Providing Background Information on Children to Prospective Adoptive Parents

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This bulletin outlines child welfare professionals' legal responsibility to provide background information to adoptive families about their prospective child or youth. The bulletin explains the benefits of disclosure to the child, the adoptive family, and the adoption agency. It addresses the information that should be provided, helping families understand the information, international adoption where little or no information is available, wrongful adoption, and additional resources.  

Suggested Citation: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2018). Providing background information on children to prospective adoptive parents. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau.

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