Become an adoption counselor to connect caring parents with the children who need them.
Adoption coordinators serve as the liaison between pregnant women, their unborn children, and would-be adoptive parents. They serve an important role in protecting the overall well-being of children, particularly those who have been abandoned and/or abused. They might counsel single mothers (particularly pregnant teenagers) on adoption options and help to match them up with families wishing to adopt. Depending on their job responsibilities, they may also work with teachers to help spread the word on prevent teenage pregnancy in the first place.
Instructions
1. Determine licensing and certification requirements in your state. Each state has different rules about the requirements governing individuals and/or agencies that can place children or facilitate adoptions. Contact your local state adoption specialist and state licensing specialist (see Resources for a complete listing) for detailed information about the adoption laws in your state.
2. Educate yourself. In most areas, adoption consultants are required to have at least a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, marriage and family counseling, or a related field (see Resources for a listing of colleges offering this coursework). In some cases, a master's degree in social work is required as well; research current job openings in your region to learn more about the local education requirements.
3. Identify adoption agencies in your area. There are several types of adoption agencies you may be able to work for, including public child welfare agencies and private agencies with programs in child welfare, domestic infant placement and international infant placement. Browse your local Yellow pages or perform an Internet search to find adoption agencies (and potential employers) in your area.
4. Look for entry-level work. In many cases, particularly if you have the necessary education but little to no work experience in the adoption industry, you may have to start in a child welfare position and work your way up to the position of adoption coordinator. As a child welfare worker, you might be in charge of such duties as entering abused or neglected children into the foster system, managing foster cases on an ongoing basis, and providing counseling to children and families. Find entry-level jobs by perusing your local newspaper, contacting adoption agencies directly to inquire about job openings, or performing research online (see Resources) into job openings across the country.
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