Educate Yourself about Adoption

Step 1

Talk to adoptive parents, read pertinent books and articles, and contact local and national organizations that can provide you with information about adoption. Acquaint yourself with common adoption terms, and learn about relevant laws in your state to make sure that you are following legal guidelines as you pursue your adoption.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway has excellent background information on Foster Care and Adoption for Waiting Children that will help answer many of your questions about special needs adoption.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway also publishes a wide variety of adoption fact sheets, many of which are free or very inexpensive. It also provides information about state and federal adoption laws, and tracks upcoming adoption conferences. The Child Welfare Information Gateway web site includes a searchable collection of adoption-related articles and report abstracts, as well as a directory of more than 5,700 public and private adoption agencies, support groups, and government officials.

Don’t forget your phone book. Adoption agencies, advocates, attorneys, support groups, and more can be found listed in the Yellow Pages under "Adoption." Your public library and the internet each offer a wealth of free information on adoption and adoption related topics.

Many national, regional, and local groups hold annual conferences with workshops geared toward new or prospective adoptive parents. The Child Welfare Information Gateway maintains a list of upcoming conferences—call 888-251-0075, or visit them online at http://www.childwelfare.gov/calendar/index.cfm.

The information on this page is used with the permission of the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC). http://www.nacac.org/