The links below offer valuable information about adoption. CAP recommends them for parents who wish to educate themselves or get started in the adoption process. We do not claim responsibility for any of the information on the independent resource websites. If you run into difficulties accessing a specific website, email Melanie@capbook.org to alert us to the problem.
Adoption Clubhouse: A site for kids
Adoption Tax Credit: Recieve a tax credit of up to $10,960 for adopting a child. Eligibility requirements: Adopt an eligible child and pay qualified adoption expenses out of your own pocket. Eligible children: any child age 17 or younger or a child of any age who is a US citizen or resident alien and who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for him or herself. Tax payers who adopt a special needs child can claim the full amount of the adoption credit. Eligible expenses must be directly related to the adoption of an eligible child. Adoptive parents must fill out the tax form 8839. To learn more click here.
Another adoption tax credit resource: Federal Tax Benefit Guide for Foster/Adoptive Parents and Kinship Caregivers.
Adoption Resource Network at Hillside Children's Center: Adoption Resource Network is your single resource for information on every phase of adoption. Offering a full range of services to help pre- and post-adoptive parents evaluate options, navigate the adoption process, and raise healthy, resilient children; Support women facing an unplanned pregnancy and help them decide whether or not to make an adoption plan; Support adopted children and adults seek information about their birth parents.
AdoptUSKids: Finding families for our nation's waiting children. The Collaboration to AdoptUsKids is supported through a cooperative agreement between The Children's Bureau, Administration for Children & Families, the US Department of Health & Human Services and the Adoption Exchange Association. Collaboration partners include: Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, Northwest Adoption Exchange, Holt International Children's Services and The Adoption Exchange Inc.
American Academy of Pediatrics: Directory of pediatricians with a special interest in adoption and foster care medicine.
Children's Defense Fund: The Children's Defense Fund's Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves.
Child Welfare Information Gateway: Resources on all aspects of domestic and intercountry adoption, including adoption from foster care. Includes information for prospective and adoptive parents; information about searching for birth relatives; and resources for professionals on recruiting adoptive families, preparing children and youth, supporting birth parents, and providing post-adoption services.
Child Welfare League of America: The mission of the Child Welfare League of America is to ensure the safety and well-being of children and families. The CWLA advocates for the advancement of public policy, and sets and promotes the standards for best practice.
Coalition of Adoption and Foster Family Agencies: Composed of agencies providing foster care and adoption services in Western New York State, the Coalition is organized to support and enhance the delivery of quality adoption service to families and children. The mission of CAFFA is to collaboratively promote children's permanency through advocacy, education and support.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a non-profit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America's foster care systems. Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's, created the Foundation in 1992 to assure that every child has a permanent home and a loving family.
Evan B. Donaldson Institute for Adoption:Research, laws, practices and policies related to adoption.
Federal Travel Adoption Services: Dedicated to providing the quality travel services necessary to bring adoptive families together.
National Council for Adoption: The National Council for Adoption (NCFA) has been a champion of adoption since its founding in 1980. Whether as an advocate for state laws that promote sound adoption policy, a resource for federal officials and policymakers about appropriate federal adoption initiatives and reform, a diplomat for sound international adoption policy, or a source of adoption facts and education, NCFA is devoted to serving the best interests of children through adoption. Learn more about the ways in which NCFA works to promote the positive option of adoption.
New York State Citizen's Coalition for Children: The Coalition is concerned primarily with system-change advocacy and individuals taking responsibility for influencing and changing the systems affecting their lives and the lives of their children.
North American Council on Adoptable Children: Promotes and supports permanent families for children and youth in the U.S. and Canada who have been in care‹especially those in foster care and those with special needs.
Orphan Foundation of America: Awards scholarships to eligible former foster youth. They are now accepting applications for scholarships (up to 10,000 per year) for the 2008-2009 academic year.
Voice for Adoption: A national coalition that has been established to actively encourage and advocate for national policies that address barriers to the adoption of waiting children and increase the understanding among the public, the media, and decision-makers of the needs of these children and the families who adopt. Voice for Adoption speaks out to insure permanent, nurturing families for our nation's most vulnerable children and to strengthen support for families who adopt.
Adoption/Foster Care Literature
Adoptive Families: The award-winning national adoption magazine is the leading adoption information source for families before, during, and after adoption.
Dave Pelzer: Dave is the author of six inspirational books, two of which were nominated for the Pulitzer prize.
Fostering Families Today: a magazine about you---the parents, children and dedicated professionals in the child welfare system providing foster care and domestic adoption to children.
Tapestry Books: Online adoption book store for learning about adoption: how to adopt, international adoption, domestic adoption, and adoptive parenting, as well as adoption books for children and professionals.
Other Resources
Adopt America Network
Adoption Exchange Association
Adoption Information
Adoption Laws
Adoption Learning Partners
Adoption Solutions
Foster Club
Foster Parent College
Foster Care & Adoptive Community
Large Adoptive Families Together (LAFTER)
National Adoption Center
National Black Child Development Institute
Nurture Adopt
PACT