Maryland Resources

Adopt in Maryland: Resource Information for Domestic and Foreign Adoption
This website provides extensive information on adoption in the State of Maryland, including a comprehensive list of state and private placement agencies, support groups and more.

Adoptions Together
This licensed, nonprofit adoption agency provides quality placement and lifelong support to anyone touched by adoption, regardless of age, race, religion or medical condition. Provides extensive post adoption services, including programs for adoptive children with special needs.

Center for Adoption Support and Education
A nonprofit organization providing post adoption services to families in Maryland and Virginia. Services included Individual and Family Counseling, weekend seminars for parents, The Kids Adoption Network (providing groups for children who are adopted) as well as support groups for special issues such as social skills, ADHD, anger management, and more. The Maryland office is located in Silver Spring.

International Adoption Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute
This clinic provides pre- and post-adoption medical and developmental evaluations.

Maryland Department of Human Resources Social Services Administration
Basic information on adoption issues; listing of support groups in the State of 3. Maryland; Adoption Search, Contact, and Reunion; Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry, and more.

Maryland Adoption Resource Exchange
Photos and information regarding children in Maryland with and without special needs who are awaiting a permanent placement in a loving family.

Adoption 101
This adoption awareness curriculum has been designed to help adoptive
parent group leaders and others train child welfare, medical, legal, education,
and mental health professionals, and other community members to be more
responsive to the needs of adopted children and to work more effectively with
their families.

Diakon Adoption & Foster Care
Diakon Adoption & Foster Care is dedicated to uniting waiting children with forever families. From special needs, international, anad domestic adoptin to foster care and legal-risk placements (foster-to-adopt), we offer a range of services designed to bring permanency to the lives of chilren in need.


National Resources

Adopt America
A national organization dedicated to finding permanent, loving homes for children with special needs.

"ComeUnity"
"Comeunity" serves multiple communities in the adoption and special needs arena. Professional and parent articles, newsletters, book reviews, mailing lists and annotated resource directories provide parents with information they need to provide the best care for their children.

Through the Looking Glass, Parents with Disabilities
The Parents with Disabilities Program provides information, referral and advocacy services for people with disabilities who are considering pregnancy or adoption.

The National Adoption Center
Faces of Adoption
The National Adoption Center founded is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding adoption opportunities throughout the United States for children with special needs and those from minority cultures. The Center works with social workers and other adoption professionals to bring children and families together.

National Child Welfare Resource Center For Adoption
The mission of The Center is to assist States, Tribes and other federally funded child welfare agencies in building their capacity to ensure the safety, well being, and permanency of abused and neglected children through adoption and post legal adoption services program planning, policy development and practice. The Center provides technical assistance, consultation, training, information, referral and resource materials, to assist states and tribes to improve their adoption and adoption support and preservation services.

Special Needs Adoption.Com
Extensive website offering general information on special needs adoptions. Offers disability-specific information, resources, and message boards as well as recommended reading.


Publications

Adopting and Advocating for the Special Needs Child
By L. Anne Babb and Rita Lewis
This book was written for parents and adoption professionals to provide help and information for getting started in the adoption process, locating additional information and support. The authors are adoptive parents of children with special needs, long-time support volunteers and active advocates.

Adopting the Hurt Child
By Gregory C. Keck and Regina M. Kupecky (1998)
Relevant, timely and specific information for adoptive parents. The authors clarify issues of parenting, treating and working with children who have emotional and/or behavioral issues.

Adopting The International Child With Special Needs
Americans for International Aid and Adoption
This article provides a primer on adopting a child with special needs: how to choose an agency, what to look for in referral information, medical resources, and more.

Adoptive Families Magazine
Adoptive Families, the award-winning national bimonthly magazine, is the nation's leading information resource for families before, during, and after adoption.

Books Regarding Adopting a Child with Special Needs
Tapestry Books
This on-line catalog offers many books on adoption, including books related to issues affecting children with special needs who are adopted.