Pact, An Adoption Alliance - What Do I Need To Know About Pact?

What Do I Need To Know About Pact?

Pact, An Adoption Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit incorporated in November, 1991. Under California definition, Pact is an adoption facilitator, not a licensed agency.

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Who Does What? The Role of An Adoption Facilitator

Definitions:
to facilitate: to make easier, to counsel; to advise
agency: the thing through which power is exerted or an end is achieved; agent
counselor: one who gives guidance by using psychological methods
facilitator: one who makes a process easier
lawyer: a professional who advises as to legal rights and obligations
principal: one who has controlling authority; one who employs another to act for him subject to his instruction
psychotherapist: one who treats mental or emotional disorder by psychological means

In agency adoptions, the agency is responsible for the adoption plan and decides who adopts which baby. Many agencies let adoptive and birth parent(s) participate in these choices but legal authority and responsibility remain with the agency. In independent adoption, the principals (birth parents and adoptive parents) decide who should adopt the child and how the process should proceed, subject to legal requirements.

Facilitators help make the process easier. No specific licensing exists for adoption facilitators. Principals must decide which professionals they wish to use. A facilitator can help in the networking and matching process; may negotiate, intervene or mediate between the principals; may coordinate the nuts and bolts of the process as it moves forward; and may offer support and referral services. Lawyers and psychotherapists trained in adoption law and psychology, respectively, have much counsel to offer about the legal and psychological issues. Many lawyers and psychotherapists also act as facilitators, meaning that they help with the process beyond the purely legal or psychological scope.

During the process of a given adoption, you can use different professionals for different functions, or use a single professional for more than one function. If a professional will be acting in more than one role, be sure to determine their fee structure for both licensed and unlicensed services. Whatever services you intend to use, be clear with all providers as to their specific roles. As one of the principals, you must remain in charge of and be very confident about all counsel you decide to take.

What Every Pact Client Deserves to Know

The following information is freely disclosed by Pact to all potential clients and must be acknowledged in the form of a contractual agreement before they become Pact clients.

Pact, An Adoption Alliance, will take all necessary steps to facilitate possible adoptions and, unless otherwise agreed, will educate, prepare, and support both adoptive parents and birth parents in order to safeguard the interests of the child within the context of adoption. Pact considers the child to be its primary client and will always work on behalf of the child.

Pact facilitates possible adoptions (and as such Pact is defined as an adoption facilitator) but Pact cannot provide direct legal, medical, or therapeutic services. Pact is not licensed by the State of California as an adoption agency.

Pact cannot guarantee any of the following: that a child will be found for adoption; that the birth parent(s) or adoptive parent(s) will sign necessary papers; that the birth parent(s) or adoptive parent(s) will continue with any proposed adoption plan; that the adoption will not be challenged; or that the appropriate investigative agency and/or court will approve said adoption.

The birth parent(s) and adoptive parent(s) must be fully informed of these matters by Pact and acknowledge that they retain sole responsibility to acquire adequate information regarding the legal processes of adoption; the difficulties that may be involved in adoption; the specific risks regarding birth parent(s) consent; and the risks, difficulties and consequences involved if a birth parent or adoptive parent changes his or her mind about a planned adoption. The birth parent(s) and adoptive parent(s) must be informed and understand that, prior to the finalization of an adoption, it is possible that a birth parent will change his or her mind and that the child may be legally returned to that birth parent.

The adoptive parent(s) and birth parent(s) must understand and agree that Pact will strive for complete honesty and full disclosure with all parties in all dealings but cannot be responsible for non-disclosure by any of principals involved. Pact reserves the right to terminate client relationships if pertinent information is withheld or misrepresented. Pact reserves the right to terminate any client relationship if it appears that a potential adoption's further facilitation does not serve the best interests of a child.

The birth parent(s) and adoptive parent(s) must waive the right to confidentiality of any information Pact deems necessary to share in the course of their adoption work.

All of Pact's services are free to birth parents.

Pre-adoptive families or individuals who choose to become clients will pay a fee ranging from $1,000-$8,000 (as determined by Pact's sliding scale), divided into two payments. The initial payment will be remitted after the consultation and upon application activation. The second payment will be due when the client takes physical custody of the child.

Prior to the finalization of an adoption, adoptive parent(s) will submit to Pact a copy of a will, which will outline provisions for the child and for ongoing contact between the child and his or her birth parent(s).

Potential clients have the right to a refund, without penalty, except for any reasonable fee actually earned by Pact, for seventy-two hours after signing this contract. After the seventy-two hour period, Pact is not obligated to provide any refund. If the adoptive parent(s) choose to terminate an adoption plan, after a match has been agreed to the adoptive parent(s) will be responsible for 1/2 of the second fee normally due at placement if they decide not to continue to pursue adoption through Pact.