At AZAA, staff are Arizona Confidential Intermediaries (CI) and certified by the Arizona Supreme Court. CIs provide a service to help facilitate contact between parties in the adoption triad (birth parents, adoptee, adoptive parents) or siblings separated as a result of a dependency action.

The Confidential Intermediary Program was established by the Arizona State Legislature in 1992, by enacting A.R.S. §8-134 (adoption triad member searches). In 2007, the Arizona State Legislature extended the role of the Confidential Intermediary Program to include the Sibling Information Exchange Program (SIX) by enacting A.R.S. §8-543, which provides former dependent children the ability to locate, and stay in touch with, siblings separated by a dependency action.

Under both statutes, Confidential Intermediaries are provided access to court records in order to obtain information necessary to locate the sought-after party. Consent from all parties is required to share identifying information.

Confidential Intermediaries must successfully complete training requirements, comply with a background review, and pass a certification examination administered by the Certification and Licensing Division of the Arizona Supreme Court.

Why use a confidential intermediary?

• Confidentiality: consent from all parties is required for the sharing of information.
• Resources: CIs may inspect the confidential records not otherwise available.
• Medical Information: with a written statement from a physician, the court may order non-identifying medical information to be provided regardless of an adoptee’s age.
• Sensitivity & Professionalism: CIs are trained to handle sensitive situations discreetly and objectively.

Arizona Adoption Answers provides clients with a certified confidential intermediary with several years of experience. Book a no-obligation and completely free phone consultation to see how a confidential intermediary can help you get some answers.