Adoption Facilitator

An adoption facilitator helps those hoping to adopt locate an adoption opportunity. A facilitator does not take the place of an attorneyor offer services of an agency, such as homestudy preparation. A facilitator's function is to help reduce the time it takes to bring these two parties to an adoption together. A facilitator can be a physician, attorney, clergyperson, or other individual. When an individual brings together adopting and placing parents with no fee involved, there are no state restrictions; however, many states do not permit fee-paid facilitators to operate.

International Adoptions

Facilitators are often involved in international adoptions, connecting adopting parents with officials and agencies in foreign countries. Again, as in domestic adoptions, the facilitator exists to help adopting parents locate a child and he/she does not actually arrange the adoption or participate in the legal process.

Domestic Adoptions & Networking

Today, many prospective adoptive parents are taking a proactive role and, even while working with an agency and/or attorney, will network and take steps such as posting an online profile in the hopes of reaching a wider audience that may include a woman or couple making an adoption plan. (Learn more about making and posting an online profile.)

When you consider working with a facilitator, remember that all services connected with adoption (pre-adoption education and counseling, homestudies, legal work) and all legal matters connected with the actual adoption must be conducted by outside professionals who are licensed for this purpose.

To learn whether facilitators are permitted by law to work in your state, contact your State Adoption Specialist.