Placing children, many of whom have complex needs, with an unrelated adoptive family is one of the most important decisions in childcare. This survey of adoption agencies in England and Wales, part of the Adoption Research Initiative, comprises the first stage of a larger research study, 'An Investigation of Family Finding and Matching in Adoption'. It captures a snapshot of current linking and matching practice, revealing varying costs and outcomes for children, innovative practice and diametrically opposed views about this subject amongst practitioners.