One of the many adoption professionals you may work with throughout the placing journey is an adoption facilitator. The concept of an adoption facilitator can be confusing due to the variations in each state. Before beginning the placement process, it is important to understand which adoption professionals you’ll need to work with. With that in mind, below are the basics of an adoption facilitator. Once you understand the specifics, you can then make an informed decision about whether or not you should employ the help of a local adoption facilitator.
What is an adoption facilitator?
An adoption facilitator is someone who aides in adoption but is not licensed as an adoption agency or as an adoption attorney.
What are the duties and responsibilities of an adoption facilitator?
The most common duty or responsibility of a facilitator is to match birth parents with adoptive parents and vice versa. In essence, adoption facilitators provide adoption and placement matching.
What are the fees for using a facilitator?
This is where the variances occur. In most states, facilitators don’t charge a fee at all because the majority of states don’t allow it. A lack of accepted certification could be one reason for that, as well as a lack of regulation by the state for adoption facilitators. However, not all states disallow adoption facilitators from charging fees. Fifteen states actually allow adoption facilitators to charge for their services. But this is only true if the services and the adoption facilitators meet certain state-specific criteria.
How can an adoption facilitator be a detriment?
Using a facilitator isn’t right for every person. It is completely dependent on the individual case or situation. However, for some people, using an adoption facilitator can be detrimental to the placement or adoption process. If you live in a state other than the expressed fifteen that allow limited compensation and you pay your adoption facilitator, it can slow or stop the finalization process. There are rules, laws, and guidelines through the adoption and finalization processes. If any that you use—no matter how small and trivial they may seem—aren’t followed, it can affect everything done up to that point.
How can you find a facilitator?
Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a facilitator. That way, you’ll not only get the contact information but also personal and professional references of that adoption facilitator’s services. Here at Adoption.com, we have an ever-growing directory of adoption professionals. You just have to choose the state and which type of adoption professional you’re looking for, and that’s it!
Before including the services of a local facilitator in your placing process, make sure you check on your state’s established guidelines, rules, laws, and regulations. And now that you know the basics of working with an adoption facilitator, you can make an informed decision about whether or not his or her services would be valuable to you as you continue your journey.
Are you considering placing a child for adoption? Not sure what to do next? First, know that you are not alone. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98 to speak to one of our Options Counselors to get compassionate, nonjudgmental support. We are here to assist you in any way we can.
