Though National Adoption Awareness Month has come to a close, AF supports a year-round focus on adopting from foster care. Right now there are 415,129 children in U.S. foster care—including 107,918 who are legally eligible to be adopted. We encourage anyone thinking about foster adoption to look into it with the support and practical assistance of the following resources, and encourage other families to consider these organizations in their year-end giving.
AdoptUSKids raises awareness about the need for foster and adoptive families, and maintains a national photolisting to connect waiting children with families. Prospective parents who are ready to take the next step are welcome to contact the organization to speak with a foster and adoption specialist.
Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, was adopted at six months old. He established the Dave Thomas Adoption Foundation to raise awareness about adoption from foster care and work toward his vision that every child in the U.S. would have a family. The foundation offers free adoption guides and information on workplace adoption benefits.
National Adoption Day takes place each year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, when policymakers, practitioners, and advocates work together to finalize thousands of adoptions in courts in every state. Throughout the year, the coalition shares photos and stories from families who have adopted from foster care, and provides a directory of state-specific foster adoption resources.
The Heart Gallery uses the power of photography to individualize the children in U.S. foster care. The organization recruits volunteer photographers to take portraits of waiting children, which are displayed in the community and at adoption events staffed by Heart Gallery volunteers.
The National Adoption Center (NAC) believes that “There are no unwanted children…just unfound families.” In addition to a national photolisting of waiting children, the Center hosts adoption events to bring children and prospective parents together. Use their “AdoptMatch” tool to search for the foster adoption agency that feels like the best fit for you.
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) volunteers are paired with children in foster care to provide a stable presence until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. When children have a consistent voice speaking to their interests in the courtroom, they are less likely to get lost in the system.
Child Welfare Information Gateway’s Adopting Children from Foster Care page offers factsheets on parent requirements and adoption assistance, as well as the National Foster Care & Adoption Directory, where prospective parents can search for public and private agencies, state adoption officials, support groups, and more.
The National Foster Parent Association supports foster, adoptive, and kinship parents across the United States with position statements, educational resources for foster parents, and Walk Me Home fundraising events for foster care associations. Additionally, they have directories for state and local affiliates and member agencies that work for foster adoption.
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) provides advocacy on behalf of waiting children and adoptive families, adoption training workshops, and support to families formed through adoptionit, and a directory of state-specific resources.
The Donaldson Adoption Institute is dedicated to adoption research, education, and advocacy with the goal of improving the adoption experience for everyone involved. The DAI publishes papers in key issue areas, and actively engages with public policy decisions regarding adoption.
Fostering Families TODAY is a bimonthly magazine that explores topics relevant to foster and adoptive parents, waiting children, and adoption professionals. Each issue features photographs of children waiting for families.
The National Center on Adoption and Permanency (NCAP) provides resources and training services for families, professionals, policy makers, and advocates relating to adoption, foster care, and child welfare, and maintains a staff of speakers.
Adoption Agencies with U.S. Foster Adoption Programs
See all adoption agencies with U.S. foster adoption programs >
