I-Child on Ramon Rao

Message: 450From: b e t h - i c h i l dReceived: Do Aug 19, 1999 3:53
Subject: HOLT

I saw mention of HOLT and wanted to say that we have adopted twice from
India. For our first, our daughter Elina Pappi's adoption, we used
IFI/Raman Rao of Wash DC.
For our second, Maia's adoption, we worked with HOLT and had a very good
experience with them.

Beth PK
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Beth PK and Paul K
Nicholas (10)
Alexander (8)
Elina Pappi (4 1/2) Hyderabad India (IFI)
Maia Mangal (2) Pune India (HOLT)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has
already achieved, but at what he aspires to."
~Kahlil Gibran~
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Message: 12265From: dbesanko@...Received: Mo Sep 11, 2000 9:28
Subject: Re: Not Mr. RAO again!

Please dear ichilders:

It is a very unwise move to employ the services of a Mr. Raman Rao with IFI
(International Families, Inc.) located (for now) in the Washington, D.C.
area. For those relatively few families who did receive their child using
his agency, it was most certainly happenstance. There could be no other
explanation.

First of all, Mr. Rao was with another agency, Welcome House from which he
was terminated. Mr. Rao is an unscrupulous individual. Some of the
unscrupulous practices which he employed on a regular basis are: asking
families for additional monies (anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000) to expedite
the adoption process, promising the same baby to two different families and
lying about the whereabouts of a child. He does NOT return phone calls. If
you work with this agency, you will be saddled with hundreds of dollars of
phone calls. Mr. Rao does say that you should call him at a certain time of
day. When you call at that time, he is mysteriously not available. One is
told to call back in an hour, then 1/2 an hour, then 10 minutes... still no
availability.

Secondly, Mr. Rao is in the business of textiles in various cities in India.
That is his first and foremost enterprise. He does the extra "business" of
adoption as a side line. So, in fact, he will not be able to give the time
and attention necessary in order to successfully complete your adoption in a
timely and appropriate fashion. Think for a moment. Do you want someone who
has to barter with a dhurrie dealer in Delhi before he gets pictures of your
baby?! We were always told that we would get that updated medical or
picture... or that it was on the way when he, in fact, did not even visit the
orphanage!

Our adoption of our daughter took 22 months! Yes, that was a long time. In
the end, we basically found an Indian Minister of State who helped us with
the adoption so that it became almost a private adoption. However, our
friends, Brad and Barbara Wilkinson waited for over 2 1/2 years and $10,000
later... no baby! Their daughter, Leela was 2 1/2 years old, and that was in
1995! Leela would be 7 1/2 years of age. Mr. Rao called Barbara in late
1996 and asked her if she was still interested in adopting Leela. This after
zero contact for the last 2 years! It sounds insane, doesn't it?! One can
not even imagine the turmoil this couple experienced. (They did adopt two
beautiful girls from Russia, and Barba assists w/ Russian adoption now.)

Anyway, there are many, many agencies which deserve your trust and
confidence. International Families, Inc. (IFI) is NOT one of them! Good
Luck and search until you feel comfortable with the individual you work with.
AND if for some unfortunate reason, you just paid the money to IFI and
haven't yet been assigned a child, GO...RUN!!! Leave the money and get
moving!

I am confident, that I have done my civic duty to let others know my personal
experience. (We did try to have his license revoked in the state of
Maryland. As most of you well know, adoption agencies are NOT regulated, so
there is no way to enforce a minimum standard or conduct.)

Maureen
Mom to Suvarna Maya who is a happy, healthy 2nd grader this year!

P.S. There were 12 other families who were working w/ Mr. Rao who
experienced the devastating after effects of signing on with IFI. We formed
a sort of support group via telephone/email. I can go back into my files and
get the additional families if needed.

Message: 12267From: dbesanko@...Received: Mo Sep 11, 2000 9:49
Subject: Re: NO MORE MR. RAO!

NO MORE MR. RAO!

No MORE IFI (International Families, Inc.) located in Washington, D.C.

Please, please do not use this agency! It does not make any sense to employ
such an unscrupulous agency! I ache for Joan and her family. I know what
she writes is true. She and I would like nothing better than to see that no
other family suffers the anguish that comes from working with Raman Rao. It
is heartbreaking, most especially when it is your child who now is described
as a special needs child.
It is imperative that each family who has this kind of information to come
forward.

Thanks Joan for sharing your story! It is important that Mr. Rao be able to
continue his work in the textile industry full-time. Leave adoption to those
who want to devote their time and energy to it and to the families who employ
them.

Maureen

Message: 12340From: dbesanko@...Received: Mi Sep 13, 2000 11:13
Subject: Re: Mr. Rao? from Maureen

In a message dated 9/12/00 9:28:32 PM Central Daylight Time, pay3050@...
writes:
<<
As far as discussing agencies I am all for it, but the viciousness along
this
route has gone way to far for me. "No more Rao, No more Rao" sounds like a
chant coming from Lord of the Flies. I agree with Patricia, I have heard
enough along this line. Civil conversation I can handle but this is too much.

Michelle,

Hi. This was not meant with any viciousness at all. I am sorry if you felt
that.
My only hope is that after these remaining adoptions are completed with Mr.
Raman Rao, that ichilders will sign on with reputable, reliable agencies.

I am sincere in my plea. I mean no harm to anyone, even Mr. Raman
Rao...especially Mr. Rao. I hope and pray that some time in the near future
that his textile business will provide him all the income necessary to
support and sustain his family. He deserves that and more.

My daughter, Suvarna is 7 1/2 years old. She has been home for 5 years. She
is the healthiest, happiest child I know, and she loves life. Suvarna is in
the 2nd grade and has many friends. We belong to a wonderful network of
Indian friends here, and most of my Indian friends have asked me to please
tell everyone I can about the travails we had with International Families,
Inc. so that others will not suffer our fate. We have a beautiful family and
I feel that we were fortunate enough to have the extra money when we needed
it most to make our adoption a reality because of Mr. Raman Rao's failure to
complete our adoption. Not every family has additional income for such a
purpose.

I was just trying my best to dissuade anyone else from signing on with him.
I still feel that is important. For those families that are in process with
him now, I know they will do whatever is needed to make their adoption happen
as I did. I understand PLAN is one of the agencies working with him now. I
contacted the director of PLAN as soon as I discovered this fact. The
positive aspects of this are that PLAN has had a solid reputation, and will
carry Mr. Raman Rao no matter his performance or lack thereof.

I wish only the best for those families in process w/ IFI. My comments,
though overzealous were not meant to harm anyone... so I am very sorry that
happened to anyone. Please take these comments as my sincerest apology on
the subject.

Maureen

Message: 14461From: renee wilderReceived: Fr Dez 01, 2000 6:08
Subject: Re: Mr. Raman Rao (IFI) (no bashing here) just healing

Oh, Dear Cheryl,

I am with you in your sorrow. I lost my baby girl, Santoshi, before I was
able to bring her home. She was going to have her 1st birthday and I sent
Mr. Rao a box of tenderly wrapped gifts to bring to her. When he arrived,
she had been dead for 3 days.
My grief and heartbreak was beyond bearing.

I want you to know that a mother's grief never goes away but thankfully, the
periods in between become longer and longer as time goes by. The most
important thing you need to remember every time those feelings arise is
this. There was a child that came into to this world that only had you to
love her, and you loved her with all your heart. That love you sent to that
child WAS experienced by her and sustained you both. You made her transition
back to God that much easier. KNOW this. YOU made a difference in the short
life of that child... and YOU have became more enriched by this experience
because of the deep compassion and unconditional love you have developed as
a result of it.

Don't give up on India. There is a child waiting just for you.

Much Love,

Renee (now mother to Leela, age 4)

------Original Message------
From: JCL722@...
To: ichild@egroups.com
Sent: November 30, 2000 5:59:22 PM GMT
Subject: Re: [ichild] Mr. Raman Rao (IFI) (no bashing here) just healing

Maureen-

Thank you for your post. I am in the process of healing. I was involved
Williams International and Peter Subbaiah. I was referred twins, scandal
babies. I believe one of the twins has died and other one unattainable. We
have started with another agency and started a new adoption. All this has
occurred in the past eight weeks.

I have times of extreme grief, it seems to come from nowhere. I fight the
depression every day. Even though I have the new adoption to look forward
to, I still am struggling. I am not looking forward to the holidays, we
have
no children. But it is good to know over time this will become easier. It
seems such a part of who I am. I blame myself for not looking into Williams
before the problems, and I putting all my dreams and trust into Christine
Williams hands. I am glad you are past all this pain and hurt.

Cheryl in Ohio

Message: 15129From: dbesanko@...Received: So Dez 24, 2000 9:33
Subject: Re: Love and support of Ichild family!

Thanks Judy! I agree! Had Ichild been around when we were selecting our
agency, we never would have agreed to work w/ International Families, Inc. &
Raman Rao. Too many people would have told us which agencies were the most
reputable, not to mention reliable. Not only is it much easier to find the
best agency w/ Ichild, but the love and support that is offered is so
wonderful. (I just referred a woman I met yesterday to Ichild. They live in
Evanston and have a 9 year old son adopted from Ethiopia and are interested
in adopting from India. I told her Ichild would be her best bet in locating
the right agency.) Thanks Ichilders!

Maureen, mom to Suvarna Maya 7 yrs

Message: 15819From: dbesanko@...Received: So Jan 14, 2001 12:13
Subject: Re: 2nd adoption?!

Can any of you Ichilders tell us about adopting a second child. My husband
and I are considering a 2nd child from India. Suvarna would love a little
sister. We are in the talking stage.

The trust issues are especially BIG ones for us, given what we went through
working with International Families, Inc. and Raman Rao for the first
adoption ( no phone
calls, no updated medicals, pictures... no nothing).
Adoption is a leap of faith, we just leapt too far and too wide with this
agency. (Obviously, it has taken us a great deal of time to rebound from
this.
It has been 5 years since our last adoption!... and I still don't know if
I/we can do it.)

Also, could anyone else tell me their experiences? What was the time frame
after submitting dossier... to assignment of a child? then time frame for
actual placement? We would travel to India to bring her home.

The things we are most interested in are updated and timely medicals, photos,
phone calls on a regular basis (every week) etc. Which agencies (in your
opinion
are most representative of this? Are there such agencies?) We are
interested in adopting a relatively healthy child under 3 years of age.

Thanks.

Maureen
Mom to Suvarna Maya, 7 yrs
Wife to David

Message: 17388From: dbesanko@...Received: Di Mrz 13, 2001 9:09
Subject: Re: help, advice to Pat & others working w/ Mr. Raman Rao

Pat,

First of all, let me say how very sorry I am that this is happening to you
and your family! Your Deval should have been home by now. I know and
understand some of the terrible anguish you are going through. Our daughter
came after 22 months (w/ Rao as our "facilitator") Our friends, Barb and
Brad's daughter, Leela was the longest adoption at 26 months! (I need a page
to tell their story!)

Yes, indeed, anyone who works w/ Raman Rao w/ International Families, or
through other agencies who work w/ him could be taking a risk. (Again, it is
imperative each family knows if their agency has an intermediary or
facilitator.) Mr. Rao is infamously known by long-time ichilders and others
as being unscrupulous in his adoption practices. What do I mean when I say
"unscrupulous"? He promises the same child to two different families
simultaneously. He asks for additional escort money after the escort pay has
been paid, in order to "expedite" the child being brought home. In
addition, Mr. Rao promises to take photos of the child or get an updated
medical when he is in India, and then fails to produce either.

Please, let me clarify for anyone who might misinterpret my intentions. It
is my intention to give information to those starting out w/ Indian adoption.
If you or your agency is already working w/ Mr. Rao, don't panic, unless you
are in the situation Pat is in. Mr. Rao promised guardianship papers in
December. That was 3 months ago, and quite an inordinate amount of time,
especially given the fact that the earthquake happened a few weeks after he
was in India.

For those who are just beginning an Indian adoption, make certain that your
agency is accountable for giving you necessary and important updates. Work
out a plan in advance of how often you wish to be contacted. Ask how many
medical reports and photos of the child you will receive. Will there be a
video? I noted a report recently from a family who's adoption agency took a
13 minute video of the child and went over all the various medical aspects
and fine and gross motor skills. (Now, that is a solid agency.) If things
get bogged down or delayed unnecessarily, seek help from ichild members who
can put you in touch w/ a range of individuals who may be able to assist.
Remember, it is important to have realistic expectations. However, it is
just as important to know when to ask for additional help, guidance and
support!

Pat, please keep us updated on the status of Deval! We will keep praying
that the guardianship papers are sent soon!

Best,
Maureen

Message: 17698From: glorytg@...Received: Fr Mrz 23, 2001 5:16
Subject: Re: calling the Ashram

In a message dated 3/23/01 2:36:18 PM, vbindia@... writes:

<< Mr. Rao (what is his full name anyway? >>

Raman Rao. It is burned in my memory!! And I agree; any agency which
associates itself with him tars themselves with the same brush; he has been
pulling the same things for years now, and there are certainly enough people
talking that these agencies should have no trouble finding out his practices.
I was contactedf by an agency who was considering him quite a while ago. I
told them the truth, and they did NOT sign with him. The crazy part is that
RR himself gave them my name as a reference. The man truly has no clue!!!

Laura
Wife to Shaun, the other grownup, mother to Andy, 19, bio - Lisa, 17, bio -
Sonal, 9, arrived age 6 from Mahipatram Rupram Ashram, Ahmedabad, Gujarat,
India - IFI and Paul, 5, arrived from Hong Kong 12/14/00 - TBA Den
mother to Cody the terrier, Carol and Marcus the beagles, Bullseye and Taylor
the greyhounds, and Abby, Casey, Anya and Mr. Beans the cats.

Message: 17887From: dbesanko@...Received: Mi Mrz 28, 2001 10:04
Subject: Re: Raman Rao - continue praying for those who are working w/

We continue to pray for those who are working with Raman Rao!
These are our most fervent prayers: That your child come home safely and
quickly, and that once home, and the realization of what happened and what we
experienced makes us all stronger in knowing that we can never again work
with an individual / agency with so little compunction in regard to our
Indian children. It is not fair to them nor is it fair to our families.
Each child deserves a timely and expedient placement with their forever
families. Each of us must make that decision, so that no child has a wait
that is uncomprehensible. This is our decision. We can make that change.
We have that ability, that power within each of us.

We truly believe that conscious thought among many can bring about change and
can make things happen.

Namaste,

Maureen
Mom to Suvarna Maya

Message: 17891From: dbesanko@...Received: Mi Mrz 28, 2001 10:55
Subject: Re: Raman Rao an International Families, Inc.

In a message dated 3/28/01 7:33:40 AM CST slunaker@... writes:
<<
We are just beginning the adoption process and how do you avoid this Rao
character? What agency is he with? It's frightening what people do
sometimes and my prayers are with you for the quick arrival of your child.

Pleae, don't be unduly frightened in beginning the adoption of your Indian
child. This listserve (ichild) will help you immensely. It is important,
however, to do your homework by carefully investigating each prospective
agency (independent of what any one individual tells you). It may be helpful
that another family on ichild re-confirmed your assessment of a particular
agency. It is important to call each agency and ask for several recent
references. It is a good idea once you have narrowed your agency selections
to post again on ichild, asking for specifics about each one.

This particular individual, Raman Rao has been around since we adopted our
then 2 1/2 year old daughter five years ago! A few agencies continue to work
with him perhaps for lack of a better Indian source. His agency is called
International Families, Inc. in Washington, D.C. He uses fear and
intimidation with people. A few of us have decided to take a stand and say
NO MORE!

I apologize profusely for any family who is currently working w/ Raman Rao
and International Families, Inc. These statements are made for any NEW or
prospective families ONLY. This is not meant to alarm current families. I
wish you speedy placement of your children. However, I can not sit back and
let another new family go into an adoption placement w/ him, if I can help
it. I wish that hell on no one.
Please know that we have a collective responsibility to ensure that all our
Indian born children arrive safely and in a timely fashion through
responsible placement.

I wish you well in your adoption journey!

Maureen
Mom to Suvarna Maya, 7 1/2 years

Message: 18072From: dbesanko@...Received: Mo Apr 02, 2001 5:59
Subject: Re: INS and other tips

I got very tired of getting the voice mail messages for INS Chicago, calling
yet another telephone number w/ EVEN more messages, telling me to press
number after number. I also was working w/ Raman Rao, so I was very
depressed to begin with. I did not need the aggravation of calling these
lines to no avail. I already knew that routine w/ Rao. So, when we had the
actual appointment w/ Jeanne (no longer at INS), I wrote down the two
telephone numbers as they were listed on her telephone.
Sure, enough they were her direct telephone lines. The next times I called,
I was able to speak directly with her. She did not seem surprised that I had
these numbers. Now, I am not advocating that anyone do anything they do not
believe in or think is appropriate. (I probably would not have done this had
I been working w/ an adequate agency. They would have been advocating for
me.) I just made a personal decision that I needed one part, just one part
of the adoption maze to be available to me when I needed it to be.

Also, if you feel that your adopton process has bogged down w/ unnecessarily
long delays, w/ little or inadequate information and/or assistance from your
agency, involve your state representatives. Call the governor's office for
your state. Typically, each state has an ombudsman's office to help citizens
who need specific help. What happened in our case is our rep. wrote a letter
to the Indian consulate, asking for their input and involvement. Obviously,
one would proceed w/ this if their agency was not giving them timely
information.

One last bit of advice, try not to feel intimidated by your agency or
pressured by them to send additional money to "expedite" the adoption. These
tactics are ones of a poor agency who has little expertise in professional
adoption practices.

Maureen

Message: 18567From: T.LeppertReceived: Di Apr 24, 2001 3:07
Subject: Re: Hyderabad scandals

My heart is so heavy right now for those now caught in an uncertain
situation because of this most recent situation in Hyderabad, and even more
so, for those still waiting for children who they expected to join their
families more than 2 years ago.

At this time, it is very difficult for those of us who are thousands of
miles away to know exactly what is, or is not, actually taking place--and
that uncertainty is frightening.

I think it's important that all of us support the Indian government's
investigations of these allegations. Our daughter, Moriah, came home to us
just weeks before the last scandal reached the newspapers, so I'm painfully
aware of many of the accusations which are being made. I cannot bear to
think that her birthparents might have been influenced to relinquish her by
someone appealing to their need for cash. This goes against everything that
adoption is supposed to be about. We did not enter this process to acquire a
child at any cost--we wanted to add children to our family, AND we wanted to
help provide a family for children who needed one.

HELEN--If you have not formally accepted a referral yet from either of these
two orphanages that you mentioned, I would seriously consider a referral
from another state in India. It's possible that these homes will be cleared
in short order, but it's also possible that the children currently in
custody by the state may never be released to the overseas families who are
waiting for them. You will have to listen to your own heart and ask MANY,
many questions of your agency before you make a decision.

RE: THE USUAL CAST OF CHARACTERS: I think it's also timely to point out
that the "Mr. Rao" mentioned in the recent news accounts is not Mr. Raman
Rao (the adoption facilitator mentioned often on ichild), but Mr. Sanjeeva
Rao. There was some confusion on this in the past, since Raman Rao does
facilitate adoptions in Hyderabad.

I am most happy to offer my story and my work to help share the hundreds of
happy stories of forever families including children from India.

--Cheryl in MO

Message: 18657From: dbesanko@...Received: Fr Apr 27, 2001 11:00
Subject: Re: Marshall Islands children - blown away?!

Melissa,

I think some of us were somewhat "blown away" by a post on Wednesday asking
for an interested family in less than 48 hours, to adopt two children who are
with their birth family, by flying to Hawaii on Friday, seeing a physician on
Sat. for the medical and pay $20,000- $23,000 agency fee plus $3,800 program
fees (you did not mention if this was for one child, or both children, so if
you do the math...it does equal $50,000 for both children).

We also worked w/ Raman Rao... so I, personally have a very negative view of
the word "facilitator". What exactly do they facilitate? Why couldn't some
of the fees (no care is involved as these particular children are still w/
their family of origin) go to help sustain and support these families in
crisis. It could mean the difference of having this family stay together or
having them separate. It just un-nerves me that such an urgent and immediate
situation would be so extreme in nature (amount of money requested and time
limitations of 48 hours) (We personally spend more time planning our family
vacations.)

I have had several friends who were foster care parents for children for as
little as two weeks to as long as two years, and I think that this might be a
necessary step for these two children in this particular situation until the
time and care needed is invested in finding their forever family.

Hoping and praying for the best for these two young children and their
families,
Maureen

In a message dated 4/27/01 6:37:57 PM Central Daylight Time,
ifsadoptions@... writes:

<<
Wow, I am blown away by all of the reaction to this situation. I
just want to clarify some things. First of all the fee is no where
near $50,000. I don't know where that is coming from. The agency
fee is as always $3800 and the program fee is around $20,000
depending upon expenses involved in the adoption. None of the fees
are to be multiplied by two and no part of the program fee goes to
the agency which is non profit and always has been. Secondly, all
anyone is trying to do is help children. Period. Adoption is such a
sensitive subject that somehow, somewhere, someone is always upset
about the way things are said or done. I fear greatly that my
personal actions have affected some people's views on an agency that
is totally dedicated to helping children and families. We (IFS)were
simply asked if we had a family who might be interested in these
children. I then posted the situation on ichild. In all probability
these children will wait in foster care for a family and I cannot
agree that that is what is best for them. So, in the future I will
not be posting about waiting children. I never meant to stir up such
a debate or give a bad impression of an excellent agency. If any of
you remember, IFS was the agency that totally covered my adoption
expenses for Jaya Kunda because Mr. Rao took my money and basically
ran away with it. I am new at this and was simply trying to help.
Melissa >>

Message: 20185From: Joan AugerReceived: So Jun 17, 2001 5:39
Subject: Traveling and the Truth

Having to travel to adopt in India will deter some prospective
families, but for families who have the misfortune of working with Mr.
Raman Rao of International Families, Inc., maybe this change will finally
prompt this man to start telling the truth. Mr Rao has long discouraged
families from traveling to bring their children home. Will he continue
to make excuses and tell parents whatever it takes to get them off the
phone if he knows that those parents will be going to the orphanage and
may get the real story? I don't think he would have told me that my
youngest daughter was "doing so well that the social worker wants to
adopt her herself" if he had known that I would be going over there to
find a child so globally delayed that she did not even sit up at 15
months. Most agencies are reputable and give parents the information
that they know, but occasionally families who travel may find out that
they have been misled.

Joan in UT

Message: 20195From: Melodie WillihnganzReceived: So Jun 17, 2001 9:58
Subject: RE: Traveling and the Truth

Joan, I hope your daughter is doing well now. Where was she waiting for
you, and when did she come home? I have heard so many stories about this
Raman Rao. And none of them positive. I am sorry you and your daughter had
to go through such an ordeal.

Melodie

Message: 20200From: dbesanko@...Received: So Jun 17, 2001 7:00
Subject: Re: Travel/ Truth/ Double Dipping

AND may I add -

Raman Rao will not ever be able to DOUBLE DIP AGAIN by getting away with
charging families an escort fee, and THEN having the folks at Northwest
Airlines escort the child for free (using an employee)! Nothing like a
little mending of the ways to help restore a little balance and order to
those agencies who are unscrupulous. I know of too many families that paid
an escort fee, only to have Rao fly the child gratis.

There you go... another positive aspect of the travel requirement.

Maureen
Mom to Suvarna Maya, 7 3/4 years old

Message: 20218From: dbesanko@...Received: Mo Jun 18, 2001 11:33
Subject: Re: [ichild Anyone currently w/ Raman Rao?

Is anyone currently working w/ Raman Rao and International Families, Inc.?!
Please don't be afraid to post to the list. Fear is what Rao thrives on...
that, and lack of information for prospective families. We can help you by
offering support and encouragement. In addition, since many of us have been
there/done that, we may be able to offer you some tips on working w/ someone
who:

does not return phone calls, says he is in a meeting several times a day when
you call, says he will send you an updated medical and photos of your child
(and then never does!), tells you to call him back tomorrow and he is another
meeting, same thing for the next day and the day after that.

Don't feel bad that you chose the wrong agency. It can happen to anyone! As
long as we as consumers and as adoptive families don't share our experiences,
our stories, it can happen again and again. Just remember, after all you
have been through, would you want anyone to go through this?! There are
many good and reputable agencies to work with. No one needs this kind of
trauma.

We continue to pray for families who are working w/ Mr. Raman Rao. Moreover,
know that you have a voice and that we are here for you through all the
tumult. Knowing that someone else experienced something similar can be an
enormous sense of relief that you are NOT going crazy. Also, if you are
afraid to post to the ICHILD list for fear of repercussions, email a person
you know who has posted and had a similar tough time.

The new guidelines/ standards for travel will help enormously in reducing the
effects of unscrupulous adoption practices that Mr. Rao employs... such as
billing the client (adoptive family) for $3700 in escort fees only to have
the child fly w/ him using his frequent flier miles or having an airline fly
them w/ an employee.

Maureen

Message: 20223From: glorytg@...Received: Mo Jun 18, 2001 3:07
Subject: Re: Re: [ichild Anyone currently w/ Raman Rao?

In a message dated 6/18/01 9:37:14 AM, dbesanko@... writes:

<< Is anyone currently working w/ Raman Rao and International Families,
Inc.?!
Please don't be afraid to post to the list. Fear is what Rao thrives on...
that, and lack of information for prospective families. >>

Does RR still make families sign a statement that they will not access ichild?

<<unscrupulous adoption practices that Mr. Rao employs... such as
billing the client (adoptive family) for $3700 in escort fees only to have
the child fly w/ him using his frequent flier miles or having an airline fly
them w/ an employee.>>

I can go this one better. When Sonal came at age 6, she was escorted by
"Billy", a friend or business associate of RR's. There were also 2 toddlers
along. Sonal fed, changed and played with them (believe me, she was well
capable of it) while Billy slept!! I think the wrong person got the escort
fee!

Message: 21326From: dbesanko@...Received: Mi Aug 01, 2001 2:07
Subject: Re: Agencies--We need help!

Julie,

IF there is a BEST OF ALL Agencies list, IFI (International Families, Inc.)
would not make it in either of the following categories:

Reputable - Raman Rao has promised the same child to two DIFFERENT families
Trustworty - Mr. Rao says he will call then does not. He only returns phone
calls
BEFORE the fees have been paid. After that, you're on your
own.
Remember the movie, "The Money Pit" (w/ Tom Hanks) where
the
contractors would race up to the house and demand extra $$$ in
order
to "expedite" the work that had not even begun?!
Recommended - Only people who feel that as long as their Indian born
daughter/
son comes home sometime before their 3rd birthday (if
they started the adoption as an infant), and those young
toddlers come home
before their 6th or 7th birthday feel that IFI is an o.k.
agency to work
with.

Then again, this is my personal opinion. There must be several others out
there.
Let's help Julie and any other family who are making the BIG DECISION.
Remember, nothing else influences your adoption outcome more than agency.

Maureen

I feel like I've been wandering in the desert for months trying to find an
adoption agency that is reputable, trustworthy, and recommended. Can anyone
tell me the name of an agency they have used and had a wonderful experience
with? We are interested in Children's House International (CHI) and
International Families, Inc. (IFI). Any input on those two agencies? Isn't
there a BEST OF ALL agencies for adoptions from India??? Thanks for helping
us...

--Julie

Publication date: 2000

Persons: Raman Rao