Adoption

Adoption for Stepfamilies Adoption is one area that's easier to navigate for stepfamilies than it is for non-stepfamilies. (We found an easier area! Hurrah!) Adoption after a parent has died is simplest. It can get confusing—not to mention leg...

Stepparent Adoption Step-Speak One's biochild is one's birth child. Adoption is a legal procedure in which an adult becomes the legal parent of someone who is not his or her biochild. Relative adoption is adoption by somebody related to the chil...

Stepparent Adoption Step-Speak One's biochild is one's birth child. Adoption is a legal procedure in which an adult becomes the legal parent of someone who is not his or her biochild. Relative adoption is adoption by somebody related to the chil...

Selected National Adoption Agencies The following national adoption organizations provide information and support on adoption and adoption-related issues. Some specialize in a particular area, such as children with special needs, whereas other o...

State Public Adoption Agencies Each state has a central adoption office based in the state social services headquarters. These offices are primarily concerned with the adoption of foster children, but in most cases, state adoption personnel are ...

Adoption: Obtaining Birth Records Adoptinfo Keep in mind that not everyone is aware of the state registries and not everyone chooses to use them; consequently, searchers shouldn't depend solely on the state registry but may also wish to register...

Adoption: Single with Children Every state in the United States allows single people to adopt. As a result, marital status isn't a legal barrier to adopting a child anywhere. At least, not officially. Many adoption agencies and attorneys, howeve...

When it comes to screen time and kids, it isn't all bad news. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers guidelines on how to make screen time healthy and educational.

Fears About Your Adopted Child's Search Many adoptive parents have powerful negative feelings about the idea of an adoption search. Should they feel guilty? I don't think so. I think they should feel human. But frankly, they don't have much to wo...

Adopted Adults Who Search for Their Birthparents To search, in adoption terminology, means to seek out a biological relative. Most searchers try to locate their birthmothers, sometimes followed by a search for the birthfathers. Some searchers tr...

Adoption: When Problems Occur with Birthparents Although your relationship with the birthparents may start out great, sometimes problems develop later on. Keep in mind that relationships with family members (including one's own parents) are some...

Birthmothers Who Change Their Minds About Adoption Probably the most intensely felt fear of adopters is that the birthmother will make an adoption plan—and then flip-flop and decide to raise the child herself. Very few birthmothers change thei...

Disrupted Adoptions Some adopters decide they cannot handle severe physical, emotional, or psychiatric problems that show up in their adopted child. What happens when a child's behaviors fall too far short of the parents' expectations? Researche...

Troubled Adopted Children This section is about more serious behavioral and psychological problems that some adopted children sometimes have, problems that are difficult for them and for their parents. They may stem from earlier abuse or from a ...

Raising Your Adopted Child: Problems Adoptinfo An adoption issue is a problem that preoccupies and distresses an adopted child and is related to adoption. For example, fear that a birthparent might kidnap the child is an adoption issue. So what ...

Explaining Adoption to a Young Child A simple story about adoption can suffice for the child who is 3 or 4. Most children like to hear their “adoption story.” When my son was little, he loved his story. He wanted to be told again and again h...

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Adoption: Dealing with Genetic Differences Some adopters have difficulty accepting a child who looks very different from what they envisioned. (However, most adopters don't have a problem with the fact that their kids probably won't look much li...