Adoption Information

The world of adoption is vast. From the social to the legal facets to the financial and post-placement issues, there is a lot to learn about its basics and its inner workings before you can begin to consider what you want to get out of the adoption community.

Whether you're looking for information as a prospective adoptive parent or a savvy adoption professional, one of the most trustworthy sources of adoption information is the Child Welfare Information Gateway. The CWIG, formerly known as the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, is a database of information compiled by government agencies. Its resources range from resources to helpful pages of advice about adoption-related and child welfare issues, such as maintaining permanency and reporting neglect. The CWIG also has a comprehensive list of adoption agencies and search groups.

Future adoptive parents should also look to adoption forums, which are rich in first-person experiences and may touch on rare concerns that current text books and studies may not.

Photolistings are also a great source of adoption information, although implicitly so. Hundreds of photos and bios of babies, siblings and older children in the state's foster care system are posted in what are collectively called photolistings. These photolistings can give insight into the kind of children available for adoption by the state and can familiarize with the kind of special needs that the adoption of an older child can yield.

With an Internet full of adoption information at your fingertips, you'll be on your way to understanding exactly what you want in nearly no time.