Free Adoption Sites

There's no such thing as a "free adoption," although the term is sometimes used synonymously with public adoption. Public adoption sites can be accessed via the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Child Welfare Information Gateway, which was formerly the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse. The website's resource, the National Foster Care & Adoption Directory Search, helps adopters find the perfect public agency for them by asking them to select the state or states they're searching in and the kind of information they're looking for.

To find free adoption sites, users should check the boxes that read: "foster care and adoption resources in your state or territory" and "public foster care and adoption agencies." These search results will connect users with an extensive amount of information and a list of links to websites that will guide users through everything they need to know about adopting a child through public agencies. To find ways to be reimbursed for adoption fees, such as the home study, which can cost several thousand dollars, users of the search engine may want to check the query box labels "state foster care and adoption officials." The links may help users contact someone who can help them negotiate their reimbursements and post-placement aid for children with special mental, physical or behavioral conditions that require frequent medical attention.

The search engine can be found at the following website: www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad/