Parents in open adoptions share whether they have a post-adoption contact agreement with their child’s birth parents and, if so, what it includes.
News Brief: Alabama Is the Latest State to Pass Discriminatory Adoption Law
Several states have passed or are considering laws that would allow adoption agencies to deny services to LGBT individuals and couples.
News Brief: Further Decline in International Adoption Numbers, and Ongoing Challenges
In its 2016 annual report, the U.S. Department of State released the latest international adoption statistics, which have declined for the twelfth straight year, and outlined other countries’ most widely held concerns.
News Brief: Ethiopia Suspends Adoptions
In late April 2017, Ethiopia announced an immediate suspension of international adoptions.
Ask AF: Four-Year-Old Expressing Negativity About Her Skin Color
The mother of a preschooler shares her concern about negative comments her daughter has been making about her skin color. Parents who have been there offer advice.
News Brief: Call to Submit All Outstanding Post-Adoption Reports
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has designated May 15, 2017 “Post-Adoption Report Day” and issued a call for families that adopted internationally to submit any missing reports to their children’s countries of origin.
Share Your Story: Who Helped With Your Adoption?
We asked AF readers: Did anyone help you with your adoption? Whether it was an adoption agency or attorney or other adoption professional, we want to know how you chose the people who helped you adopt.
Share Your Story: Naming Adoptive Children
In “Naming Madison”, Dawn Friedman argued in favor of keeping her daughter’s birth name. We asked our readers: Should adoptive parents choose their child’s name?
Share Your Story: Was It Fate?
We asked our readers: Do you believe your child was destined for your family? Or does fate have nothing to do with it? Here are your stories.
Keeping Your Spirits Up During the Wait
From doing “lasts” as a couple to cleaning out closets and drawers to writing in a journal to their child-to-be, parents share how they remained positive during a long or uncertain wait to adopt.
News Brief: Documenting Citizenship for Adopted Children
In response to an increase in inquiries about the citizenship status for international adoptees, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released an adoption notice about obtaining or documenting citizenship.
News Brief: Financial and Social Pressure and Lack of Support Factor Into Expectant Mothers’ Decisions
Expectant mothers who chose adoption most commonly cited financial pressure, social stigma, and a lack of support before and after placement in interviews with the Donaldson Adoption Institute.
One Partner Wants to Nest, the Other Wants to Wait
A hopeful adoptive mother who’s just started the adoption wait is ready to nest and get the baby’s room ready—but her husband wants to wait. Parents who have been there offer advice.
Share Your Story: Domestic Adoption and Attachment
We asked our readers: Before your adoption, were you concerned about bonding with your baby? After your newborn came home, what parenting techniques did you practice that enhanced attachment?
Letters to the Editor, RE: February 2017
Readers share feedback about articles from the February 2017 issue of Adoptive Families magazine.
Ten Questions to Ask Pediatricians
When you’re in the process of adopting an infant, there are things you should know about your potential pediatrician. Start with these top queries.
First Aid Kit Essentials
One thing about parenthood is practically guaranteed. If your new baby gets sick, it will be in the middle of the night…in a snowstorm. Be prepared with these must-have items.
Dealing with Loss of a Grandparent
Often, the loss of a grandparent will be your child’s first experience with death. If a child is close to her grandparent, the loss will be that much harder.
News Brief: Domestic Adoptions Rise Slightly, Despite Overall Decrease in Adoption
Adoption: By the Numbers, the latest report from the National Council For Adoption, shows a slight increase in U.S. infant adoptions from 2007 to 2014.
Adoption Cost and Timing in 2015-2016
Each year, Adoptive Families polls newly formed families across the country to get actual information on the cost and length of time it took them to complete their adoptions. We are grateful to every one of you who took our most recent Adoption Cost & Timing Survey.