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Regional Adoption Specialists

Regional Adoption Specialists are specially trained Department of Social Services staff who are available to help facilitate adoptions by providing technical assistance to district offices and local agencies. Regional Adoption Specialists are also available to prospective adoptive parents for help with subsidy problems, legal issues, and sibling placements.

"One of our biggest jobs is to respond to complaints and help with systemic changes," says former Buffalo Regional Adoption Specialist Maryjane Link. "But parents should first exhaust all other remedies--which means talking with the Supervisor, Director of Services, and the Commissioner (or agency director). If after working up the ladder in this way, the problem is still unresolved, parents should contact the Adoption Specialist assigned to their county."

Because there are so few Adoption Specialists, and they work in many counties, Link suggests parents send a concise letter which outlines the problem and the remedies already attempted, and then follow-up by phone.

Adoption Specialists are also available to do parent group training programs on a broad range of issues from adoption law to recruitment strategies. The Specialists are supervised by the respective Regional Directors.]