Adoption Websites

The days of scouring reference books and calling adoption professionals for help understanding the adoption community are numbered. These days, the Internet holds the answers to nearly every adoption-related inquiry and even has forums for people in the adoption community to discuss pertinent issues. Adoption websites range from being issue-specific, function-specific, or a portal to general information and redirection.

One of the most invaluable adoption websites is ChildWelfare.org, a government-run site filled with resources for everyone from adoption novices to experts of the field. The Child Welfare Information Gateway, formerly the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, publishes adoption research as well as guides to reporting child abuse and neglect and advice on maintaining permanency in families.

An example of a function-specific adoption website is a search registry. These adoption websites are meant to only be a database for adoption searches. Other websites that are more issue-based may focus solely on fertility issues. These websites are more informative than function-based sites, however, there may be a forum where members of the community can come together to discuss fertility issues or whatever follows the content of the website.

Other general sites may include photolistings, which are slideshows of adoptable, waiting children. Adoption blogs are also popular ways to share first-person adoption experiences. There are literally thousands of adoption community members sharing their unique experiences with the world.