Adoption

Menstuff® is actively compiling information on adoption issues.

Did you know that over 140,000 children are adopted every year and that six out of ten Americans have been touched by adoption? Deciding to adopt a child can be a time-consuming and exhaustive process--but one well worth the time and effort involved. November is National Adoption Awareness Month and if you are considering adoption, check out our sister site, Parent Soup's, Adoption Central. You will find a wealth of resources and information that will help you address your questions and get you started on your journey. For more support, check out our 35 message boards devoted to all aspects of the adoption triad and read members' touching stories from the heart.

Under

construction.

Who Adopts?
Who Places Children for Adoption?
Infertility and Adoption
Open Adoption
Single Adoptive Parents
Gay Fathers
FAQs: Single Adoption
Resources

How many singles seek to adopt?

A single parent adopts 33 percent of children adopted from foster care.
In the 1970s, an estimated 0.5 percent to 4 percent of people completing adoptions were single. In the 1980s, that figure more than doubled, when 8 to 34 percent of adopters were single.
Across the U.S., the number of single-parent placements slowly and steadily continues to increase, both in domestic and international adoptions.

Who are the single adopters?

Most single adoptive parents are female. They are most likely to adopt older children rather than infants and less likely to have been a foster parent to the adopted child.
Most single parent applicants demonstrate high levels of emotional maturity and capacity for frustration. They also tend to be independent but linked to a supportive network of relatives.
As a group, the single-parent adopters of American children tend to adopt special-needs children who are older, from minority racial groups, or physically or mentally challenged children.

What research has been conducted on single-parent adoptions?

In a study undertaken by the Los Angeles Department of Adoptions, researchers found that single parents tend to have more difficulties completing adoptions. Thirty-nine percent have made three or more previous attempts to adopt, compared to only 18 percent among couples.

The Getting Started Adoption Kit

It's easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of information available on adoption. We at Adoption Central want to make your life easier so we've put together this list of articles, quizzes and other resources that can help you decide if you're ready to adopt and how. We hope it helps!

Are You Ready to Adopt?
What Kinds of Children Are Available?
Is Transracial Adoption Right for You?
Organize Your Adoption at iVillage
Find Your State's Adoption Resources and Laws
Choosing an Adoption Agency
How to Choose an Adoption Attorney
How Much Does It Cost to Adopt?
Financing Your Adoption
Adoptions in the U.S.
Country-by-Country Information for International Adoption

Disruption and Dissolution

Searching for Birth Relatives

What Children Understand about Adoption

A Comprehensive Adoption Starter Kit
State-by-State Listings of Adoption Resources

Read these other articles

Are You Ready to Adopt a Child?
Should You Adopt Transracially?
What Kids are Available for Adoption

I'm thinking about adopting

an introduction to adoption
a recent history of adoption
who can adopt?
quiz: are you ready to adopt?
what kinds of children are available?
quiz: is transracial adoption right for me?
how much does it cost to adopt?
frequently asked questions
books
considering adoption message board

Where do I Begin?

Organize your adoption at iVillage!
State-by-state adoption resources
Paying for adoption
How to choose an adoption agency
How to choose an adoption attorney
Homestudy survival kit

I'm interested in international adoption

statistics on international adoption
state-by-state adoption resources
country-by-country kits for:
china
guatemala
india
korea
russia
vietnam

I'm interested in u.s. adoption

information on foster care adoption
information on stepparent adoption
how to choose an adoption attorney
how to choose an adoption agency
state-by-state adoption resources

What is adoption really like?

personal stories by adoptees
personal stories by adoptive parents
personal stories by birth parents
stories/tips about international travel

I'm waiting for my child to arrive

shopping list
while you wait checklist
adoption books
famous adoptees
international pen pals

Developmental issues and adoption

adoption issues by age
preschool
middle childhood
adolescence

I'm an adult adoptee

state-by-state resources
essays by adult adoptees
search information
message boards

I'm a birth parent

essays by birth parents
state-by-state resources
search information
message boards

Emotional support at adoption central

message boards
chats
process pals
community home pages

Resource

Legal Issues and the Law naic.acf.hhs.gov/general/legal/index.cfm

National Adoption Directory Search. Includes State-by-State contact information for a variety of adoption-related organizations and services including public and licensed private adoption agencies, support groups, State reunion registries, and more. These listings are provided as a public service and should not be construed as a Clearinghouse or Children's Bureau endorsement or recommendation of any one agency or organization. naic.acf.hhs.gov/general/nad/index.cfm

National Adoption Information Clearinghouse For information on adoption: 330 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20447. P 888.251.0075 or 703.352.3488; F 703.385.3206 or naic.acf.hhs.gov or naic@caliber.com

For Birth Mothers, Fathers and Relatives: naic.acf.hhs.gov/expecting/birthfamilies/index.cfm

The Rights of Presumed (Putative) Fathers: naic.acf.hhs.gov/general/legal/statutes/putative.pdf

For Prospective Parents naic.acf.hhs.gov/parents/prospective/index.cfm

For Adoptive Parents: naic.acf.hhs.gov/parents/adoptive/index.cfm

For Adopted People: naic.acf.hhs.gov/adopted/index.cfm

For Pregnant Women: naic.acf.hhs.gov/expecting/pregnant/index.cfm

* * *

Contact Us | Disclaimer | Privacy Statement
Menstuff® Directory
Menstuff® is a registered trademark of Gordon Clay
©1996-2010, Gordon Clay