Adoption expert?!?

PhilM

This is a good question. What does it take to be an expert?

I think, though, that the problem is this is more complicated even than it first appears.

For example, imagine someone saying they are an expert in biology. The obvious question is what aspect of biology? Evolutionary biology? Biochemistry? Molecular biology? There are many areas of expertise within biology, and I doubt that many (if any) people are experts in all of them.

The same seems true in adoption. Is someone an expert on adoption law? In the affects of adoption on children? In search and reunion? There are many areas here. Someone who claims to be an expert in "adoption" without qualification is likely someone who doesn't really understand the complexities of adoption.

I do think that being a member of the triad gives all of us who are - not expertise, exactly - but special perspective on some aspects of adoption. I would rather listen to APs talk about their experiences of raising adopted children and the kinds of fears and worries that brings with it. I would rather listen to first mom's talk about the reasons that lead them to relinquish and the experiences they have following that event. And I would rather listen to adoptees talk about what growing up adopted feels like. (I would rather listen to these than people who know someone who... blah, blah, blah...) But I agree that simply being a member of the triad doesn't make anyone an expert.

FauxClaud

even after 8 years of serious hardcore research, and 20 years of living as a mother who surrendered, I don't consider myself an expert.
I consider myself very knoweldgeable, but I still don;t like to speak for adoptees at all. Or even, often, other first moms,..as we all have our own stories and views.

Hunter college does have a post graduate course in Adoption therapy which I totally want to do..It's run by Dr Joyce Maguire Pavao ... who would fall under ' expert" IMO on adoption therapy..though she is an adoptive mother, she is very understanding of all issues and the course work for the classes is very thoughough..
I would say Betty Jean Lifton is an "expert" in adoptee issues and such.
There are quite a few folks who are very knowledgable about adoption laws and lobbing., scams and corrupt practicioners, etc.
No, faciliators need to do NOTHING except call themselves faciliatators. It's criminal really. They are baby brokers.

Most schools of sociology, which produce the social workers that make adoption happen, have very little to almost no training specificially in adoption issues and truths...even at the Masters level. Which is one reason why the stupid mythology continues.. they learn from expereince..so where they work ( agencies) produce their beliefs. And unfortunalty, since there is so little real training, if you go to a professional for adoption issues, they have no idea how to deal ..and often do more harm than good.

LindsayM

I feel very sorry for her 'daughter'. What an idiot.

aloha.girl59

A couple of years ago I would have said the same thing about myself because I am adoptive parent. Now I know better. I know nothing first hand about what it's like to be an adoptee -- but I am trying to learn so that I can help my son as he has more questions as he gets older.

I know a lot about adopting from foster care but that's about as far as my personal knowledge extends. I guess I could say I know a bit about how to raise an adopted child too, since I've been doing it for nearly five years. :) But to say that I'm an adoption expert is not only completely false, it's insulting to others who have had different experiences...whether they're adoptees, adoptive parents, or first parents.

Freckle Face

Hi MamaKate,

Adoption expert, hmmmm.

1) Adoptees they live adoption.

2) First Parents, they live with the affects of adoption daily.

3) Adoptive Parents--we get the win-win of adoption. Most of us need to shut up, sit down, listen and learn. The smartest adoptive parents i've met here, were actually the ones who did just this:)

An adoption expert, someone who is an adoptee, place a child thru adoption as a first parent and later in life became an adoptive parent. Now that person would be an adoption expert in my opinion.

Umm just a thought, tell her she should share her knowledge on THIS forum there are a lot of people who would LOVE to hear her expert opinion. please, come on. I'd stay glued to the computer with a bowl of popcorn:)

IDK!!

What did you do?

I would have, and have had a hard time biting my tongue.

Honestly, I find it hard to think of almost anyone as an adoption expert.

I woul dhave to say that Gershom is the only person I would consider an expert. I can't say that I agree with al of her views, but she has done her homework, she is usually pretty good at getting her message across, using examles, and she keeps learning.

I would consider that an expert, but me? you? other people who are just part of a triad? I don't think so.

andrew m

she is ignorant. some people just need to feel special. Brings up a good question though. Sorry I am not answering it, but I am going to do a little research and explore that. I was adopted.....I guess that means I am and 'adoption amateur' according to this idiot.....

Camira B

Wow...Um, I'm not even going to comment on that woman because, well, I don't want to get kicked off of Y!Answers.

I definitely don't consider myself an expert at all. I've done some intense research on adoption law in the U.S. these past few months so what I consider myself is someone who may be able to give helpful advice in certain situations.

I agree with the posters who say there can never truly be an expert in adoption because I think there are just too many areas for one person to understand. I.m.p.o., I think the "expertise" of even those with advanced degrees pales in comparison to those who have actually gone through some kind of adoption related process.

Randy B

As someone who has been declared an "expert" in court (for what is really not relevant to my point) the one thing I can say with any certainty is that nobody is truly even an expert in anything. The court saw fit to make that statement about my area of training so that I could give opinions at a trial but that label didn't make me any more knowledgeable or qualified. It just made me qualified to give my opinion that another "expert" could be free to refute. People who have to pronounce themselves experts are usually very insecure or misinformed (or both).

As we used to say in the military...the word expert is made up of two word sound. "ex" as in past tense and "spert" as in drip.

Unfortunately, if you had challenged this woman should would have shot back with a silly question like "how many adoptions have YOU done then?" I know, for me, I've done two. One international and one domestic and all it's made me an expert in is retelling my own experiences. Since experiences are different for everyone my level of "expertise" is very limited and one dementional...the same as her's I'm sure.

Jennifer L

Hmmm... in order to be an adoption expert, I think that a person should first be an adoptee, both a domestic infant adoptee, an international adoptee, and a foster adoptee. Then, they should also be a first parent, as well as have adopted domestically, international and foster routes. He/She should also have significant experience working as an adoption counselor, including reunions and crisis pregnancy counseling. As well as being a lawyer who is familiar with ALL adoption laws, throughout the world.

So, unless someone can claim all of the above, nobody is an "expert".

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