Referrals

After an initial strengths assessment, ACRF adoption staff can assist adoptive and guardian families with referrals to other persons or agencies for therapeutic or other services. The level of involvement will vary - the referral may be as limited as providing the address to the adoption support web site which can be found on the ACRF homepage (www.acrf.org), or may be more entailed, such as contacting a resource agency and advocating for the family.

No referrals will be made by ACRF staff without first acquiring a release of information from the resource family as we adhere to OCS and AASC client confidentiality standards.

The Alaska Center for Resource Families

Mental Health Provider Referral Policy  

The Alaska Center for Resource Families may provide referrals to assist families in locating therapists or counselors in their area. ACRF does not provide direct therapeutic services nor recommend specific providers, but acts as a referral service for foster or adoptive families in Alaska. Should you request assistance in locating a service provider in your area, we will provide you with a list of referrals which best match your family’s needs. ACRF does not license, recommend, endorse, guarantee, control or regulate any provider or agency. Therefore, it is your responsibility to investigate the qualifications and credentials of the provider you choose.

For current licensure information before selecting a mental health provider, you should investigate or contact:  

State of Alaska Occupational Licensing, Professional Counselors & Therapists

http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/search3.htm

Following are some tips for foster or adoptive families to help them choose a mental health professional:  

Choosing a Mental Health Professional

Questions for Foster and Adoptive Parents

The questions below were compiled from a number of information resources for foster or adoptive families of children with special needs. If your family is currently working with a mental health professional, consider his/her “competence” in light of these questions. If interviewing potential therapists, you might ask them these questions to determine if they have the experience and training necessary to work effectively with your foster or adoptive child/family.

1. What are the mental health professional’s credentials? Ask specifically about:

• Education and degree(s);
• Licensure or certification;
• Training and experience.

2. Does the mental health professional have experience in treating children with a history (either known or suspected) of physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse or trauma? Ask specifically about:

• Training and experience in treating grief and loss, attachment, identity issues, anxiety, and delayed development.

3. What is the mental health professional’s experience with foster care or adoption in general? Ask specifically about:

• Number of foster or adopted children
• Number of foster or adoptive family clients;
• Experience with open adoptions and birth parent visitations;
• Experience in addressing infertility and other potential adoptive parent issues;
• Titles of books on the topic of adoption s/he has read;
• Adoption-related organizations to which s/he belongs;
• The role s/he thinks adoption plays in the individual and family behavior of triad members; and
• Success stories with former foster or adoptive family clients.

4. Is the mental health professional’s definition of adoption compatible with yours? For instance, s/he might indicate that adoption involves a legal transfer of parental responsibility that creates a new kinship network linking two (or more) families together through the child they share. The child’s kin network may include birth parents, former foster families and other caretakers.

5. If the mental health professional is not a medical doctor or nurse practitioner, does he or she have an affiliation with someone who can prescribe medication, if necessary?

6. Does the mental health professional have a commitment to a particular “school” or method of treatment? What approach does the mental health professional use when working with children who have demonstrated behaviors such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

7. How does the mental health professional involve parents in the treatment process? Ask specifically about:

• What can parents expect in terms of training and guidance in parenting their child?
• What homework might the mental health professional ask parents to do?
• Does the mental health professional have an observation room for the infrequent times when parents are not direct participants in therapy?

8. How does the mental health professional work with families when the adoption is transracial or trans-cultural? Does the professional have an understanding of the special issues faced in transracial adoptions?

9. Is the mental health professional willing to work with other professionals involved with the family’s foster care situation or adoption, such as social workers, teachers and other mental health professionals?

10. Can the therapist estimate a timeframe for the course of therapy?

11. What are the mental health professional’s policies about reimbursement and scheduling? Ask specifically about:

• How much does the mental health professional charge?
• Does s/he accept State of Alaska Medic-Aid or other insurance programs?
• Is there a sliding scale, if the mental health professional is not an approved provider with the adoptive family’s health insurance policy?
• When is payment expected (for instance, after each session, at the end of the month, or after reimbursement by the family’s insurer)?
• What is the mental health professional’s arrangement for coverage when s/he is not available, especially in an emergency?
• Are daytime, evening or weekend appointments available? What about after-school appointments?

References :

Creech, M-C., “Finding the Best Therapy for Your Child,” Adoptive Parent Mentor Link Update, (Spring 2000), Northwest Adoption Exchange: Seattle, WA, pp. 1-2.

National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, “Tips on Selecting an Adoption Therapist,” (date unknown), NAIC: Washington, DC, pp. 1-4.

National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, “After Adoption: The Need for Services,” (Revised May 1994), NAIC: Washington, DC, pp. 1-6.

Simpson, N., “Unraveling the Therapy Maze,” Family Matters: Oregon’s Special Needs Adoption Newsletter, (July 1993), Special Needs Adoption Coalition: Portland, OR, pp. 1-2.

Watson, Ken. “A Few Thoughts on Choosing an Effective Adoption Therapist,” Adoptalk, (Summer 2002). North American Council on Adoptable Children, pp. 6-7.