FTC Warns Adoption Intermediaries Against Misleading Parents

From the Federal Trade Commission:

Federal Trade Commission staff sent letters to 31 adoption intermediaries warning them against misleading consumers with respect to placement rates and placement times, suppressing negative reviews, or engaging in other unfair or deceptive practices that can harm prospective adoptive parents and birth parents.

Adoption intermediaries are individuals or entities that act as middlemen between prospective adoptive parents and birth parents in private adoptions in exchange for a fee, often in the tens of thousands of dollars. These entities, sometimes called adoption advertisers, facilitators, consultants, matchmakers, or brokers are not licensed adoption agencies. As such, it is essential that they are truthful and not deceptive about who they are and what they can do for prospective clients, staff noted in the letters.

“Trying to adopt a child or place a child for adoption can be one of the most difficult and emotionally stressful experiences a parent can ever go through. It is essential that adoption intermediaries are truthful and not deceptive about the services they provide, how long the process may take, and how often they are able to facilitate a successful adoption,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “In addition, adoption intermediaries should never try to block truthful negative reviews or use contracts with language that would do so.”

Read more here.