NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)- It is often said that art is a form of expression. Like life, wen it comes together, it can be a perfect picture.
However, art can also be frustrating, especially when someone is trying to achieve exactly what they are looking for.
"There are so many kids and so many families," said Amiee Sadler, executive director of Miriam's Promise. "We all have the option to make those families complete, so it's hard not to be helpful."
Sadler is with the organization Miriam's Promise, a place that helps families through pregnancy, parenting and adoption. While they show the positive and beautiful side of extending a family, Sadler said they're also aware of a problem that's far out of their control.
"We've had families that come in who have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for nothing," Sadler said.
The problem has even reached the attention of Tennessee's leaders.
"The adoption process is not always easy and one of the most significant barriers can be the cost," said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skremtti in a video message shared this week.
Skrmetti and The Adoption Project have partnered together to raise awareness of the risks posed by illegal and unethical adoption facilitators. Adoption facilitators are not licensed and aren't regulated. The scam often works like this: a facilitator will match expectant birth parents with adoptive parents in exchange for large, non-refundable fees that are meant to be paid in advance.
"The new law strengthens the ability to enforce existing prohibitions against unethical entities that are operating illegally in two ways," Skrmetti added.
Last year, the state general assembly passed a bill to strengthen the enforcement of existing prohibitions, in two ways:
- Created an "adoption facilitation claim" that allows adoptive parents to bring a civil action against a facilitator
- Added violations against advertising, providing illegal payments, or providing adoption services using false, deceptive, or misleading tactics to the Consumer Protection Act
On Thursday, Governor Bill Lee launched a new program to reduce the cost of private adoptions. The grant will also be used to help the Department of Children's Services (DCS) recruit more foster families. The move from Governor Lee comes at a point where DCS said that more than 8,000 youth are currently in their custody. However, as of publication, there are only about 5,000 approved foster homes across the state.
"The sheer number of children in need versus families who want to take them in is more equal than I think people realize," Sadler said. "The number of families who are approved to is where we start to have issues."
There are resources on how to find a licensed adoption agency for prospective adoptive families and expectant birth parents considering adoption. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services has a list of licensed child-placing agencies in Tennessee. To file a complaint with the Tennessee Attorney General Division of Consumer Affairs, visit their Consumer Affairs page.