Search Results

May is National Foster Care Month. In this month's issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, Dr. Wayne Sharp lays out the enormous social and economic cost when youth age out of foster care - as approxim...

Lori and Joy met at National Council For Adoption's 2016 National Adoption Conference, where they discovered a shared purpose of building a positive adoption culture within the Black community. Wit...

This article is designed for families who have adopted or are preparing to adopt. Speech delays and communication challenges are among the most common issues that families encounter following an ado...

Introduction The 2008 National Survey of Adoptive Parents of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NSAP-SN) provides nationally representative information about the health and well being of adopt...

Kinship adoption, in one form or another, has been around for centuries. And yet there is a significant lack of training and resources on how to support families navigating this pathway to permanen...

Postadoption depression. It's more common than you may think, but it can be an uncomfortable thing for adoptive parents to talk about. Left unaddressed, postadoption depression, sometimes referred ...

Introduction The ever-increasing cost and unpredictability of private domestic adoption have recently garnered significant media attention. While responses from members of the adoption community ha...

Why were you adopted? What do you know about his real mom? Why did his real mom and dad give him up for adoption? Is he from another country? Was she abandoned? Do you have any kids of your own? Wh...

Introduction The increased regulation of adoption agencies and more stringent agency licensing requirements at both the state and federal levels have resulted in agencies being mandated to accept pr...

Download PDF Introduction Transracial adoption, once rare in this country, has grown significantly since the 1950s, primarily due to the rise of intercountry adoption. Intercountry adop...

Introduction Adoption. A special way for a family to be formed, and yet born of loss. A journey to navigate, with both joys and challenges. Not a one-time event, but a defining and ongoing experien...

Editors’ Note: This month’s Adoption Advocate is intended to be a resource to adoptive parent couples. It is not intended to send a message that adoption is only for couples. Whether always sing...

In 2019, 23 percent of all children in foster care were 13-17 years old, and nearly 6 percent of those were adopted that same year.1 While international adoptions have declined overall since 2005,...

Three Shifts to Bridge the Gap Between Birth Families and Adoptive Families for the Adoptees We Love Adoption creates a split between a person's biology and biography, and openness is an essent...

Social Work CE Our library of on-demand courses is designed to meet the needs of today's adoption professionals, offering: Upcoming Webinars October 16, 2024 | 1:00pm -2:30 pm ET 1.5 CEs...

Editor's Note: This article is released to inform interested parties of ongoing research and to encourage discussion of work in progress. The views expressed on statistical or methodological issues...

Introduction In January 2010, the earthquake in Haiti and its aftermath brought the longstanding debate over intercountry adoption and its place in the wake of an emergency to the public attention. ...

Introduction Since the mid-1940s, the practice of adopting orphaned children internationally has experienced peaks as well as periods of decline, driven in part by public interest, world wars, chan...

Improving the adoption process and long-term outcomes for everyone impacted by adoption will require legislative action by Congress to address key issues. In the January 2022 issue of the Adoption ...

Introduction The adoption community needs a fresh vision of intercountry adoption that will restore both reputation and momentum to the practice. This requires a fundamental reworking of our identit...

On December 16, 2016, the Department of State temporarily debarred the Hague accredited agency European Adoption Consultants (EAC), citing noncompliance with federal regulations. Less than two month...

History and Impacts The Adoption and Safe Families Act, better known as "ASFA," is considered by many to be the most significant child welfare system reform legislation of the 20th century. Pri...

I. Introduction The work of intercountry adoption agencies has always been larger than simply the placement of children with families. In addition to the placement of children, these agencies- as a...

Funded through a five-year cooperative agreement with the Children's Bureau, NTDC was developed and is being led by Spaulding for Children in partnership with National Council For Adoption (NCFA), ...

America's foster care system is in crisis. Despite real efforts to effect change, over 120,000 children remain in the system awaiting a permanent family through adoption. Finding the right families...

Updated January 2024 The Adoption Tax Credit can significantly offset the costs and fees of an adoption process, but prospective adoptive parents need to ensure they understand the basics before de...

Introduction While adopting a child from another country, you receive word that the in-country court has scheduled the final guardianship or adoption hearing. You make travel plans with your family...

Introduction Professionals involved in making child-placing decisions have a life-changing responsibility. These professionals must be properly qualified, trained, and supervised. There is little s...

Introduction While numerous health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control, emphasize the importance of family history in assessing patients' health risk, resources on how medical ...

“The camps are a lot of fun for me because I grew up in a pretty small town where there was not a huge Asian population, so it was a very special experience to get together with so many other Asia...

“Cam, you’re fired. I like you, I’m cheering for you, but you broke the rules and I have to fire you.” It was mid-summer, the camp director and I were sitting at a picnic table on the edge o...

Chuck Johnson, President & CEO of the National Council For Adoption, presents Jimmy Wayne with the 2019 Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux Award in recognition of his continued commitment to cr...

Adoption in the U.S., originally focused on placing healthy infants, has evolved to the point that now the majority of children available for placement either have recognized medical problems or ar...

Renewed discussion of racial inequality throughout the U.S. has revitalized attention to racial disproportionalities in the child welfare system and how they might best be addressed. The Multiethni...

Before children enter the family via birth, step-parenting, foster care, or adoption, it is natural for parents to dream of what family life will be like: family activities like meal time, sharing g...

Adoption. The real problem of intercountry adoption is that there is too little of it. Adoption is the only institution whereby unparented children become legal daughters and sons by force of a d...

The start of any New Year is usually considered a milestone for people and organizations alike, but for National Council For Adoption (NCFA), 2020 takes on even more significance than usual. Not on...

Editor's Note: National Council For Adoption asked Sarah Mraz to write this month’s Adoption Advocate following her presentation at last year’s NCFA conference. When asked her to write this piec...

Over the past century, transracial adoption in America has become more and more common. In this issue of the Adoption Advocate, Alexis Oberdorfer shares about the history of transracial adoption an...

Introduction This is Part II of a two-part series that provides an overview of the most common perils and pitfalls involved in designating a child as an orphan under U.S. law, and emphasizes best p...

L-R: National Council For Adoption (NCFA) President and CEO Chuck Johnson, NCFA Board member Mike Thorne, 2019 Babineaux awardee Rob Scheer, NCFA Chairman of the Board Wayne W. Sharp, Ph.D. June...

Introduction Now more than ever, adoption agency personnel are being asked to help parents understand pediatric medical and mental health complexities. Whether children are adopted internationally,...

When my best friend heard that my wife and I were planning to adopt, he asked, “Do you think you will be able to love your child as much as you would if she were your own?” Those of us who have ...

November 14, 2019 - Alexandria, VA - Since 1987, National Council For Adoption's Adoption Hall of Fame has recognized the outstanding commitment, service, and sacrifice of those who are furthering t...

Mental Health and Behavioral Treatment Options The adoption community has made great progress in understanding the impact of trauma on children's mental health and emotional well-being. As more...

In 1989, when the Ceausescu regime fell in Romania, foreign families streamed in to adopt many of the nation’s children that had been abandoned in institutions. This was the start of an era of sig...

By Crystal Kupper Subtle yet steady, a culture war has been slowly brewing in the child advocacy world. It boasts no herald to announce its merits to the nation, and few outside its fields of battl...

Introduction First, let me answer the question on everyone's mind: What is adoption medicine? Children who join families through adoption may have special health, behavioral, and developmental need...

The choice of adoption for an expectant parent experiencing unintended pregnancy is a beautiful and viable option. As adoption professionals, we all have story after story we can share with the wor...

My life changed completely when adoption became part of my story. Adoption encouraged me to become more empathetic, compassionate, understanding, and mature. Adoption led me to a life lived intimat...

Introduction Many researchers have documented heavy use of clinical services by adoptees,1 but little is known about how much training mental health professionals actually receive about adoption, o...

Download PDF At various times throughout the year, we are immersed as a culture in times of annual celebration that are strongly linked to traditions, memories, friends, and family. Whi...

From simple education activities to implementing a robust adoption benefits program, workplace support of adoption not only increases awareness about the issues confronting our most vulnerable child...

The media often presents the dramatic and heartwarming aspects of search and reunion, but for those involved, the reality is much more complex. This article explores the common questions and concern...

NCFA Membership Information Apply for Agency Membership Apply for Attorney Membership Discover the many benefits of NCFA membersh...

ALEXANDRIA, VA (May 18, 2022) - National Council For Adoption (NCFA), the nation's leading adoption organization, is pleased to announce the selection of Ryan Hanlon as President and CEO and severa...

Intercountry Adoption RegulationsThe U.S. Department of State has proposed changes and additions to the existing regulations on Intercountry adoptions to and from the U.S.The U.S. ru...

I am always struck by how much adoption has changed since the 1980s, when I first began working as an intern at an adoption agency. At that time, most prospective adoptive families would have chose...

The word “adoption” often conjures up joyful images of families coming together, created out of an abundance of love. Adoptive parents are ecstatic welcoming their new child or children into the...

Breaking Jurisdictional Barriers in Older Child Adoptions from Foster Care​ She scanned the room of the various individuals who came to learn more about adoption from foster care, and after ...

Little education and training exists on the intersection of addiction and adoption. As the director of Adoption Programming at PACE Recovery, and an adoptee, Dr. Brett Furst offers his expertise on...

USCIS Seeking Public Comment on Intercountry AdoptionThe adoption community has an opportunity to weigh in on USCIS policies and procedures. Your voice can influence and shape publi...

In the early 1990s a treaty was drafted, debated, and eventually finalized that would shape the course of international adoption forever. The treaty, later known as The Hague Convention of 29 May 1...

Curiosity about who we are, where we came from, and our significance in life is universal. Today, opportunities abound to search family history to fill in the missing pieces of the past, whether a f...

View and Download PDF Tricia loved being a mom. When she and Sam married after college graduation, they had dreamed of having a large family. By their tenth anniversary, they had two da...

The U.S. Department of State has published its annual report on intercountry adoptions completed between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. During this time, there were 1,785 intercountry...

Introduction Parenting adopted children brings with it unique challenges and rewards. Children adopted at older ages—especially those from the U.S. foster care system—typically come to their new...

Introduction Historically, adoptions in the United States were strictly closed adoptions that entailed sealed legal records and absolutely no contact between the birth parents and the adoptive famil...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Chuck Johnson (703) 299-6633 cjohnson@adoptioncouncil.org Babineaux Award Honors Outstanding Service to Children in Foster Care May 5, 2017 - Alexandria, VA - In...

If she is born into a nurturing family, an infant quickly discovers the power of her voice: she cries, and someone comes to her. Consistently, affectionately, and attentively, her needs are met, and...

"People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one." – Leo J. Burke The Problem Dr. Sears: "Thou shalt cosleep, unless you don't really want that special bond we like to call attachmen...

One in 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, the most common occurring chromosomal condition. Individuals with Down syndrome often have cognitive differences, weak muscle tone...

Profiles in Adoption Adult Adoptee Experiences NCFA's new research report examines the multifaced experiences and perspectives of over 1200 adult adoptees. This report is intended to contribute...

What Are Adoption Subsidies? People who are interested in adopting are often worried about their ability to come up with the necessary funds for the adoption process. They may also wonder how they ...

Introduction Heritage travel includes a diverse range of experiences that help individuals, including  adoptees, connect with their cultural roots and ancestral origins. Travel can involve explori...

Military families have the potential to be outstanding adoptive families. They often have an incredible support network of friends. Military families tend to be flexible and adaptable and those are ...

In this practical introductory guide to Dr. Bruce Perry's Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, learn how adoptive parents and professionals can implement the wisdom of the NMT, particularly The S...

October 18, 2021 - Alexandria, VA - National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is pleased to announce Dr. Elizabeth Bartholet as the 2021 inductee to the Adoption Hall of Fame. This award is given annual...

NCFA's "Choosing an Adoption Agency" from 2014 has been one of our most popular Adoption Advocates1. It's been recommended as a resource by the Today Show, NBC Dateline, and RESOLVE: The Nationa...

Transparent and effective child advocacy requires adoption agencies to weigh important ethical considerations and follow best practices. In this issue of the Adoption Advocate, Jennifer Lanter and ...

Scott Hamilton, Babe Ruth, Mike Tyson, Aaron Judge. All of these athletes have something in common, but it is not what you might think. Marilyn Monroe, Steve Jobs, Kristen Chenoworth, Faith Hil...

I was speaking on a panel about intercountry adoption recently at a conference, and during the Q&A time an adoptive mom in the audience asked, “where does all the money go?” She was wonderin...

“Adopted or foster children will only ask their caregivers the questions they feel they have the permission to ask.” —Jane Hoyt-Oliver, LISW-S, Ph.D. Emerita Professor of Social Work, Malone U...

May 1, 2019 - Alexandria, VA - National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is proud to announce their incoming elected officers of the Board of Directors, who begin their terms in May 2019. Heidi Cox, J.D....

The statistics are revealing. A third of adolescents referred for psychotherapy are adopted. Adolescence is the peak period for psychiatric referrals in the life of the adoptee. Approximately 5–17...

Introduction Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a syndrome that causes great controversy. Rather than a clinical diagnosis, it is an umbrella term for the range of neurological, cognitive, de...

With a lunch box in hand and a plaid skirt down to my knees, I entered the gymnasium for my first day of fifth grade. Fifth grade was a big deal at morning arrival and afternoon dismissal-- we got ...

School Supports and Resources for Adoptees Whether you are an adoption professional, educator, or parent, be encouraged! Access services and resources to support children in school settings. ...

Disruption or dissolution is something that no one involved with an adoption wants to happen, and much has been written about the prevention of this occurrence. The reality is that some adoptive fam...

The November 2016 issue of the Adoption Advocate, "A Call for a More Ethical and Professional Adoption Practice,"1 was born out of a presentation I delivered at National Council For Adoption's (N...

Notice: This article is for general information only and is not to be construed as legal advice. National Council For Adoption recommends that you consult an attorney with expertise in adoption and...

I grew up in southwest Pennsylvania, in a small suburb of Pittsburgh called Moon Township. Sandwiched between an older and younger sister, I was surrounded by supportive family and friends growing u...

What is Subsidiarity? Subsidiarity is one of the most hotly debated and diversely interpreted principles of intercountry adoption.1 But before diving into an explanation of subsidiarity in the int...

November is National Adoption Month, a time when our nation commits an entire month to focus attention on the institution of adoption. For many, it's a time of celebrating the good that adoption ac...

NCFA desires to honor all voices in the adoption community in a variety of ways. Today we welcome Avia Weber to the blog to share her adoption experience. Avia, will you introduce yourself to our bl...

Having followed Tori on social media for awhile, I knew that she would have a unique perspective to share with the adoption community during National Foster Care Month, and she was kind enough ...

The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, commonly referred to as the Hague Convention on Adoption, went into force internationally in...

March 27, 2020 – Alexandria, VA – Many U.S. families in the midst of intercountry adoptions are currently stranded overseas in vulnerable situations and in need of immediate assistance as a resul...

The impact of prenatal stress and preverbal trauma on developmental trajectories is both a topic of education and area of treatment focus in my clinical practice. As a specialist in infant and earl...

Feeding and mealtimes are rich with opportunities for families to build trust and attachment, but when things aren’t going well, those opportunities are lost. From hoarding to picky eating, worr...

When considering an adoption, you may wonder how the adoption of another child is going to affect your other children in the home. There are many factors – including your children’s ages, and th...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Chuck Johnson (301) 751-3750 cjohnson@adoptioncouncil.org Announcing 2017 Adoption Hall of Fame Honorees Senators Blunt and Klobuchar, Representatives Bass and F...

Adoption dissolution has garnered national media attention in recent days in the wake of an announcement from YouTube influencers, Myka and James Stauffer that they had surrendered their son Huxley...

We learned a lot about the characteristics of adoptive parents in the U.S. when we conducted a nationwide survey in 2021 that garnered 4,200+ responses - the largest survey to date of this populati...

NCFA is celebrating 40 years of advocating for children, birth families, and adoptive families. We continue to see adoption practice evolve, including new or expanded opportunities for famil...

Call for Speakers NCFA is pleased to announce a Call for Speakers for the 2025 National Adoption Conference! The conference will be held June 25-27, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN. We invite you to s...

Every adoptee has their own personal and unique adoption story. That history is a part of who they are, and remains a part of them as they move from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood....

Introduction: Decisions, Choices and Options As an adoptive parent and former high school teacher-turned-adoption educator, even I sometimes find it difficult to believe that there are still so man...

I found out I was pregnant shortly after I began my senior year of high school. At the time, I was in serious relationship with my boyfriend Robbie. Although we were very surprised and completely u...

In today's blog post, NCFA's Development Team offers our member agencies, primarily nonprofit organizations, best practices and tips for effectively communicating with donors and fundraising in...

Considering adoption after infertility can bring a lot of questions, and figuring out how to make the right decisions can feel overwhelming. We hope that these frequently asked questions and answer...

The decision to begin or grow your family through adoption is certainly life-changing and rewarding. This decision can also bring with it a great deal of uncertainty and emotion. One hundred years ...

In the Spring of 1997 while only 16, amidst a fire of fierce independence and an opportunity, I left home. I moved into a studio apartment with my brother and I did well enough matching myself to t...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Julie Shull (703) 299-6633 jshull@adoptioncouncil.org National Council For Adoption Welcomes Ryan Hanlon as Vice President August 21, 2017 - Alexandria, VA - Nat...

Ask your members of Congress to help The situation in Haiti is dire. Last week, Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called the situation in Port-au-Prin...

Introduction: Factors that Can Influence How an Individual Deals with Loss One of the paradoxes of adoption is that, for all its potential benefits, it is nonetheless born of loss – including the ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Lauren Koch (703) 299-6633 lkoch@adoptioncouncil.org National Council For Adoption Introduces New Officers for the Board of Directors May 1, 2015 - Alexandria, V...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Chuck Johnson (703) 299-6633 cjohnson@adoptioncouncil.org November 7, 2018 - Alexandria, VA - National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is proud to induct nationally ...

Earlier this week the Department of State released its annual report on U.S. intercountry adoptions, providing statistics for October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020 and outlining adoption-related ac...

Federally subsidized guardianship would be a positive reform to the foster care financing system and can be achieved without undermining children's interests in adoption. A loving, permanent family...

School Supports and Resources for AdopteesWhether you are an adoption professional, educator, or parent, be encouraged!Access services and resources to support children in sc...

Introduction When Andrew1 and his girlfriend Maria chose adoption for their daughter five years ago, Andrew was astounded that he had to sign only one form to terminate his parental rights, while M...

Unsuccessful adoptions are markedly complex. Child welfare scholars have attempted to guide and inform social work practice by isolating specific variables that may serve as "predictors" of adoptio...

Our thanks to guest blogger Rob Scheer, the 2019 recipient of NCFA's which honors individuals and organizations who have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure children who have been placed in fos...

Thirteen years ago, I left the hospital as a proud new mom. Unlike most new moms, though, I also left the hospital with empty arms and a broken heart, as I had just placed my newborn baby boy into t...

The pandemic was difficult for everyone, and I was crushed when COVID-19 canceled my 2020 summer internship with NCFA. So, when the opportunity for a 2021 summer internship presented itself, I...

In honor of National Adoption Month 2020, NCFA is featuring various stories and perspectives on adoption. Today we welcome guest writer Jessica, a birth mom, working to raise awareness about the im...

On May 28, 2021, NCFA met via video conference with several African country adoption authority representatives to discuss transparent and ethical intercounty adoptions. I am currently a NCFA intern...

Open adoptions have steadily increased over the years. As a result, the post-adoption contact agreement, and its enforceability, is an issue all adoption professionals face. The overriding principl...

Editor’s Note: While it is often easier to focus on the majority of successful adoptions, it is important for adoption and child welfare advocates to look closely at the cases in which adoption di...

Kinship adoption is perhaps one the lesser-known and understood types of adoption, and yet it has been happening for decades, both formally and informally. In the U.S. there is a renewed emphasis o...

Introduction–What is a Third Culture Kid? Third culture kid (TCK) refers to children raised in a culture outside of their biological culture for a significant part of their developmental years.1 ...

This article, which is based on a working paper presented at the Ninth Annual Adoption Law and Policy Conference in March 2012, utilizes the 2006-2008 National Survey on Family Growth (conducted by...

Introduction Attachment is the glue that establishes the connection between a child and a parent. When a child is born and remains with a biological parent, bonding and attachment begin immediately....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Lauren Koch (703) 299-6633 lkoch@adoptioncouncil.org National Council For Adoption Announces the Inaugural Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux Award Recipients, Gove...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Chuck Johnson (703) 299-6633 cjohnson@adoptioncouncil.org Intercountry Adoptions by Americans Lowest Since 1981 April 1, 2016 - Alexandria, VA - The U.S. Departm...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Chuck Johnson (703) 299-6633 cjohnson@adoptioncouncil.org June 22, 2018 – Alexandria, VA – National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is proud to present the 2018 ...

It's not common, but adoption fraud can and does occur. In this article, we'll be focusing on how hopeful adoptive parents can protect themselves from an adoption scam by being educated about the w...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2024 - Alexandria, VA - National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is proud to announce that Andrea Vavonese of Vienna, Virginia, has been confirmed by a unanimous board t...

A lawsuit filed in Merrimack County, New Hampshire Superior Court last week makes serious allegations against numerous individuals and organizations, of child abuse, neglect, and failure to protect...

Introduction The wait can be challenging for many attempting to grow their families through adoption. Along with this wait, which is oftentimes quite long, come significant emotions—including joy,...

Over the past ten years, I've received many calls from young adult adoptees pleading with me to send them their adoption or birth records. Most are heartbreaking stories of lost documents due to fir...

Ensuring U.S. citizenship for their adopted child can be a daunting task for expat parents. Essentially, there are three ways that a foreign-born child can obtain U.S. citizenship following adoptio...

Early research from our lab assessed the neurotransmitters of at-risk adopted and foster children during the summer, and then again during the early weeks of school. Not surprisingly, data showed a...

Family is not about blood, it’s about who is willing to hold your hand when you need it most. –Unknown National Adoption Month: An Anniversary Month of Reflection I’m always grateful that Doro...

National Council For Adoption (NCFA) announces the publication of the seventh edition of the National Adoption Data study. Adoption: By the Numbers is the only comprehensive source of the mos...

Funded as a cooperative agreement with the Children's Bureau, NTDC is led by Spaulding for Children in partnership with National Council For Adoption (NCFA), Center for Adoption Support and Educat...

For over 40 years, NCFA has provided expert resources, education, and advocacy for all people and organizations connected to adoption to help ensure every child has the opportunity t...

Adoption professionals have certain goals in mind when working with prospective adoptive families. The first goal for all involved is preparing for placement of the child(ren). This can be a joyous,...

August 7, 2019 - Alexandria, VA - National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is proud to announce newly elected officers of the Board of Directors, who began their terms in June 2019. Lisa A. Sinclair, Es...

January 24, 2020 – Alexandria, VA – National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is proud to announce newly elected officers of the Board of Directors as well as three new members of the Board. Heidi Bru...

“Why don’t you just adopt?” is a go-to question frequently asked by friends and family of people who struggle with infertility. But infertility is a disease that does not have a one-size-fits-...

Introduction The landscape of adoption has changed dramatically in recent years. In the past, an expectant parent would most likely connect with an adoption agency in her area through print adverti...

What is open adoption? Today, a significant majority of domestic infant adoptions are "open adoptions" in that birth parents and adoptive parents have agreed to engage in some level of communicatio...

Get started So you've read about the issues, you've flipped through our Adoption Advocacy Toolkit, and now you're ready to reach out to Congress as an adoption advocate! Here is a directory of resou...

If you are considering an intercountry adoption you probably have lots of questions and may not be sure where to even begin trying to understand all that is involved. Let's start with the basics, a...

Birth Parent Grief Most people anticipate experiencing grief around the end of life, typically following the death of a loved one. However, fewer are familiar with grief after a healthy birth of a ...

In many adoption processes, prospective adoptive parents are asked to agree in advance to comply with post-adoption reporting requirements. This is especially true for intercountry adoptions, as ma...

I just celebrated my seventh anniversary as a birthmother. July 11th marked the day that my daughter was born and my life was forever changed.  I was eighteen years old when I signed the ado...

We know that you probably have a lot of questions. The questions and answers on this page may not answer all the questions you may have about adoption, but this list should help you get started. ...

Vision Our vision is a world in which all children everywhere have nurturing, permanent families. Mission Passionately committed to the belief that every child deserves to thrive in a nurturing,...

ALEXANDRIA, VA (June 21, 2022) - National Council For Adoption was proud to present the 2022 Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux Award to Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Indiana Department of Chil...

In May we recognize Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to honor the influence and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans who have enriched and signif...

Important Adoption Laws Adoption is a deeply personal, and profoundly impactful decision with lifelong impact for all involved. It is vital that the adoption process is safeguarded by robust and a...

What You Should Know About Choosing AdoptionWe know that you probably have a lot of questions about adoption. The information on this page may not answer all the questions you may ha...

National Council For Adoption (NCFA) joins the multitude of nonpartisan calls that the minor children of public officials should be off limits in political wars - and more specifically, personal de...

Introduction Over the years, I’ve had a number of parents question me about what they should say to their child when that child asks about his or her biological parents. Adoptive families may have...

It is common for transracially adopted children to be curious about their birth heritage and where they came. In my case, this curiosity did not appear until decades later. I was adopted in Taipei, ...

Thanks to the participation of over 4,200 adoptive parents, NCFA collected an expansive volume of data through our 2021 survey. In our new report, we highlight some of the key findings of our analy...

July 28, 2020 – Alexandria, VA – National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is pleased to name the late Becky Weichhand of Stevensville, Michigan as the 2020 recipient of the Warren and Mary Alice Bab...

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION The leader in adoption advocacy, education, research, and professional development since 1980. Every child, everywhere, deserves to thrive in a nurturing, per...

Adoption Affordability Resources and information to help you pay for an adoption For All Types of Adoptions Adoption Financial Resources Adopting can be expensive, bu...

In honor of National Foster Care Month, NCFA has been sharing voices and perspectives on our blog and social media channels from former foster youth, foster and adoptive parents, and professio...

Adoption by the Numbers Want to know how many children were adopted in the United States in 2019 and 2020? In our newest comprehensive research report, NCFA explores: Read the Report...

National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is pleased to name the late Becky Weichhand of Stevensville, Michigan as the 2020 recipient of the Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux Award for her pass...

The U.S. Department of State has released its FY 2017 Annual Report on Intercountry Adoptions, revealing that American families adopted 4,714 children through intercountry adoption from Octo...

When considering intercountry adoption, prospective adoptive parents will hear countries often referred to as "Hague Countries" and "Non-Hague Countries". These can also be called "Convention Count...

Empowering Today's Adoption Professionals Adoption Professionals Social Work CE National Conference Training ...

Secure the Future of AdoptionIn December 2020, National Council For Adoption announced the launch of the Families For All Development Fund, generously founded with a leadership gift ...

Prospective adoptive parents pursue adoption for various reasons, this can include expanding their family following the birth of a child or creating a family as a single person. For others, the rou...

The Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA), the Center for Adoption Policy (CAP), and National Council For Adoption (NCFA) call on the United States government and the int...

Pre-Adoptive Parents Considering Adoption? We Can Help. NCFA provides prospective adoptive parents with accurate, reliable, expert-based information about adoption to help you make the next dec...

NCFA has been a strong advocate of the Adoption Tax Credit (ATC) since its inception, because it is a fiscally responsible way to help more American families who want to provide a permanent, lo...

Update for the 2021 Tax Year (returns filed in 2022): Recent changes to the Child Tax Credit supersede the guidance previously outlined below. Adoptive parents who are waiting on a social security ...

Editor's Note: NCFA is committed to protecting the best interests of and advocating for all members of the adoption triad: birthparents, adoptive parents, and children. While it is possible for bir...

February 6, 2018 – Alexandria, VA – On Thursday, February 1, 2018, the U.S. Department of State published a notice to adoption service providers regarding substantial fee increases associated wit...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Lauren Koch (703) 299-6633 lkoch@adoptioncouncil.org Dramatic and Tragic Decline in Intercountry Adoption Numbers Continues April 1, 2015 - Alexandria, VA - The ...

March 23, 2018 - Alexandria, VA - The U.S. Department of State has released its FY 2017 Annual Report on Intercountry Adoptions, revealing that American families adopted 4,714 children through inter...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Lauren Koch (703) 299-6633 lkoch@adoptioncouncil.org National Foster Care Month Honors 101,840 Children Waiting to be Adopted May 21, 2015 - Alexandria, VA - May...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Lauren Koch (703) 299-6633 lkoch@adoptioncouncil.org National Council For Adoption to Premiere New Public Service Announcement Featuring PGA Golfer Bubba Watson ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Kevin Wrege (703) 299-6633 kwrege@adoptioncouncil.org Introducing New Members of the National Council For Adoption Board of Directors January 6, 2016 - Alexandri...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Kevin Wrege (703) 299-6633 kwrege@adoptioncouncil.org National Council For Adoption Introduces New Board Chairman and Officers May 4, 2016 - Alexandria, VA - Nat...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Kevin Wrege (703) 299-6633 kwrege@adoptioncouncil.org Babineaux Award Honors Former Foster Care Youth Sixto Cancel is a foster care alumnus who has already made ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Ryan Hanlon (571) 414-0967 rhanlon@adoptioncouncil.org Council on Accreditation Announces Intent to Terminate Their Role as a National Accrediting Entity Octobe...

March 14, 2019 - Alexandria, VA - Today, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released its FY 2018 Annual Report on Intercountry Adoptions. The report shows that American families adopted only 4,059 c...

May 8, 2020 - Alexandria, VA - This week, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released its FY 2019 Annual Report on Intercountry Adoptions. The report shows that American families adopted only 2,971...