Black Adoption Placement and Research Center Closes

“A number of would-be parents have had their hearts broken, after the adoption agency they turned to suddenly closed.

Several would-be parents put their trust in an adoption agency and went through the adoption process and even got close to finding a child only to learn that it closed without notice.

Parents received little explanation from the agency, which had some high-powered connections.

After 32 years and hundreds of placed children, the Black Adoption Placement and Research Center of San Leandro went out of business, leaving behind would-be parents in its wake.

Kara Crochett of El Cerrito and her husband Lamart went through the adoption qualification process, which took a year.

“I was actually adopted as an infant and I always wanted to give back to another child,” Crochett said.

As part of the process, they made a book filled with photos.

The agency returned that book in the mail with their documents, along with a letter with a generic salutation. It said only that the Black Adoption Placement and Research Center was closing, with no explanation, and no offer for future help.

“It bothers me the most that they got to know our family,” Crochett said. “If they are going to go out of business, which I can totally understand, why didn’t you try to bridge us or have a call with us. Communicate with us months ago and let us know months ago,’We’re in trouble’ or ‘We’re going to close.’ Let us have the opportunity to go to another agency.”

The letter was signed by board chairman Barbara Parker, who is also the Oakland City attorney.

She issued a statement which read, in part: “A small number of families are in the process of applying for adoption. We understand this is difficult for them. This may make it more difficult. However, for those families the process can be continued with another agency.”

After all Crochett has been through that’s a small consolation.

“Maybe it is not our time,” Crochett said.”

ONLY ON ABC7NEWS.COM: SAN LEANDRO ADOPTION AGENCY’S CLOSURE DASHES HOPES[ABC 7 3/27/15 by Wayne Freedman]

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