Adoption Resources for Parents

August 29, 2008

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Adoption Resources for Parents

by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P.

A number of organizations and books exist to help adopted children and their parents. If you are interested in adopting or have already brought a new child into your family, here are a few websites worth checking out.

A good place to start is the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC) at http://www.calib.com/naic/index.htm. This noncommercial site is supported by the federal government and features a very large collection of informational articles, as well as statistics and other resources for parents. The site also has a frequently updated state-by-state listing of licensed adoption agencies--probably the first step for anyone seriously considering adopting.

One nonprofit agency that specializes in matching up parents with children who have special needs, as well as children from minority cultures, is the National Adoption Center at http://www.adopt.org/adopt/nac/nac.html.

For a comprehensive listing of helpful Internet adoption sites, go to http://www.adopt.org/edirectory.

Books
Here are a few books you may find particularly useful.

Adopting the Hurt Child: Hope for Families with Special-Needs Kids, by Gregory C. Keck and Regina M. Kupecky. Clear, hopeful but realistic, information from clinicians with extensive experience.

The Gay and Lesbian Parenting Handbook: Creating and Raising Our Families, by April Martin, Ph.D. Martin is a psychologist, an adoptive mother, and an excellent writer. Her book is full of wise principles, amply illustrated by vignettes from the author's clinical experience. Lots of useful information for gay and lesbian parents: in fact, this is a great resource for anyone contemplating adoption.

'Are Those Kids Yours?': American Families with Children Adopted from Other Countries, by Cheri Register. Very thoughtful about cultural and ethical aspects of international adoption.


RELATED INFORMATION

			What Research Has Taught about Child-Rearing
			Adoption

Created February 27, 2001
Reviewed March 04, 2001

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