Advocacy and Public Policy Organizations: Adoption

Phone: (804) 264-0164

Adoptees' Liberty Movement Association (ALMA), a membership organization, is an adoption reunion registry. ALMA advocates for the right of adopted persons to know the truth of their origin. The ALMA registry has a one-time registration fee of $50.

nadid: 11092

Phone: (410) 636-7030

Toll-Free: (888) 200-4005

Fax: (410) 933-5716

Email: aedney@adoptuskids.org

The Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) connects representatives of State, regional, and national adoption agencies, placement agencies, parents, child welfare professionals, and concerned citizens nationwide. The AEA provides a forum which promotes the exchange of ideas and strategies, collaboration on issues of mutual interest, and increased effectiveness in utilizing resources to provide waiting children permanent homes.

AEA is the lead agency in AdoptUSKids, a Federal grant through the Children’s Bureau, to recruit adoptive families for children waiting in foster care across the United States.

nadid: 12002

Phone: (317) 407-8422

Email: webmaster@adoptionattorneys.org

The American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA) is a national membership association of attorneys who practice, or have otherwise distinguished themselves, in the field of adoption law. AAAA works to promote the reform of adoption laws and to disseminate information on ethical adoption practices. Their Membership Directory, including members from the U. S. and Canada, lists attorneys who are well versed in the complexities of adoption law as well as interstate and international regulations regarding adoption.

nadid: 11093

Phone: (202) 483-3399

Phone: (800) 888-7970

The American Adoption Congress (AAC) is an international network of individuals and organizations committed to honesty and openness in adoption and to reforms that protect all of those involved from abuse or exploitation. Membership is open to adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, professionals, and all others who share a commitment to the AAC's goals.

nadid: 899

Phone: (202) 682-0100

Fax: (202) 289-6555

The Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children is a uniform State law establishing a contract among party States to ensure that children placed across state lines receive adequate protection and services. The primary function of the ICPC is to protect the interests of both the children and the States by requiring that certain procedures be followed in the interstate placement of children who are being adopted, placed with relatives, or going into residential care or foster family homes.

nadid: 11081

Phone: (240) 482-4968

Fax: (240) 482-3599

Email: bacw@cwla.org

Black Administrators in Child Welfare is committed to strengthening and supporting the healthy development of African American children, families, and communities through advocacy, leadership development, consultation, and training.

nadid: 11147

Phone: (202) 688-4200

Fax: (202) 833-1689

Email: cwla@cwla.org

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the oldest national organization serving vulnerable children, youth, and their families. CWLA provides training, consultation, and technical assistance to child welfare professionals and agencies while also educating the public on emerging issues that affect abused, neglected, and at-risk children. Through its publications, conferences, and teleconferences, CWLA shares information on emerging trends, specific topics in child welfare practice (family foster care, kinship care, adoption, positive youth development), and Federal and State policies.

nadid: 11165

Phone: (202) 544-8500

Fax: (202) 544-8501

Email: info@ccainstitute.org

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the foster children in this country and the orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes; and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic need of a family.

nadid: 12969

Phone: (828) 862-8200

Email: info@creatingafamily.org

nadid: 26547

Toll-Free: (800) ASK-DTFA

Fax: (614) 764-3077

Email: info@davethomasfoundation.org

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national public charity dedicated to increasing the adoptions of children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder, Dave Thomas, who was adopted as a child, the Foundation implements result-driven national signature programs, awareness initiatives, and advocacy efforts.

nadid: 11173

Phone: (614) 236-6730

Fax: (614) 236-6958

The Family and Youth Law Center at Capital University Law School (FYLaw) works within child welfare, adoption, and juvenile justice systems to support positive outcomes for children, youth, and families. Established in 1998 as the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy, FYLaw partners with local, State, and national agencies and organizations in collaborations aimed at improving the laws, policies, and practices associated with child protection, adoption, and juvenile justice systems. Over the past few years, FYLaw has expanded the services it provides beyond advocacy, training, and education to include direct representation of systems-involved youth. FYLaw launched the Foster Youth Advocacy Center (FYAC) to provide civil legal services to young adults transitioning out of the child welfare system and families at risk of systems involvement.

nadid: 11742

Phone: (202) 657-0670

Fax: (202) 657-0671

First Focus is a bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in Federal policy and budget decisions.

nadid: 24363

Phone: (443) 451-1200

Fax: (410) 230-2741

Email: question@iss-usa.org

The International Social Services organization provides services to families and individuals regarding problems that cross national boundaries, including inter-country adoptions. ISS-USA also offers consultation and advocacy services on child welfare issues.

nadid: 11040

Phone: (215) 735-9988

Toll-Free: (800) 862-3678

Email: ac@adopt.org

The National Adoption Center (NAC) expands adoption opportunities for children living in foster care throughout the United States and is a resource to families and to agencies who seek the permanency of caring homes for children.

NAC provides links to specific resources for adoption professionals, prospective parents, adoptive families, and those seeking assistance with adoption search and reunion.

nadid: 11124

Phone: (914) 407-4193

Email: info@fundyouradoption.org

The National Adoption Foundation provides financial assistance, services, and support to families before, during, and after their adoptions. The Foundation's programs are available to any family whether they are adopting an infant, a child from abroad, or a child from foster care. In addition to providing financial assistance, NAF seeks to educate policy makers and the public about the financial barriers to adoption and the unmet needs of many families. The National Adoption Foundation is the only national resource dedicated exclusively to providing financial support, information, and services directly to adoptive families.

nadid: 11125

Phone: (303) 864-5320

Toll-Free: (888) 828-NACC

Fax: (303) 864-5351

Email: advocate@NACCchildlaw.org

The National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) works to improve the legal protection and representation of children by training and educating child advocates and by effecting policy and legal systems change. The NACC sponsors conferences and seminars on important issues confronting child advocates and files amicus curiae briefs in selected court cases affecting children. The Association also has a legislative agenda, a national child advocate awards program, and a speakers bureau.

nadid: 11130

Phone: (949) 939-9016

Phone: (617) 903-0554

Email: amaxon@ncap-us.org

The National Center for Adoption and Permanency (NCAP) is a national organization that provides research, resources, education, training, consulting, and advocacy to improve the lives of children, families, and the professionals who serve them. NCAP's mission is to move child welfare policy and practice beyond the traditional "child-placement" model to a new paradigm focused on enabling children and their families to succeed.

nadid: 29853

Phone: (303) 364-7700

Phone: (202) 624-5400

Fax: (303) 364-7800

Fax: (202) 737-1069

Email: info@ncsl.org

The National Conference of State Legislatures promotes information sharing by tracking legislation and policy issues in State legislatures and the effect of Federal initiatives on the States. The NCSL offers information, publications, conferences, consulting services, and professional development seminars. The NCSL also advocates for the States by lobbying, testifying, and collaborating on Capitol Hill.

nadid: 11027

Phone: (651) 644-3036

Fax: 651-644-9848

Email: info@nacac.org

The North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) is a national organization that provides a wide range of resources for adoptive parents, including links to support groups and State Volunteer Representatives who are adoptive parents themselves. NACAC operates the Adoption Subsidy Resource Center, which helps adoptive and prospective adoptive parents learn about the benefits available to children and youth adopted from foster care.

nadid: 4406

Phone: (202) 261-5709

Phone: (202) 833-7200

Toll-Free: (877) 847-7877

Email: devoffice@urban.org

The Urban Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy, research, and educational organization established to examine the social, economic, and governance problems facing the nation. The Institute provides information and analysis to public and private decision makers and strives to improve citizen understanding of the issues and tradeoffs in policy-making. Among the Urban Institute's Policy Centers are population studies, communities, health, education, and social policy.

nadid: 11014