News You Can Use: Adoption Resources

Feb. 29, 2008— -- ABC News does not endorse the views of any of the organizations linked below. The Web sites have been linked as informational resources only.

The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute has published a paper on restoring the right for adoptees to locate their original birth certificates. It provides other related resources, including recommended practices for adoptive parents and recommendations regarding adopted children in schools.

The National Council for Adoption has published a position paper on the effect of mandatory open records on adoption. They have also published resources for families or individuals considering adopting, giving children up for adoption or looking for help financing an adoption.

Click here for a map that gives an overview of birth certificate availability for adopted adults in the United States.

Click here to view state-by-state legislative efforts to help adult adoptees obtain birth certificates.

For explanations of terminology in adoption-related statutes, click here.

For a compilation of statutes for all states in PDF format, here.

International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISRR) is a nonprofit mutual consent registry that matches adult adoptees with their biological parents if both parties are consenting and have registered. You must register by filing an application. ISRR does not perform searches but will alert you if you have a match.