State run intermediary programs seem to vary greatly from state to state. Some allow only adopted persons to search, and others allow other birth family members to search as well. These programs are generally administered by different governmental agencies or courts. Some adoption agencies have intermediaries. The training that intermediaries receive varies from state to state.

To determine if the state that you want to search in has a confidential intermediary program, click here. This adoption.com site can help in this regard.

I am also listing the links to several state run intermediary programs to demonstrate how varied they are. Checking out these links will clearly show you how much the policies regarding intermediaries do vary in each state. Approximately half of the states do offer some version of the Confidential Intermediary ("CI") programs.


AZ -
Confidential intermediary

http://www.supreme.state.az.us/cip/

Michigan

http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5452_7116_7125-14050--,00.html


Illinois
http://www.ci-illinois.org/

Colorado
http://www.cocis.org/
http://www.state.co.us/oed/industry-license/IndDetail.cfm?id=30


Wyoming
http://dfsweb.state.wy.us/adultadoption.htm

Oklahoma
http://www.okdhs.org/adopt/Adoptions/includes/content/searchpgm.htm

Some states run all the programs; others allow certain groups to offer intermediary programs. See WARM in Washington State. Washington Adoption Reunion Movement ("WARM") has intermediaries who search, and some adoption agencies in the State of Washington also have intermediaries who can conduct searches.

The use of an intermediary is not a universally accepted concept. There are many people who feel it is demeaning for two adults to be unable to control their own fate, and/or reunion. Some states require counseling for those whose reunions they control. However, in many states, access to adoption records is so limited, many adoptees and birth parents feel that they have no other viable choice.

This link at Adoption.com provides several articles about the use of confidential intermediaries.