Adoption Policy and Legislation
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Adoption Links -
Compiled by Kimberly Sommer
Welfare Information Network: Child Welfare Services
http://www.welfareinfo.org/childwelf.asp
The Welfare Information Network provides a host of information regarding child welfare
issues, including kinship care, foster care, and adoption. General resources break down into
several categories, two of which are State and Federal Initiatives. These links connect to policies
and programs impacting the system of adoption. Issue pages offer an in-depth look at legislation
and publications surrounding issues such as kinship care. In addition, the site lists several child
welfare organizations, which link directly to the organizational websites.
Adoption Policy Resource Center
http://www.fpsol.com/adoption/advocates.html
Adoption Advocates was established in 1995 with two main goals: 1) to support adoption
through direct advocacy for individual adoptive families and 2) to provide technical assistance to
organizations and professionals. The Adoption Policy Resource Center website, a branch of the
organization, offers policy information such as federal policy announcements, the easy-to-use child
welfare policy manual, policy research articles and reports, and links to a variety of child
welfare websites. The site also highlights legal cases concerning adoption policy.
Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
http://www.adoptioninstitute.org
In an effort to improve the lives of people touched by adoption, The Adoption Institute
offers a plethora of information about adoption. The Institute strives to provide reliable
information and practical perspectives to policymakers to improve adoption laws, while researching
policies and practices that affect adoption. A valuable resource for practitioners is the 1997
Benchmark Adoption Survey, conducted by the Adoption Institute, as the first public opinion survey
on American attitudes toward adoption. Additional policy resources include connections to staff
papers and presentations, and topics such as, the Americans with Disabilities Act, sibling issues,
open adoption records and open adoption, international adoption, and gay/lesbian adoption. A
variety of links take the user to other organizations. Users may choose to complete a survey to
evaluate the Adoption Institute web site and sign up to receive the e-newsletter.
American Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org
Founded in 1920 as a group with a mission to preserve the individual rights and liberties of
people living in the United States, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offers several
resources concerning gay and lesbian adoption. By typing the word adoption into the search box, the
user can read several documents regarding gay and lesbian adoption legal cases from all across the
United States and policy concerns on gay and lesbian adoption rights. A major focus is on the legal
policies of the states and their positions on adoption, for example, many states cannot deny
adoption based on sexual orientation. Users may also tap into press releases about issues in
adoption. The ACLU sits at the pulse of debates and legislation to ensure the latest news on topics
such as adoption, so the site is a great tool for current events in adoption legislation.
Child Welfare League of American
http://www.cwla.org
The Child Welfare League of American is the oldest and largest nonprofit organization
dedicated to the protection of America's children. An advocacy section of the site presents
valuable information on how to contact Congresspeople via email or postal mail regarding issues,
such as adoption, and their impact on vulnerable children and families in communities. The site
also contains fact sheets with statistics about children and family issues. A list of CWLA's yearly
legislative agenda provides the docket of current legislation in child welfare issues.
Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School
http://www.law.cornell.edu
A valuable tool for people interested in the realm of policy, The Legal Information Institute
provides information regarding adoption policy. Users can browse through the topic of adoption to
learn and read about the actual American state and federal laws, plus international adoption laws
and legal cases. Several other categories, including children's rights, offer information about
children's issues in adoption. The site also contains a link to directories of journals. In
addition, a person can search for specific laws by source or jurisdiction. General legal materials,
such as the United States Constitution, are also available for users.
Adoption Legislation
http://adoption.about.com/cs/legislation/index.htm
The Adoption Legislation site, overseen by Nancy Ashe who is an adult adoptee, offers a
comprehensive look at adoption. A section on adoption laws, legal resources, and legal reform
connects to information about advocacy and legal reform, legal considerations in adoption, legal
resources in adoption, a library of legislation, and how to work with an adoption attorney. An
interesting and helpful part of the site is the Legal Q&A section, covering a host of domestic
adoption issues. The site also highlights terminology through an adoption and foster care glossary,
which is especially useful when reading adoption laws. The institutes and organizations link
contains adoption policy and research, disseminated by various organizations.
Adoptee Birthfamily Connections: Adoption Laws, Legislation, Official Records
http://www.birthfamily.com/laws.html
The Adoptee Birthfamily Connections web site focuses on the ability of adoptees to obtain
information about their origins and history. The site contains a wide range of topics spanning the
gamut of adoption issues. Under the section Adoption Laws, Legislation, and Official Records, users
find countless links to everything from laws for grandparents to specific state adoption laws.
Adoptees who are in search of their birthfamily or simply have legal questions about adoption may
access several resources via the web site. Within the adoption legislation section is the
public/vital records, which adoptees can couple with existing laws to gain an understanding of
their rights.
Adoption.org
http://www.adoption.org
The web site Adoption.org provides a "user-friendly" approach to online searching. Adoption
laws, statutes, and summaries offer an in-depth look at adoption policy. The site shares
information about laws concerning adoptive parents and the adoption process, access to adoption
records, international adoption, and federal statutes impacting adoptive parents and the adoptive
process. An adoption forum on activism and legislation is available for people to post messages and
receive feedback about adoption issues. The site also features an opportunity for users to contact
Adoption.org and subscribe to the Adoption Week e-magazine, to stay abreast of current events in
adoption.
National Council for Adoption
http://www.ncfa-usa.org
As a charitable organization, the National Council for Adoption maintains four functions as
an adoption awareness and information think tank, public information and education group, advocacy
organization, and membership organization. Legislative updates highlight various policies and
agendas impacting adoption, and links to the specific laws provide accurate data to users. A
suggestion box is available for people to contribute valuable comments and questions to the site.
In addition, contact information offers the user an avenue to connect with the organization for
further involvement.
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