What We Need to Consider When Choosing an
Adoption Professional
Adoption Professional
ADOPTION INSIGHT
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Written by KS
Saturday, 20 May 2006
The first step in choosing the best professionals for the adoption process is to
check the qualifications as well as the affiliations of the professionals we’re
considering working with. After the initial screening, design a checklist that is
diligently adhered to. Ask yourself the following questions:
The above points are general guidelines to help us select professionals who will
best support our efforts in the adoption process. We need to be careful of
professionals who are eager to tell us only what they sense we want to hear
without a mention of the possible pitfalls. We don’t necessarily want to hear that
we can adopt quickly for a meager budget and that signing their contract or wiring
funds is the logically next step. What we want to hear is an honest assessment of
our good/moderate/bad possibilities of adopting with in a certain time frame,
within certain budgetary limits. Developed from certain logical reasons that are
based on facts that a detailed plan of action may help accomplish, all based on our
individual circumstances.
Here are some other tips to help make our decisions:
Adoption support professionals need to be able to document every detail. This is
crucial because if the adoption matter in question were to be later challenged in
court, the professional would need to present the documented facts in a logical
and unbiased manner, all the while exhibiting moderation in presenting the facts
as they apply to your adoption. Adoption professionals need to leave no stone
unturned in securing as much of the necessary information prior to the finalization
process in court.
The relationship between the client, attorneys and other professionals must be
cohesive enough to be prepared to resolve any potential conflicts. Our
responsibilities are to bring in the appropriate professionals in a timely manner so
that he/she is fully aware of all the relevant facts. Recommendations from peers
and word-of-mouth from those you respect who have gone through this process
are probably the best ways to identify a set of possible
experts from which to choose.
The Final Round in the Selection of Professionals
We’ve now identified some very competent people who could fill the role of the
support professionals we’ll need. How do we now select the best of them? Here are
additional guidelines. Relationship with client or other parties: Perform a conflict
check and a check on possible links between the professionals and other clients.
Dependent on the nature of the task, evidence of such relationships are extremely
damaging for the credibility of both the client and the professionals. Also check if
the professionals are working with additional families for this one adoption
possibility.
Meeting: Schedule at least an hour’s meeting to discuss all available facts of the
adoption plan with the professional. Discuss the adoption particulars to gauge
his/her preliminary opinion and experience in the particulars of this situation, the
professional's feel for the adoption plan and whether he/she feels comfortable
representing you or participating in the adoption plan. We must evaluate the
personality and appearance of the adoption professional
Appearance: Does this person sound credible and will he/she be effective in their
interaction with the Birth Mother and other professionals involved in the adoption
process?
Personality: Compatibility with all adoption professionals chosen to accomplish
this goal as well as compatibility with us.
Personal Bias or Prejudice: It’s important to determine if the adoption
professional has a personal bias or prejudice that would be detrimental to his/her
credibility and to the adoption in question. While the facts of the adoption may be
favorable for us, any hint of bias or prejudice on the part of any of the professionals
could tip the scales the other way with a Birth Mother.
Compensation: Compensation must be discussed in full detail, including methods
of compensation and differing fees and expenses for the entire adoption process,
consulting services; additional professionals needed and travel time (if applicable).
Background investigation that should be considered:
It would be ideal at this stage to be able to select professionals who have all the
qualities of being an expert in conflict resolution as well. Look for future articles to
outline how the effective use of adoption professionals will enhance our adoption
process.
Conclusion
The road to the adoption process has just begun and there are miles to go before
we are done. We’ll be spared of many a sleepless night if we research all
professionals before engaging them, while keeping well documented files of all
actions by every professional representing our adoption process.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 22 November 2006 )
Saturday, 20 May 2006
The first step in choosing the best professionals for the adoption process is to
check the qualifications as well as the affiliations of the professionals we’re
considering working with. After the initial screening, design a checklist that is
diligently adhered to. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do other professionals in their area of expertise recognize the professional?
- Does the professional have the relevant accreditations, licensing, bonding or
what ever requirements that state has for a particular professional
program? Specifically in the field of professional practice such as an
attorney, does he/she have the appropriate designations? Do the other
professionals such as councilors or agencies have the appropriate
designations and continuation of education in their area of expertise apart
from other advanced degrees? Is his/her Curriculum Vitae or resume
relevant for your purposes? Are his/her major accomplishments current?
This sort of checklist is necessary for each professional we’re working with
in the adoption process. - Is the professional respected as an authority, published books/articles or
given speeches or teach classes in the specific area you will need expertise
on? - Does the professional exhibit familiarity with the mechanics of thoroughly
knowing his/her industry? For instance what is their knowledge and
resources to information not only about the state they are doing business in
but other state laws that may be involved in your particular circumstance. - Does the professional have significant experience specifically in the field of
adoptions? Is any of this experience in the adoption specialty areas you
require assistance in? How impressive is the track record of this
professional? - Does the professional appear objective or could he/she give the impression
of being a hired gun? - Does the professional have a good presence of mind and effective
communication skills?
The above points are general guidelines to help us select professionals who will
best support our efforts in the adoption process. We need to be careful of
professionals who are eager to tell us only what they sense we want to hear
without a mention of the possible pitfalls. We don’t necessarily want to hear that
we can adopt quickly for a meager budget and that signing their contract or wiring
funds is the logically next step. What we want to hear is an honest assessment of
our good/moderate/bad possibilities of adopting with in a certain time frame,
within certain budgetary limits. Developed from certain logical reasons that are
based on facts that a detailed plan of action may help accomplish, all based on our
individual circumstances.
Here are some other tips to help make our decisions:
- Has the professional received continued training as a professional in the
area we’re seeking expertise in? - If the professional is part of a firm, an organization, or agency that offers
additional adoption support, does that firm, organization or agency conduct
internal training seminars to ensure that its professionals are "tuned in"? Is
there a chance that this professional is static in his/her thought process? - How accessible are various research materials to the professional? Does
he/she have an in-house library at work, and additional resources of
information and professionals at his/her ready disposal? - How does the professional handle paper work documentation? For the
purposes of verifying documentation, are all work papers and preliminary
conclusions/information usually kept by the professional? Does the
professional take care to dispose of previous information when it is found to
be erroneous? This is important in an adoption setting since your
professional may need to document statements or adoption issues to the
court or social services. Is the professional generally available to answer
questions on a courtesy basis or will every call generate a billing statement?
Adoption support professionals need to be able to document every detail. This is
crucial because if the adoption matter in question were to be later challenged in
court, the professional would need to present the documented facts in a logical
and unbiased manner, all the while exhibiting moderation in presenting the facts
as they apply to your adoption. Adoption professionals need to leave no stone
unturned in securing as much of the necessary information prior to the finalization
process in court.
The relationship between the client, attorneys and other professionals must be
cohesive enough to be prepared to resolve any potential conflicts. Our
responsibilities are to bring in the appropriate professionals in a timely manner so
that he/she is fully aware of all the relevant facts. Recommendations from peers
and word-of-mouth from those you respect who have gone through this process
are probably the best ways to identify a set of possible
experts from which to choose.
The Final Round in the Selection of Professionals
We’ve now identified some very competent people who could fill the role of the
support professionals we’ll need. How do we now select the best of them? Here are
additional guidelines. Relationship with client or other parties: Perform a conflict
check and a check on possible links between the professionals and other clients.
Dependent on the nature of the task, evidence of such relationships are extremely
damaging for the credibility of both the client and the professionals. Also check if
the professionals are working with additional families for this one adoption
possibility.
Meeting: Schedule at least an hour’s meeting to discuss all available facts of the
adoption plan with the professional. Discuss the adoption particulars to gauge
his/her preliminary opinion and experience in the particulars of this situation, the
professional's feel for the adoption plan and whether he/she feels comfortable
representing you or participating in the adoption plan. We must evaluate the
personality and appearance of the adoption professional
Appearance: Does this person sound credible and will he/she be effective in their
interaction with the Birth Mother and other professionals involved in the adoption
process?
Personality: Compatibility with all adoption professionals chosen to accomplish
this goal as well as compatibility with us.
Personal Bias or Prejudice: It’s important to determine if the adoption
professional has a personal bias or prejudice that would be detrimental to his/her
credibility and to the adoption in question. While the facts of the adoption may be
favorable for us, any hint of bias or prejudice on the part of any of the professionals
could tip the scales the other way with a Birth Mother.
Compensation: Compensation must be discussed in full detail, including methods
of compensation and differing fees and expenses for the entire adoption process,
consulting services; additional professionals needed and travel time (if applicable).
Background investigation that should be considered:
- Has the professional personally been sued in the past?
- What are the professionals’ prior allegations with the Better Business
Bureau or other professional organizations such as his/her State Bar? - Is there a paper trail of articles, books and speeches left by this professional
that suggests contradictory stands on different issues? Such as evidence
about how they feel about single parent families or gay family issues that
may complicate our interaction with a Birth Mother or other professionals
needed to complete our adoption plan. - Are there any personal problems we should know about? Are good
references easily available? Could any scheduling conflicts arise in the
future?
It would be ideal at this stage to be able to select professionals who have all the
qualities of being an expert in conflict resolution as well. Look for future articles to
outline how the effective use of adoption professionals will enhance our adoption
process.
Conclusion
The road to the adoption process has just begun and there are miles to go before
we are done. We’ll be spared of many a sleepless night if we research all
professionals before engaging them, while keeping well documented files of all
actions by every professional representing our adoption process.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 22 November 2006 )
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