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  • Introduction to Adoption

Introduction to Adoption

Adoption is the social, emotional, and legal process in which children who will not be raised by their birth parents become full and permanent legal members of another family while maintaining genetic and psychological connections to their birth family. Adoption has many facets and touches people in different ways—depending on their role and perspective. In this section, find information on the history of adoption in the United States, definitions and the use of language in adoption, core issues in adoption, and information about social media in adoption, as well as links to related resources and information.

  • History of adoption practices
  • Language in adoption
  • Social media in adoption

Adoption Topics for Specific Audiences

Are You...

  • A single person or couple considering adoption?
  • An expectant parent?
  • An adopted person?
  • An adoptive parent?
  • A birth parent or relative/kinship caregiver?
  • An adoption social worker?
  • An adoption therapist?
  • An adoption program administrator?
  • An adoption attorney or court employee?
  • A teacher?
  • A physician with an adoption-focused practice?
  • A person researching adoption?
  • A media professional?

Subscribe to Adoption Triad
Provides adoption professionals with a monthly e-brief of practical information, tools, and strategies to help build their capacity to identify, recruit, and retain families for children and youth. It also presents resources on all aspects of adoption for professionals to share with triad members: birth parents, adopted people, and adoptive parents. View current edition.

Adoption resources video

Spotlight On

Who May Adopt, Be Adopted, or Place a Child for Adoption?
Child Welfare Information Gateway
(2020)

Related Content

Postplacement Adoption Casework Practice

Preplacement Adoption Casework Practice

Laws Related to Adoption

Ethical Issues in Adoption

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