Adoption Facilitators vs Adoption Agency

Prospective adoptive and birth parents are not always completely aware of the differences between adoption facilitators and adoption agencies due to the fact that the use of adoption facilitators is a somewhat new notion in the adoption community.

The American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (Quad A) website states: “A facilitator is a person or organization whose role is solely to make introductions between birth parents and adoptive parents in exchange for a large, non-refundable fee paid in advance. Yet, facilitators are not held to any minimum threshold of expertise, professional training or ethical standards.”

y
In a previous blog post we explained, Adoption facilitators are usually small organizations with one or two staff members who often have no counseling background. Most adoption facilitators advertise to locate pregnant women on behalf of their adoptive clients. Once a woman selects a family, the facilitator will refer both the prospective adoptive family and pregnant women and their families to a local professional (a law firm or licensed adoption agency) and remove themselves from the rest of the adoption process. They are middle men who charge families extra money to facilitate their adoption.

y
Why is the use of adoption facilitators alarming?

Counseling and continued support is important for anyone making an adoption plan, however those working with facilitators are often lacking this important service severely increasing the risk for everyone involved. Without counseling, how are women able to make the right decision for themselves, not to mention prepare for the adoption process, especially after the baby’s birth?

y
Quad A states “face to face counseling with a licensed social worker or counselor experienced in the field is also recommended to ensure they consider the short and long term implications of their decisions.”

y
Women who have come to AFTH after starting with a facilitator have explained they felt as though their facilitators never really tried to get to know them aside from the standard questions. They felt more like a number than a client. The focus seemed to be more about connecting pregnant women and adoptive parents than actually cultivating a good match between families which is important in long term adoption relationship.

y
Why does the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Caution Against Using Facilitators?

There are a few main reasons Quad A cautions prospective adoptive parents against using facilitators which you may have read about if you receive the AFTH Newsletter. First and foremost, the lack of regulations and ethical standards facilitators are held to. The government does not regulate facilitators in the same way they do other adoption professionals.

y
Secondly, Quad A states they have seen many matches from facilitators fall through because of the lack of knowledge of each state’s adoption laws. In many states, it is even illegal to use an adoption facilitator and many prospective adoptive parents do not understand that before paying a lump sum to facilitators. This costs families even more money because they then need to pay an attorney or an agency to complete the adoption as well.

y
Third, facilitators keep their fee whether or not the match leads to an adoption whereas adoption agencies often credit those funds towards another adoption.

y
Fourth, when working with facilitators, prospective adoptive parents are opening themselves up to a higher risk of being scammed. Due to the way facilitators advertise for pregnant women, lack of regulations in regards to money being given to pregnant women for expenses, and lack in-person counseling or even proof of pregnancy, prospective adoptive parents are risking a much higher financial loss due to an unsuccessful match.

y
Finally, adoption facilitators do not have the skill set to properly counsel, support and explain the adoption process to pregnant women and their families, which leads to more failed adoptions.

Making the right decision for you

It is important to make decisions that you feel comfortable with when you are creating your adoption plan as an adoptive parent and as a birth parent. Adoption facilitators are not service providers and their involvement in the adoption process ends after the match has occurred despite the fact that the need for adoption services continues far past the point of a match.