Adoption:
Where Do I Start?
Inside
Adopting a child can be one of the most rewarding
experiences of your life. However for adoption
beginners, the adoption process can seem overwhelmingly
complicated, time consuming, and frustrating--especially
if you are eager to get started. This factsheet
provides some basic information about possible
adoption alternatives and is designed to give
you an understanding of the adoption process.
This factsheet is one of a series of 35
adoption-related factsheets produced by
the Clearinghouse, so please check the listing
of other factsheets at the end for more detailed
information on related topics.
Adoption at the end of the 1990s is very different
from what it was even 10 years ago. Prospective
adoptive families can feel vulnerable as they
attempt to learn as much as possible in the
shortest period of time to become informed consumers
of adoption services.
The first step is to read and to educate yourself
about adoption in general, the types of children
available to adopt, and the various avenues
to adoption. There are many informational resources
available--guidebooks are listed at the end
of this factsheet along with an annotated list
of national adoption organizations. Adoptive
parent support groups throughout the United
States have members willing to assist those
who are considering adoption. State Adoption
Specialists in each state can send you information
to help get you started. As you learn more,
you will become better prepared to make the
choices that are best for you.
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What Kinds of Children Are Available for Adoption?
Families of all kinds adopt children of all
kinds, from newborns to teenagers, of every
race and ethnicity, and from many countries
around the world.
U.S.-born Infants
Many prospective parents seek to adopt healthy
infants, often of a background similar to their
own. In the United States, a relatively small
percentage of healthy, Caucasian infants are
placed for adoption. Most Caucasian infants
are placed through agencies and independent
adoptions.
African-American, Hispanic, and mixed-race
infants are available both through public and
private adoption agencies. The adoption of American
Indian children (of all ages) by non-Indians
is strictly limited by the Federal
Indian Child Welfare Act (P.L.95-608). Fees
and waiting times for infants vary tremendously,
depending on the type of adoption involved.
Children with Special Needs
Many children with special needs are available
for adoption. These children may be older (grade
school through teens); may have physical, emotional,
or mental disabilities; or may be brothers and
sisters who should be adopted together. Usually,
these children are in the care of a State foster
care system. Both public agencies and some private
agencies place children with special needs.
In addition, national, regional, and State
adoption exchanges will assist in linking prospective
parents with these children. Adoption exchanges
and agencies usually have photolistings and
descriptions of available children, and many
now provide information about waiting children
on the Internet. In many cases, financial assistance
in the form of adoption subsidies is available
to help parents with the legal, medical, and
living costs associated with caring for a child
with special needs.
Intercountry Adoption
Many children from other countries are available
for adoption. Russia, China, Korea, India, and
countries in Eastern Europe, Central America,
and South America are the source countries for
most foreign-born children adopted by Americans.
More than 700 U.S. private agencies place children
from foreign countries, and a few countries
allow families to work with attorneys rather
than agencies.
There are strict immigration requirements for
adopting children from other countries, as well
as substantial agency fees and transportation,
legal, and medical costs. It is important that
you choose a licensed, knowledgeable organization,
because the intercountry adoption process is
lengthy and complex.
As a prospective parent, you should carefully
consider the emotional and social implications
of adopting a child of a different nationality.
Just as in transracial adoption of a U.S. child,
you are adopting a culture as well as a child.
Agencies seek families who will help a child
learn about and appreciate his native culture
because it is part of who he or she is.
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What Options Are Available?
People considering adoption have a range of
options:
-
- Agency adoptions (permissible
in many States)
- – through the local public agency
- – through licensed private agencies(includes
both domestic and intercountry programs)
-
- – identified adoptions (allowed in
most States)
- – using attorneys or other intermediaries
defined by State law
- – using adoption facilitators (allowed
in only a few States)
Since adoption laws in the State where you
live govern your options, it is essential that
you know what types of placements are allowed
or not allowed by your State's laws. If you
pursue an adoption across states lines, you
must comply with the laws in both States before
the child can join your family. All 50 States,
the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands have enacted legislation (called the
Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children)that
governs how children can be placed across State
lines.
In weighing your options, you should evaluate
your ability to tolerate risk. Of the options
outlined above, agency adoptions provide the
greatest assurance of monitoring and oversight
since agencies are required to adhere to licensing
and procedural standards. Independent adoptions
by attorneys at least provide assurance that
attorneys must adhere to the standards of the
Bar Association and some attorneys who specialize
in adoption are members of the American Academy
of Adoption Attorneys, a professional membership
organization with standards of ethical practice.
Adoptive placements by facilitators offer the
least amount of supervision and oversight. This
does not mean that there are not ethical professionals
with good standards of practice; it simply means
there are few or no oversight mechanisms in
place at this time.
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Who Can Adopt?
Adoptive parents may be married or single,
childless or already parenting other children.
Having a disability does not automatically disqualify
you from adopting a child; rather agencies will
want to ensure that you can care for a child
and meet his or her needs throughout his or
her childhood. Divorce or a history of marital
or personal counseling does not automatically
eliminate you as a candidate. You are not required
to own your own home or to have a high income
in order to give children what they need--permanence,
stability, a lifetime commitment, and a chance
to be part of a family. Children do not need
"perfect" parents--they need one or more caring
and committed individuals willing to meet their
needs and to incorporate them into a nurturing
family environment.
Increasing numbers of agencies and some foreign
countries are now placing children with single
applicants. Follow-up research studies of successful
single parent adoptions have shown single adoptive
parents as mature, independent, and having a
wide and supportive network of family and friends.
In fact, single adoptive parents are often the
placement of choice for children who have trouble
dealing with two parents due to a history of
abuse or neglect.
For many infant adoptions in the United States,
however, agency criteria for applicants are
more restrictive. Often agencies will only consider
couples married at least 1 to 3 years, between
the ages of 25 and 40, and with stable employment
income. Some agencies accept applicants who
are older than 40. Some agencies require that
the couple have no other children and be unable
to bear children. Some agencies require that
one parent not work outside the home for at
least 6 months after the adoption. Agencies
placing infants will discuss their specific
eligibility regulations and placement options
with you.
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Steps in Agency Adoption
There are several steps you must complete for
any type of adoption through an agency. In addition
to the four basic procedures described below,
other procedures may be necessary, depending
upon your particular needs and those of the
child and the birth parents.
(1) Select an Adoption Agency
There are both private and public adoption
agencies. A private adoption agency is supported
by private funds and should be licensed or approved
by the State in which it operates. A public
agency is the local branch of your State social
service agency. Most public agencies handle
only special needs adoptions—not infant
or intercountry adoptions. Below are descriptions
of both types of agencies.
Using a Private Agency
To obtain the names of local private agencies,
look under "Adoption Agencies" or "Social Services"
in the Yellow Pages. You can obtain a free copy
of your State's agency listing from NAIC. If
you have Internet access, you can visit sites
likeAdoption Professionals.com
or the NAIC Web site at http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/database/nadd/naddsearch.cfm
to access the National Adoption Directory online.
You should check with your State Adoption Specialist,
the Better Business Bureau local to the agency,
and the State Attorney General's office regarding
any complaints that might have been lodged by
other adoptive families. You may also wish to
check with local adoptive parent support groups
for their recommendations of reputable agencies.
Private agencies handle both domestic and intercountry
adoptions. You will need to decide which kind
of child you want to join your family. Fees
charged by private adoption agencies range from
$5,000 to more than $30,000 for both domestic
and intercountry adoptions. Make sure you ask
any agency you might work with what its fees
are and what the schedule is for paying them.
You should also ask what services are and are
not covered by the fees. Most will allow you
to pay fees in installments due at particular
points during the adoption process. If the fee
policy is clear from the beginning, any misunderstandings
about payment will be less likely.
Using a Public Agency
You can find an appropriate agency listed in
your telephone book in the government section
under a name such as "Department of Social Services"
or "Department of Public Welfare." Each State
organizes its agencies somewhat differently.
They may be organized regionally or by county.
To begin, call your county office and ask to
speak to the adoption specialist. If the county
office cannot help you, ask to be referred to
the regional or State office.
In general, public agencies will accept adoption
applications from families wanting to adopt
older children, sibling groups, or children
with special physical or psychological needs.
Many of the children awaiting placement from
public agencies are children of color.
Adoption services through a public agency are
usually free or available for a modest fee,
since the services are funded through State
and Federal taxes. As mentioned earlier, Federal
or State subsidies are sometimes available to
assist families adopting a child with special
needs. If a child has no special needs, adoptive
parents may only be asked to pay legal fees,
which are often quite reasonable. In some cases,
subsidies may even be available for the legal
fees, too.
Children in the custody of a public agency
were either abused, neglected, or abandoned
by their birth parents. Abuse and neglect can
leave physical and emotional scars. It is important
to discuss all aspects of a child's history
with the agency social workers and to discuss
the availability of counseling or other services,
just in case they might be needed, before deciding
to adopt a child with a traumatic history.
Another parenting option available through
public agencies is foster parenting. Children
are placed with foster parents to give birth
parents a chance to improve their situations.
Birth parents are offered counseling and services
during this time. Foster parents receive a monthly
stipend for a child's living expenses. In general,
the goal of the foster care program is to reunite
the child with his or her birth parents if at
all possible. However, there is a growing trend
toward freeing children for adoption (that is,
terminating the parental rights of the birth
parents) as quickly as possible to prevent years
of drifting in foster care. Recent Federal legislation
(Adoption and
Safe Families Act of 1997 - P.L. 105-89)
has mandated courts to seek termination of parental
rights when a child has been in foster care
for 15 out of the past 22 months unless there
are extenuating circumstances.
More and more foster parents are adopting their
foster children. This is particularly true for
foster children of color or those with special
needs. In almost all States, the vast majority
of children adopted from the public foster care
system were adopted by their foster parents
or by their relatives.
Recently some States have changed the way they
perceive their parenting programs. They consider
foster parenting and adoption to be a continuum
of service, rather than two discrete functions.
As a result, agency personnel may ask you at
the time of application if you want to be only
foster parents, only adoptive parents, or foster/adoptive
parents. Foster/adoptive parents are willing
to be foster parents while that is the child's
need and understand that the agency will make
all efforts to reunite the child with the birth
parents. However, if the child is freed for
adoption, the foster/adoptive parents may be
given priority consideration as his or her potential
adoptive parents.
It will take some soul searching on your part
to decide whether foster parenting is an appropriate
option for you. If you can stand some uncertainty,
it is a viable option, especially if you have
your heart set on a young child and you do not
have the funds for a private agency or independent
adoption. You must be able to maturely face
the prospect of a child being reunited with
birth parents, feel sincerely that reunification
is indeed in the best interest of the child
at that time, and be prepared to handle the
grief that would accompany such a loss.
If you are considering this option, discuss
becoming a foster/adoptive parent with the agency
social workers and other foster parents who
have adopted their former foster children.
(2) Complete the Application and Preplacement
Inquiry
When you contact an agency, you may be invited
to attend an agency-sponsored orientation session.
Here you and other applicants will learn about
the agency's procedures and available children
and receive the application forms. The agency
will review your completed application to determine
whether to accept you as a client. If accepted
by a private agency, you will probably have
to pay a registration fee at this point.
The next step is the preplacement inquiry known
as the "home study" or the "family assessment."
The home study is an evaluation (required by
State law) of you as a prospective adoptive
family and of the physical and emotional environment
into which the child would be placed. It is
also a preparation for adoptive parenthood.
It consists of a series of interviews with a
social worker, including at least one interview
in your home. During this process, you will,
with the social worker's assistance, consider
all aspects of adoptive parenthood and identify
the type of child you wish to adopt. Some agencies
use a group approach to the educational part
of the adoption preparation process because
it creates a built-in support group among adoptive
families.
Many of the questions asked in the home study
are personal and may seem intrusive if you are
not expecting them. These questions are necessary
for the social worker's evaluation of you as
a prospective parent. Some of the questions
are about your income, assets, and health and
the stability of the marriage (if married) and/or
family relationships. Physical exams to ensure
that you are healthy are usually required. Some
States require that prospective adoptive parents
undergo a fingerprint and background check to
ensure that you do not have a felony conviction
for domestic violence or child abuse. A home
study is usually completed in a few months,
depending upon the agency's requirements and
the number of other clients.
(3) Be Prepared to Wait
Adopting a child always requires a waiting
period. If you want to adopt a Caucasian infant,
be prepared to wait at least 1 year from the
time the home study is completed, and more frequently
2 to 5 years. It is difficult to estimate the
waiting period more specifically because birth
parents usually select and interview the family
they wish to parent their child. In some cases,
Internet "matching" services such as Adoption Online.com
can dramatically reduce your wait. Applicants
wishing to adopt African-American infants may
have a shorter wait, probably less than 6 months.
If you want to adopt a child with special needs,
you can begin now to review photolistings to
learn more about waiting children and to look
for children who might be right for your family.
Intercountry adoptions, on the other hand, may
take a year or more but the wait and the process
will be somewhat more predictable. For any type
of adoption, even after a child is found, you
may have to wait weeks or months while final
arrangements are made.
(4) Complete the Legal Procedures
After a child is placed with you, you must
fulfill the legal requirements for adoption.
Hiring an attorney may be necessary at this
time, if you have not already retained one.
Usually a child lives with the adoptive family
for at least 6 months before the adoption is
finalized legally, although this period varies
according to State law—unlike some intercountry
adoptions, however, where the adoption is completed
before the child leaves his country. During
this time before the adoption is finalized,
the agency will provide supportive services.
The social worker may visit several times to
ensure that the child is well cared for and
to write up the required court reports. After
this period, the agency will submit a written
recommendation of approval of the adoption to
the court, and you or your attorney can then
file with the court to complete the adoption.
For intercountry adoptions, finalization of
the adoption depends on the type of visa the
child has, and the laws in your State. The actual
adoption procedure is just one of a series of
legal processes required for intercountry adoption.
You must also fulfill the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service's requirements
and then proceed to naturalize your child as
a citizen of the United States.
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Independent Adoptions
Adoptions can sometimes be arranged without
an agency. Initial contacts can be made directly
between a pregnant woman and adoptive parents
or by the pregnant woman and an attorney, depending
on State law. Independent adoption is legal
in all but a few States, but there are significant
variations regarding specific aspects of adoption
laws of which you should be aware.
If you pursue this approach, retain an experienced
adoption attorney to explain the adoption laws
in your State. Talk to other adoptive parents.
Become familiar with the Interstate Compact
on the Placement of Children (ICPC), because
in interstate adoptions you will be required
to comply with the adoption laws of both states.
You certainly do not want your adoption to be
challenged because of failing to comply with
the relevant adoption laws.
To initiate an independent adoption, you must
first locate a birth mother interested in relinquishing
her child. In the States where it is legal,
advertising in the classified section of local
newspapers has proven to be a successful method
for bringing birth parents and adoptive parents
together. Advertising on the Internet with well
known services like Adoption
Online.com can be quite cost effective.
You can advertise on your own or use a national
adoption advertising consultant. Another way
to locate a birth mother is to send an introductory
letter, photo, and resume describing your family
life, home, jobs, hobbies, and interests to
crisis pregnancy centers, obstetricians, and
all of your friends and colleagues who might
possibly lead you to the right person. Some
families have even advertised on the Internet.
Simply locating a birth mother is only the
first step. You also need to know about the
birth father. States have recognized the rights
of birth fathers to be involved in decisions
about their children, including adoptions. Many
States have established registries (putative
father registries) as a way for birth fathers
to register their intention to support and be
involved in their child's life. Several high-profile
law suits have involved contested adoptions
where birth fathers were not notified of, and
subsequently objected to the adoptive placement
of the child.
Expenses involved in an independent adoption
vary. It is customary for adoptive parents to
pay for the birth mother's medical and legal
expenses, in addition to their own. Some States
also require the adoptive parents to pay for
counseling for the birth parents so that the
court can be satisfied that they both fully
comprehend what they are planning to do. A home
study, for which there is a fee, conducted by
a certified social worker or a licensed child-placing
agency is usually required. In some States,
the adoptive parents may also help out with
the birth mother's living or clothing expenses.
Again, with each of these issues, you must know
your State adoption laws and what they allow
or prohibit in an adoption
A few States permit adoption facilitators to
act as "matchmakers" who recruit and counsel
birth parents and then make introductions to
prospective adoptive families. The facilitators
charge families for their services and allow
the birth parents and the adoptive family to
make the rest of the placement arrangements.
Each potential independent adoption situation
is different, and this method can be expensive.
It is not uncommon for the expenses in an independent
adoption to equal those of a private agency
adoption, unless the birth mother has health
insurance or is covered by medical assistance.
Since many birth parents change their minds
after the child is born, prospective adoptive
families must often deal with the loss of funds
paid for birth parent expenses in addition to
the loss of the anticipated baby. Some adoptive
parents purchase adoption insurance as a way
to guard against such financial risks; insurance
underwriters require that families work with
pre-approved agencies or attorneys in order
to purchase this insurance.
Identified adoption is a form of independent
adoption in which a birth mother and adoptive
parents locate one another, but then go together
to a licensed adoption agency—in a few
States, this is the only type of independent
adoption allowed. The agency conducts the home
study for the adoptive parents and counsels
the birth mother. All the parties know that
the birth mother's baby will be placed with
that couple. This process combines some of the
positive elements of all types of adoption:
the birth mother can feel confident that her
child will have a future with an approved, loving
family, and the adoptive parents can feel confident
that the birth mother has thought through her
decision carefully. As in any adoption, however,
a birth mother may still change her mind about
placing the child.
Many couples who have adopted infants independently
found it was the right solution for them. It
may be the solution for you; however, it is
not for everyone. Some adoptive parents who
have adopted independently say later that it
might have been nice to have had the emotional
support and thoughtful preparation for adoption
that an adoption agency provides. Most parents
want to be well-prepared to help their children
deal with adoption issues they will face at
different points in their lives. Some parents
seek support before and after adopting independently
by joining adoptive parent support groups.
[back to top]
Openness in Adoption
An increasing number of adoption professionals
feel that openness between the birth parents
and adoptive parents benefits the child. Information
about both parties can be exchanged directly.
The birth parents can do some anticipatory grieving
for their loss, while the adoptive parents can
prepare to bond immediately with their baby.
In this approach, it has even been known for
a birth mother to use the adoptive mother as
her labor coach when delivering the baby.
Follow-up research on families who have open
adoption placements suggests that there are
several important benefits to openness. Adoptive
families generally report that they do not fear
the birth parents (who know them and the child)
will return to claim the child. In addition,
parents report that their children do not display
confusion about who is the parent. Children
can ask the difficult questions directly about
the reasons they were placed for adoption. Birth
parents report a confidence in the rightness
of their very difficult decision when they have
the security of knowing the adoptive parents
and knowing how the child is doing.
Researchers plan to continue their follow-up
studies of open adoption placements and to continue
to report their findings to professionals and
families alike.
[back to top]
How You Can Learn
More About Adoption
This factsheet gives a basic overview of the
steps and issues involved with becoming an adoptive
parent. For more in-depth information, you should
read adoption guidebooks that are available
at your public library or book store. Some of
these publications are listed on the following
page. If you have Internet access (most public
libraries are connected), you can find adoption
resources online but verify their credibility
by cross checking
Various organizations offer educational programs
on adoption. Community colleges, adoption agencies,
hospitals, religious groups, local YMCAs and
other organizations may offer adoption preparation
programs in your community. You can also call
a local private or public adoption agency to
find out about their parent preparation programs
or to obtain informative publications produced
by the agency.
Related Clearinghouse Factsheets
The Clearinghouse factsheets identified in
the text are as follows:
Clearinghouse Services Online
Factsheets: If you have internet
access, you can find the factsheets listed above
online on our Adoption Education Center.
Statutes-At-A-Glance Summaries:
Statutes-At-A-Glance Summaries provide a quick
overview and comparison across the States regarding
three aspects of adoption:
Agency & Adoptive Parent Support
Group Listings: Find state-specific
listings of agencies, attorney referral organizations,
and adoptive parent support groups at http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/database/nadd/naddsearch.cfm
Guidebooks
_________. AFA's Guide to Adoption.
St. Paul, MN: Adoptive Families of America,
annually updated.
Alexander-Roberts, Colleen. The
Essential Adoption Handbook. Dallas,
TX: Taylor Publishing, 1993.
Beauvais-Godwin, Laura and Godwin, Raymond.
The
Independent Adoption Manual, From Beginning
to Baby. Lakewood, NJ: The Advocate
Press, 1993.
_________.The
Complete Adoption Book. Holbrook, MA:
Adams Media Corporation, 1997.
Bolles, Edmund Blair. The
Penguin Adoption Handbook. New York:
Penguin, 1993.
Craig-Oldsen, Heather L. From Foster Parent
to Adoptive Parent: Helping Foster Parents Make
An Informed Decision About Adoption. Atlanta:
Child Welfare Institute, 1988.
Gilman, Lois. The
Adoption Resource Book. New York: Harper
and Row, 1992.
Johnson, Patricia. Launching
a Baby's Adoption: Practical Strategies for
Parents and Professionals. Indianapolis,
IN: Perspective Press, 1997.
Marindin, Hope. Handbook
for Single Adoptive Parents. Chevy Chase,
MD: Committee for Single Adoptive Parents, 1992.
Rosenthal, James A. and Groze, Victor K. Special-Needs
Adoption: A Study of Intact Families.
New York: Praeger, 1992.
Schooler, Jayne E. The
Whole Life Adoption Book. Colorado Springs,
CO: Piñon Press, 1993.
Sifferman, K.A. Adoption:
A Legal Guide for Birth and Adoptive Parents.
Hawthorne, NJ: Career Press, Inc., 1994.
Walker, Elaine L. and Walsh, Teresa, illustrator.
Loving
Journeys: Guide to Adoption. Peterborough,
NH: Loving Journeys, 1992.
Wirth, Eileen M. and Worden, Joan. How
to Adopt a Child From Another Country.
Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1993.
Directory
National Adoption Directory. National
Adoption Information Clearinghouse. Updated
annually. Cost is $25.00, including postage.
Prepayment is required.The Directory
is available online on our website at
http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/database/nadd/naddsearch.cfm
Adoptive Organizations
Adoptive Families of America
2309 Como Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
612/535-4829 or 800/372-3300
Web Site: http://www.adoptivefam.org
(publishes Adoptive Families, magazine)
Note by Adoptions.com: As
of 2/00 Adopotive Families Magazine was sold
and Adoptive Families of America went out of
business. No organization has yet replaced the
services they provided.
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
PO Box 33053
Washington, DC 20033-0053
202/832-2222
Web site: http://www.adoptionattorneys.org
(membership organization for adoption attorneys)
Children Awaiting Parents, Inc.
700 Exchange St.
Rochester, NY 14608
716/232-5110
Web site: http://www.adopt.org/adopt/cap/cap.html
(publishes CAP Book photolisting of waiting
children)
Child Welfare League of America
440 First St., NW, Ste. 310
Washington, DC 20001
202/638-2952
Web site: http://www.cwla.org
National Adoption Center
1500 Walnut Street
Suite 701
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215/735-9988 or 800/TO-ADOPT
Web site: http://www.adopt.org
(family recruitment & online photolisting
of waiting children)
National Adoption Foundation
100 Mill Plain Rd.
Danbury, CT 06811
203/791-3811
(revolving adoption loan bank & grants to
adoptive families)
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20447
703/352-3488 or 888/251-0075
Web site: http://naic.acf.hhs.gov
(information service of US DHHS Children's Bureau)
National Council for Adoption
1930 17th St., NW
Washington, DC 20009-6207
202/328-1200
Web site: http://www.ncfa-usa.org
National Resource Center for Special Needs
Adoption
16250 Northland Drive
Suite 120
Southfield, MI 48075
248/443-7080
Web site: http://www.spaulding.org/adoption/NRC-adoption.html
(training & technical assistance on special
needs adoption)
North American Council on Adoptable Children
970 Raymond Avenue
Suite 106
St. Paul, MN 55114-1149
561/644-3036
Web site: http://www.nacac.org/
(advocacy and information on subsidy)
One Church, One Child
2811-2-E Industrial Plaza Drive
Room 114
Tallahassee, FL 32301
904/488-8251
(church-based recruitment of & support to
families of color)
Resolve, Inc.
1310 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02144-1731
617/623-1156
Web site: http://www.resolve.org
(info & support to families dealing with
infertility)
Revised 1999 by NAIC.
[back to Adoption
Education Center Index]
This material
may be reproduced and distributed without permission;
however, appropriate citation must be given
to the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
Internet links added by Adoptions.com
2000 - 2003
For more information, contact the National
Adoption Information Clearinghouse at naic@calib.com.
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