Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from the biological parents to the adoptive parents.
Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home, or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent", or with a family member approved by the state. The placement of a "foster child" is normally arranged through the government or a social service agency. The institution, group home, or foster parent is compensated for expenses unless with a family member.
In the United States, adoption is the process of creating a legal parent–child relationship between a child and a parent who was not automatically recognized as the child's parent at birth.
The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 is a United States federal law that governs jurisdiction over the removal of American Indian children from their families in custody, foster care and adoption cases.
Darcy Olsen is the founder and CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children.
Casey Family Programs (CFP) is a national operating foundation focused on foster care and child welfare.
The New York Foundling, founded in 1869 by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Charity, is one of New York City's oldest and largest child welfare agencies. The Foundling operates programs in the five boroughs of New York City, Rockland County, and Puerto Rico. Its services include foster care, adoptions, educational programs, mental health services, and many other community-based services for children, families, and adults.
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding permanent homes for children waiting in foster care in the United States and Canada. Created in 1992 by Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking.
The British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) was a membership association formed in 1980 and a registered charity. Membership was open to organisations and individuals concerned with child adoption and fostering. Corporate members included local authorities, independent fostering agencies, voluntary adoption agencies, NHS trusts, law firms and voluntary organisations. Individual members included social workers, health professionals, law professionals, adopters and foster carers. BAAF's 2013–14 annual review reported a corporate membership of more than 450 and 1400 individual members.
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is an American non-partisan, non-profit organization "dedicated to raising awareness about the millions of children around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving families and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right to a family." CCAI was founded in 2001 by advocates of children in the U.S. and around the world in need of families. CCAI seeks to support Congress' Adoption Caucus, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, through educating and informing its members on adoption, foster care, and child welfare issues. Additionally, CCAI serves as a resource for Members of Congress and their staff through the offering of information, resources, and opportunities to engage in adoption and foster care programs year-round. This is done through congressional briefings, leadership training programs, educational trips, and other notable programs. The Institute's work is entirely funded by donations and gifts from organizations and individuals. Kate McLean currently serves as the Executive Director of CCAI.
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield, 490 U.S. 30 (1989), was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Indian Child Welfare Act governed adoptions of Indian children. It ruled that a tribal court had jurisdiction over a state court, regardless of the location of birth of the child, if the child or the natural parents resided on the reservation.
Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds are to enable each state in the United States to furnish social services best suited to meet the needs of the individuals residing within the state. Such services may be, but are not limited to: daycare for children or adults, protective services for children or adults, special services to persons with disabilities, adoption, case management, health-related services, transportation, foster care for children or adults, substance abuse, housing, home-delivered meals, independent/transitional living, employment services or any other social services found necessary by the state for its population. Services funded by the SSBG as far as practicable under the conditions of that state are directed at one or more of five goals: achieving or maintaining economic self-support to prevent, reduce or eliminate dependency; achieving or maintaining self-sufficiency, including reduction or prevention of dependency; preventing or remedying neglect, abuse or exploitation of children and adults unable to protect their own interest, or preserving, rehabilitating or reuniting families; preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care by providing for community-based care, home-based care or other forms of less intensive care; and/or securing referral or admission for institutional care when other forms of care are not appropriate or providing services to individuals in institutions. SSBG are administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) takes place in the United States of America and its territories on October 15, the last day of National Hispanic Heritage Month, and aims to increase awareness of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the Hispanic/Latino population living in the United States including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. It is a national community mobilizing and social marketing campaign co-ordinated by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation in partnership with commercial sponsors, community and public health organisations.
The Gladney Center for Adoption in Fort Worth, Texas, US, provides adoption and advocacy services. Following its 1880s origins, when it focused on locating homes for orphans during a period of mass migration. It evolved into lobbying, international adoptions, counseling, maternity services, education and philanthropy.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to adoption:
Until 2017, laws related to LGBTQ+ couples adopting children varied by state. Some states granted full adoption rights to same-sex couples, while others banned same-sex adoption or only allowed one partner in a same-sex relationship to adopt the biological child of the other. Despite these rulings, same-sex couples and members of the LGBTQ+ community still face discrimination when attempting to foster children.
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward or a non-minor, typically aged 18-21, who volunteers for placement, is placed in a relative placement, a non-related extended family (NREFM) placement, a community family home, an institution, a group home (residential child care community, residential treatment center, etc. Relative, NREFM, and community caregivers certified by the state are typically referred to as "foster parents," "kin caregivers," "resource parents," or other local terms. The placement of the child is usually arranged through state or county social services. The institution, group home, or caregiver is reimbursed for the expenses related to caring for the child. The state via the family court and child protection agency stand in loco parentis to the minor, making all legal decisions, while the caregiver is responsible for the day-to-day care of the minor. Even while their child is in Care, typically birth parents retain Education and Medical rights and the right to contact with their child unless parental rights are terminated by the Court.
National Foster Care Month is observed in the United States during the month of May every year. It began with President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Since 1988, National Foster Care Month continues to be recognized and celebrated.
Instant Family is a 2018 American family comedy-drama film starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne as parents who adopt three siblings, played by Isabela Merced, Gustavo Quiroz, and Julianna Gamiz. Also starring Margo Martindale, Julie Hagerty, Tig Notaro, Octavia Spencer, and Tom Segura. The film is directed by Sean Anders, who wrote the screenplay with John Morris, based in part on Anders' own experiences.
Nathan W. Gwilliam is an entrepreneur, who is the founder CEO of Adoption.com, which is the world's most-used adoption site, founded in 1997. Gwilliam has been inducted into the Adoption Hall of Fame by Family Services & Families Supporting Adoption in 2007 and was awarded the U.S. Congressional Coalition's Angels in Adoption award in 2017.
