More Reading & Resources, Page 6
Some Selected Web Sites
Dumb Frequently Asked Questions and more … Partly for fun and partly to forewarn, this a compilation of some of the stupid and unthinking remarks and questions suffered by adopters. Intended specifically for Americans adopting from China, most of the real-life inanities compiled here are equally applicable for any trans-racial or even same-race adoption. Includes suggested comebacks, from the serious to the flippant, according to your mood at the time.
Adoption.com This bills itself as the “largest adoption resources index on the internet”. Much of it is so directly USA-oriented as to be of no interest to UK adopters (such as the list of US adoption lawyers, and advertisements placed by prospective adopters for expecting birthmothers — which are illegal for UK adopters to place), but the sections on support for international adopters, resources for special needs children, general information and support, the online shop, and mailing lists and e-groups are of interest.
Adoption on the Usenet Mainly for Americans, so much of the information about law and agencies is irrelevant for UK users. But it includes a lot of information on books, Internet discussion groups, organisations, magazines, gifts, etc.
Adoption InterLink UK Similar to “Adoption on the Usenet”, but British oriented. Most of the site is much the same content as this book, but there are also some links to further resources.
Famous and Remarkable Adoptees, Foster Children and Others: A Biographical Directory A biographical dictionary with hundreds of entries, maintained by the author of this book.
Adoption ReferencePart of the Internet Public Library. A register of the best of the Internet adoption sites, selected by librarians for libraries, especially in the USA. Enter “adoption” into the search form on the front page and press “search”.
The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute An organisation based in the USA, “designed to provide adoption professionals and others with an interest in adoption research, policy and practice with easy access to the most up-to-date information”.
The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse This is an official US government site to provide professionals and the general public with information on all aspects of adoption. Of course the statistical, organisational and legal parts are aimed at Americans, but there is a great deal on tracing, inter-country adoption, special needs, bibliographic data, Internet links, etc., which is useful for all.
Adoption This is the official UK Department of Health site on adoption. It includes links to official government papers, legislation, British organisations, items to do with international adoption, statistical sources, lists of voluntary and local authority adoption agencies (England only), statistical sources, etc. Note that this link is likely to change in the near future, since adoption, along with other child social welfare functions of the Department of Health, have been transferred to the Department for Education and Skills.
Adoption-net The site incorporates sections on recent UK adoption news stories, advice on how to go about adopting or fostering, legislation, child protection issues, support and advice agencies, a bulletin board for information and help requests and a public forum for discussion of adoption issues, FAQs pages on adoption and fostering, a glossary of legal terms in the field, links pages to other sites, etc.
Adopters Scotland A small site specifically to provide support and contacts for people in Scotland.
About Web Resources A list of about 500 Web sites to do with adoption and related areas, under 22 main headings. This is part of the BAAF Web site, so it carries their authority, although they do not necessarily endorse the sites’ content. Coverage is mainly UK (broken down by nation where appropriate) but includes plenty of foreign sites, and there are special sections of sites suitable for children and sites designed for professional adoption workers.
Next: Glossary
© Roger Ridley Fenton
