How to Choose an Adoption Facilitator

An adoption facilitator can make finding a child that you want to adopt easier. The main job of the adoption facilitator is to match a woman who is giving birth to a family who will adopt and care for the newborn. This can be an overwhelming process, if you try to go it alone. So how do you find a good adoption facilitator? Read on.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. An adoption facilitator is not required to have a license, but you can certainly find social workers or adoption attorneys who do hold licenses. A good adoption facilitator doesn't have to have a license, but some people feel more secure if they know someone does.
2. Some states do not allow the practice of using an adoption facilitator, so it is best to know the laws in your state surrounding this issue. Even if your state does allow the use of a facilitator, there may be a chance that a lawyer has to be involved in the legalities in order to make a new adoption finalized.
3. There have been many cases reported where an adoption facilitator has not been honest with a family wanting to adopt. Some facilitators have been know to rip families off knowing that they are emotionally vulnerable in the adoption process. But there are many, many honest and reputable facilitators if you do your research about them properly.
4. Always use the services of the Better Business Bureau to check out a potential adoption facilitator. Come armed with many questions when you are interviewing a facilitator. Questions such as "How long have you been a facilitator?" "Are you licensed?" and "How do you go about finding mothers wanting to give up their child at birth?" are all reasonable questions to ask, along with many others.
5. When choosing an adoption facilitator, be very aware of their fee structure. While facilitators usually charge as much as an adoption agency, high fees and hidden fees should be a concern. Check around with multiple facilitators before making your final decision, as it is an expensive ordeal.
6. The bottom line is that no adoption can ever be fully guaranteed. If an adoption facilitator promises you results, you may want to avoid working with them. Many outside factors can make an adoption fall through in an instant. Keep your mental status in check during this emotional roller coaster ride.

Tips & Warnings

• Do your research before making a final decision.
• Contact your Better Business Bureau to check up on potential adoption facilitators.
• Get references from families who have actually used an adoption facilitator that you are interested in.
• Avoid facilitators with exuberant fees.
• If a facilitator has a license, check with governing agencies to make sure the license is valid.