The Adoption Deserves Oversight, Protection, and Transparency (ADOPT) Act
The Adoption Deserves Oversight, Protection, and Transparency (ADOPT) Act seeks to reduce unregulated and unethical practices in adoption by crack down on unlicensed for-profit baby brokers and prohibits certain advertising and payments associated with adoptions.
The purpose of the ADOPT Act is to:
- Protect individuals and families impacted by private domestic adoption from exploitation by unlicensed adoption intermediaries.
- Ensure that individuals seeking assistance with domestic adoption have ready access to licensed and regulated adoption providers in their communities.
- Prevent the commodification of children.
The Adoption Deserves Oversight, Protection, and Transparency (ADOPT) Act seeks to crack down on unlicensed for-profit baby brokers and prohibits certain advertising and payments associated with adoptions. The core provisions:
- prohibit adoption advertising and paid private adoption services unless they are through a licensed child-placing agency or licensed attorney; and
- restrict payments to birthmothers unless the payments are made through a licensed provider in the state where the mother lives.
The ADOPT Act marks the first time federal legislation has been introduced to prohibit these unlicensed intermediaries from advertising to expectant parents and from making payments to expectant and birth parents. The legislation seeks to prevent unlicensed brokers playing a predatory role in private domestic adoption. Even if are not personally affect by private domestic adoption, improving the experiences and safeguards for all will only serve to truly keep our practices child centered and focused on their needs before all else.
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Annie Kuster, Rep. Doug Lamborn, Rep. Robert Aderholt
“This bill name says it all: adoption deserves oversight, protections, and transparency. This bipartisan legislation provides safeguards and protections for all the parties involved with an adoption, most especially for the expectant parents considering adoption,” said Ryan Hanlon, the president and CEO of National Council For Adoption. “By eliminating the online, for-profit brokers, it will also reduce the cost of adoption and ensure that the service providers involved are licensed and overseen by proper authorities.”
To help support this important legislation, please message your Representative on this issue. Look up your Congressional offices here and make a quick phone call, asking them to support this legislation. Please do consider sending a message to families, and others in the community you’re connected to asking for their support.