FAMILY LAW FAQ
Top 10 Ways to Locate a Child Available for Adoption

Friends, Relatives, and Co-Workers. Spread the news that you are
planning on adopting a child to everyone you talk to and encourage them to
do the same. Many adoption connections have been made through word-of-
mouth.

Churches and Other Places of Worship. Religious organizations often have
ties to other organizations, both domestic and international, that seek adoptive
families for children in need.

Advertise. Due to the shortage of infants available for adoption in the United
States, some couples have taken more creative approaches to locating a child,
including advertising in newspapers, in magazines, and even on billboards.

Internet. The Internet has opened a whole new avenue to obtaining adoption
information. The Internet is a great starting point for learning about adoption
and adoption resources, and it can also be used as a vehicle to connect birth
parents and prospective adoptive parents. Care must be taken, however, to
determine the reliability of the information and its source.

Surrogacy. Another option for locating a child to adopt is through a
surrogacy arrangement. Surrogacy involves contracting with another woman
to carry a child to term, who then relinquishes custody of the child immediately
after it is born. In some instances the surrogate carries a child that was
conceived with sperm from the prospective father, in which case he is the legal
father and only the prospective mother must adopt the child after it is born. In
other instances, the child carried and delivered by the surrogate is biologically
related to neither the prospective father nor mother, in which case both
parents need to adopt the child in order for their relationships to be legally
recognized.

Be a Foster Parent. Being a foster parent can lead to a successful adoption,
though not necessarily of the child that you are foster parenting. Sadly, many
foster parents form deep bonds with their foster children and attempt to adopt
them, only to have them returned to their birth families or even adopted by
other couples. In other instances, however, foster parenting can lead to
adoption of the foster child. At a very minimum, being a foster parent allows
you to play a significant role in a child's life, work on your parenting skills in
preparation for adoption, and acquaint you with individuals who may be able
to assist you in your quest to locate a child for adoption.

County/Government Organizations. Some local governmental units exist
for facilitating adoptions within their geographic areas. Many children in the
foster care system are waiting for adoptive families, and your local
governmental unit can help facilitate a match between such a child and your
family. Some foster care programs even host social events at which children
eligible for adoption and prospective adoptive parents can meet and attempt
to get to know each other.

Physicians. Your physician is a potentially good source of adoption referrals.
Obstetricians and family practitioners have frequent contact with unwed
mothers, and they may know one that has decided to place her child for
adoption.

Adoption Agencies. Many birth parents and prospective adoptive parents
work with licensed adoption agencies. The agencies sometimes match birth
and adoptive parents. On other occasions, prospective adoptive parents put
their family information in a book that is reviewed by birth parents, who then
select the family in which they wish their child placed. Some adoption agencies
can also facilitate international adoptions.

Attorneys. Lawyers who work in the area of adoption and family law in
general are great sources of leads. Adoption attorneys have established solid
and far-reaching connections that can help you identify a child available for
adoption or connect you with birth parents even before a child is born. Once
a child or birth mother is located, your attorney can lead you through the maze
of adoption paperwork, file all necessary documents with the court, represent
you in court, and do all in his or her power to ensure that your adoption is
successful.

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