, I am loyal to the agency that brought us our beloved K. We've stayed with them through thick and thin and since they are small, we've developed a personal relationship with the owner. I like that. Since they don't have many families waiting, we often get the calls first, as soon as they get them. I like that as well.

The downside is that they don't get many placement phone calls any more. If they aren't right by the phone, they may miss the phone call and the child will go through another agency. Also, they just don't have support services in place. We have to find our own respite services, and schedule everything ourselves.

We can change agencies. We'd just have to start all over again with our home study, training, fingerprints.

I do pro and con lists in my head. Pro: we know the agency, we are licensed. It would only take one phone call to place a child with us.

Con: We may wait a long time for that call.

Pro: We can wait a while, we aren't in any rush.

And so on it goes in my head. To switch or not to switch.

This is a dilemma many parents go through. I wish there was an easy answer.