Research suggests that careful attention to matching children's individual needs with prospective adoptive families' strengths can contribute to more successful outcomes and help prevent adoption disruption and dissolution. Increasingly, States and jurisdictions are using social media in this matching process. Find resources to help bring children and families together for adoptive placement, including State and local examples.
This resource listing provides the contact information of national organizations that offer adoption exchange or matching services. Each entry includes a brief description of the function of the organization and e-mail and web addresses.
AdoptUSKids
Operates the only national photolisting of children waiting in foster care for adoptive families; raises awareness about the need for permanent families for children in the public child welfare system; and assists States, Tribes, and territories with foster and adoptive family recruitment and retention.
A Family for Life: The Vital Need to Achieve Permanency for Children in Care
Donaldson Adoption Institute (2013)
Provides a synthesis of knowledge related to permanency based on extensive research throughout the U.S., England, and Canada that examined 22 practices for facilitating the adoption of children from foster care.
| Series Title | State Statutes |
| Author(s) | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability | View Download (PDF - 755KB) |
| Year Published | 2018 |
Photolisting services provide pictures and brief descriptions of the children in the State's foster care system who are available for adoption and waiting for families. This resource list provides website addresses for State photolisting services.
State and local examples
SWAN's 2012 Match Parties: Older Youth, Families and Fun! (PDF - 8,366 KB)
Marks (2012)
Network News: Special Edition
Describes a project sponsored by Pennsylvania's Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) that helps youth who are waiting for families meet prospective adoptive parents, as well as connect with other youth who are waiting, in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.