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Adoption After Infertility

Trusted guidance for a life-changing decision with a lifelong journey

Considering Adoption?
About the Adoption Process
Getting Started
Finding Support

Considering Adoption?

About the Adoption Process

Getting Started

Finding Support

We can help.

We know that your path to considering adoption was not easy. Every person's experience with infertility is unique, but you always deserve respect, care, and compassion. As a trusted resource on adoption, we can provide you with accurate, comprehensive information, tailored to your needs and perspective as a person who has already walked a difficult road towards starting or growing your family. NCFA is here to help you make a well-informed decision about adoption for your family.

These resources are generously sponsored by ARC Fertility.

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In a 2021 nationwide survey, more than one-third of adoptive parents said they were motivated to adopt after experiencing infertility.

Considering Adoption?

Read these resources first.

Lessons Learned

Adoptive parents who have experienced infertility share their experiences working with adoption professionals

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FAQs

Answers to some of the most common questions from people thinking about adoption after infertility.

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Understanding Grief, Loss & Trauma in Adoption

As you consider the possibility of becoming a parent through adoption, it is critical to become educated about and equipped for the unique needs of your future child, and your experiences as an adoptive family. We strongly recommend that all prospective adoptive parents, regardless of the type of adoption you pursue, be proactive in preparing for the lifelong journey of adoption by learning about trauma, loss, grief, attachment, and other core adoption-related issues.

Grief and Loss in Adoption: Helping Children Process Their Pre-Adoption History

Factors that influence children’s reaction to loss, psychological tasks of grief work, healing therapies for children and teens, and aspects and impacts of loss in foster care and adoption

Watch

Adoption After Infertility: Assessing, Recruiting, Preparing Families for Adoption

Presented at the 2022 National Adoption Conference by Anna Koehle, HS-BCP, CCTP (Certified Clinical Trauma Professional) on one family's journey from infertility to adoption

Watch

The Role of Prenatal and Preverbal Trauma in the Attachment Relationship

Presented at the 2021 National Adoption Conference by Diana Osipsov, LMSW (Owner/Clinical Therapist, Roots Therapeutic Specialty Services) on the effects of complex trauma within the attachment relationship

Watch

It's not as simple as "just adopt" because adoption and having a child by birth are not the same, and completing an adoption is often not simple.

-Ryan Hanlon, President & CEO of NCFA

The Adoption Process

Adoption 101

A visual overview of the basics of the adoption process

View and download

Webinar

Adoption 101: An overview of the basics of adoption and how to be prepared for adoption.

Register and watch

Types of Adoption

A detailed look at the different types of adoption including answers to frequently asked questions.

View and download

Personal Stories

Elissa's Story

As you process grief and begin to heal, there are ups and downs in the journey. For [Elissa], this “loss is always going to be there, but it doesn’t mean you can’t love again.”

Read

Liz's Story

Pregnancy is scary just like adoption is scary.. things can happen, things can change, things can go wrong. It’s all so scary, but it’s all so worth it.

Read

Sarah's Story

So, after nine years of infertility, surgeries, testing, medications, and heart-wrenching longing for a baby, Shane and I decided to become foster parents and open our hearts and home to any child who needed it.

Read

Webinars

Adoption 101

This free course provides an overview of the current landscape of adoption, the types of adoption and adoption processes including timeframes, costs, requirements, and preparing for adoptive parenting.

Watch
Adoption Finance 101

This free course gives an overview of the resources available to prospective adoptive families as they plan to meet the financial requirements of the adoption process.

Watch
Lived Experience Panel (Parents)

This course for parents brings together a diverse panel of individuals who have gone through the process of adopting after facing infertility to learn from their valuable insights and practical advice.

Watch
Processing Infertility and Child Loss

This free course helps prospective adoptive families identify and practice tools, skills, and resources for appropriately processing their own grief and loss and explore how doing so can strengthen their bond with each other and prospective children.

Watch
An Employer's Guide to Workplace Adoption Benefits

This free course offers a training process for managers and human resource professionals on what a helpful adoption benefits package looks like, as well as practical ways to offer employees the flexibility they need to successfully pursue an adoption.

Watch

Getting Started

How to Choose an Adoption Professional

A guide to choosing an ethical, experienced, adoption service provider for all types of adoption.

View and download

Adoption Agency & Attorney Directory

 

Search NCFA's member directory for an adoption service provider near you.

 

Go to Directory

Preparing for the Financial Cost of Adoption

Information about grants, loans, the adoption tax credit, and other financial resources for pre-adoptive parents

View and download

Finding Support

RESOLVE

The national infertility association offers support and resources to people experiencing infertility and considering adoption.

 

Learn More

Creating a Family Facebook Group

An online community for foster, adoptive, and kinship families. Many of the members came to adoption from infertility.

Find the Group

For Adoption Professionals

A Second Choice But Not Second Best

Addressing the emotional impact of infertility that often affects adoptive families throughout the adoption experience

Learn More

Lived Experience Panel (for Professionals)

Valuable insights and practical advice from a diverse panel to help professionals support individuals considering adoption after infertility

Learn More

Stay up to date

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These resources are generously sponsored by ARC Fertility.

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