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Domestic adoption resources
By the BabyCenter editorial staff
If you're planning to adopt a child in the United States, these
resources can help you understand the process and find support.
Web sites that provide general information about domestic
adoption
• National
Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC)
The NAIC was established by Congress in 1987 to provide free
information about all aspects of adoption for those considering
adopting, birth parents, adoption professionals, and adopted people.
The site's introduction
to adoption offers an overview of how to begin the adoption
process. You'll also find special sections for singles and gays/lesbians
considering adopting. The comprehensive adoption
directory lists local adoption officials, services, agencies,
and support groups.
• Adoptive
Families Magazine
The Web site for Adoptive Families Magazine has dozens of free
articles for people considering adoption and those who have already
adopted a child. The magazine's annual
adoption guide has great information on how to begin the adoption
process, and most of it's available on the site. You can also
order a subscription to the bi-monthly magazine here.
• National
Adoption Center
The National Adoption Center has been finding homes for children
since 1972. The site lists descriptions of children in the United
States who are waiting
for homes, most of whom are school-age or have a disability.
The site also features an online
adoption preparation class for a fee. (Some agencies and states
require that you take a course before you adopt. If yours does,
find out whether this online course fulfills the requirement.)
In addition, the site hosts message boards and chats for parents
thinking about adoption.
• New
York State Citizens' Coalition for Children (NYSCC)
After getting grants to work with parents who have adopted children
of a different race (transracial adoption) or culture (transcultural
adoption), the NYSCC put together this site to report what it
had learned. You'll find a list of articles from all different
perspectives on transracial adoption as well as a question
and answer area, where adult transracial adoptees answer real
parents' questions about raising children in a transracial or
transcultural family.
• About.com
Adoption
Parents considering adopting, adoptees, and birth parents will
find a wealth of information, including a guide to respectful
adoption language and a listing of adoption laws by state.
Finding a domestic adoption support group
The NAIC's adoption
directory lists adoption support groups in your area.
BabyCenter
hosts 11 adoption bulletin boards where you can ask parents
your questions about adoption and get advice about adoption issues
and concerns.
If you're single or gay and interested in adopting a child, you
can find support at these sites:
• National
Council for Single Adoptive Parents
• The Human Rights Campaign's FamilyNet
for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender singles and couples.
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