Welcome to Adopting Family Resources

We created this website to help loving individuals learn about the adoption process, about the people involved, and how to better parent an adopted child. If we can help you find answers to your questions or assist you in any way, please feel free to contact us.

Adoption Choices

Provides helpful information to help you choose from the many types of adoption. Includes information on choosing between an agency adoption or a private adoption, an open adoption or closed adoption, a domestic adoption or international adoption, adoption by an agency or facilitator, an intrastate or interstate adoption.  An understanding of these types of adoption is important since each type of adoption has implications for the adopting family. Information on selecting an agency and an adoption attorney is  also provided.

Adoption Help

Offers more information about domestic adoption and about international adoption, with special emphasis on China adoption, Russia adoption, and Guatemala adoption.

Financial Help

Provides information from federal and state sources as well as information on the Federal Tax Credit,  assistance from employers and health insurance coverage.  Help regarding the adoption of special needs children is also discussed.

Additional Resources

Includes information on the emotional issues of children adopted from a hospital, orphanage or other institution throughout the world.  Support groups, and  numerous adoption organizations to contact for help are provided. Additionally, included is information on child heath and disease and foster care adoption as well as contacts for adoption exchanges and photolisting programs.

Special Adoptions

Covers the adoption topics of adoption by singles (men and women), gay and lesbian adoption, adoption by relatives of the birth mother or birth father, and step-parent adoption.

Records

Discusses access to records, including obtaining birth records, and the topic of search & reunion through adoption registries.

Adoption Rights

Provides information on the rights of the birth mother and birth father, the biological grandparents, and the rights of the adopting family.

Adoption Laws

Includes state adoption laws, the Indian Child Welfare Act, information related to adoption expenses, the Family Leave Act and other important adoption laws.

Government Help

Offers resources from a variety of federal sources as well as state agencies and child welfare programs.

Special Issues

Includes fingerprinting,  transracial adoption, and adoption disruptions.

Post-Adoption

Discusses child development and explaining adoption as well as adoption and schools, and intervention and help by an adoption therapist.

Additional Issues

This section includes information on preventing child abuse and adoption costs and fees.

Help for Adopting Families by State

Adopting Family Resources