ADOPTION:
A SELECT LIST OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE
AT FLINT PUBLIC LIBRARY

November is National Adoption Month. The purpose of National Adoption Month is to focus the attention on the increasing number of children in the child welfare system waiting to be adopted and the recognition of adoption as a positive way to build families.

The following is a list of select books, web sites, and contact numbers for those who are considering adoption, who are adopted, or want to learn more about adoption.

Adult Materials | Search and Reunion | Children's Materials
Web Sites | Local Resources and Contact Numbers

adult materials

There are Babies to Adopt
by Christine Adamec (362.7 Ad)
A solid starting point for married couples and singles wishing to adopt infants. Covers agency, private, and international adoption.

Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child: Making Sense of the Past
by Betsy Keefer (362.7 Ke)
Suggests how to share with children the sometimes painful and difficult issues regarding their circumstances, birth family, and backgrounds.

M.A.R.E.: Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange
Ref. (Behind Ref. Desk) (362.7 Mi)
A monthly photo listing book of waiting Michigan children and Michigan families interested in adopting children with special needs.

Parenting Your Adopted Older Child: How to Overcome the Unique Challenges and Raise a Happy and Healthy Child
by Brenda McCreight (649.1 McC)
An adoption expert provides specific parenting strategies for the growing number of people who adopt children over two years of age.

Yes, You can Adopt! A Comprehensive Guide to Adoption
by Richard Mintzer (362.7 Mi)
Combines research with anecdotes from adoptive parents to provide a highly detailed guide to all types of adoption.

How to Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions
by Jean Nelson-Erichsen (Cody 362.7 Ne)
The authors have broken down international adoption into easy-to-follow steps.

Adopting on Your Own: The Complete Guide to Adopting as a Single Parent
by Lee Varon (362.7 Ve)
Covers issues and concerns that single men and women who are thinking of adopting may have.

The Complete Adoption Book: Everything you need to know to adopt a child.
by Laura Beauvais-Godwin (362.73 Be)
Adoption professionals and adoptive parents have written a comprehensive and authoratative resource that will help readers pursue either an independent, agency or international adoption.

Twice Born: Memoirs of an adopted daughter
by Betty Jean Lifton (362.73 Li)
An acclaimed author tells her own story of growing up in a closed adoption system in this vivid and poignant memoir.

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search and reunion

Search: A Handbook for Adoptees and Birthparents
by Jayne Askin (362.7 As)
A detailed step-by-step process for unearthing adoption information through sealed adoption records, government data, and reference resources.

Adoption Reunion Survival Guide: Preparing Yourself for the Search, Reunion, and Beyond
by Julie Jarrell Bailey (362.7 Ba)
Helps adoptees and their birth mothers decide whether or not to try to locate each other and how to prepare for and handle the often times emotional reunion.

Lost and Found: The Guide to Finding Family, Friends, and Loved Ones
by Troy Dunn (364.12 Du)
Contains strategies and information to complete your search as quickly and simply as possible.

Birthright: The Guide to Search and Reunion for Adoptees, Birthparents, and Adoptive Parents
by Jean A.S. Strauss (362.7 Strauss, J St)
A handbook that covers all aspects of the search and reunion process.

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children's materials

The Coffee Can Kid
by Jan M. Czech (EASY Czech)
A six-year-old Korean girl asks her dad to revisit the familiar story of how she came to live with her adoptive parents.

Who am I: And Other Questions of Adopted Kids
by Charlene C. Giannetti (J 362.73 Gi)
This books speaks confidently to children, preteens, and teens seeking answers to their questions about being adopted.

Saffy's Angel
by Hilary McKay (J McKay)
After learning that she was adopted, 13 year old Saffy's family takes her back to Italy where she was born to find a special memento of her past.

My Mei Mei
by Ed Young [EASY Young]
Antonia gets her wish when her parents return to China to bring home a Mei Mei, or younger sister, for her.

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web sites

About Adoption
http://adoption.about.com/
Just as the title suggests, this web site contains a wealth of information about adoption.

Adoptuskids
http://adoptuskids.com/
A national initiative to recruit foster and adoptive families for children in foster care.

The Adoption Guide
http://www.theadoptionguide.com/
Adoption help and guidance from the nation's leading adoption magazine.

Adopting.org
http://adopting.org/
Information on all aspects of adoption, including what to do about an unplanned pregnancy, issues and concerns of those who have just adopted, and search and reunion.

Adoption.org Services
http://www.adoption.org/
Learn about all aspects of the adoption process on this comprehensive site.

Michigan Department of Human Services
http://www.michigan.gov/fia/1,1607,7-124-5452_7116---,00.html
Learn about adopting children who have become permanent state wards of Michigan.

Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange
http://www.mare.org/
Contains information about adoption in Michigan. Lists licensed adoption agencies, adoption laws, frequently asked questions, etc.

Michigan Adoption Directory
http://www.childwelfare.com/Michigan%20Adoption%20Directory.htm
Lists state agencies, local public agencies, licensed private adoption agencies, adoptive/foster family support groups and search support groups located in the state of Michigan

National Adoption Center
http://www.adopt.org/
Learn how to adopt, find out about waiting children, take an online adoption course, and communicate via message boards with adoptive families. This informative site is sponsored by an organization that has been in existence since 1972.

Child Welfare Information Gateway
http://www.childwelfare.gov
A federally funded comprehensive resource that provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families.

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local resources and contact numbers

Alternatives for Children and Families
Provides evaluation and placement services for children ages birth -17 who can no longer live with their parents.
P.O. Box 3038
Flint, MI 48502
Business Number: (810) 235-0683

Bethany Christian Services of Eastern Lower Michigan
A non-profit, pro-life, Christian adoption and family services agency that provides free birthparent counseling, domestic and international infant adoption, as well as older child and special needs adoption.
Call 1-800-BETHANY for nearest office.

Catholic Charities of Shiawasee and Genesee
Provides adoption evaluation and placement services for infants, children of color, and children with special needs.
901 Chippewa
Flint, MI 48503
Business Number: (810) 232-9950

Ennis Center for Children
Founded in 1978, Ennis Center for Children is a not-for-profit, multi-service agency providing community based, in home, foster care, adoption and group home services to children and families.
129 East Third Street
Flint, MI 48502
Business Number: (810) 233-4031

Licensed Michigan Adoption Agencies from MARE (MIchigan Adoption Resource Exchange)
An information and referral service for prospective adoptive parents interested in adopting children with special needs.
330 W. Michigan Ave.
P.O. Box 6128 Jackson, MI 49204
Business Number: 800-589-6273

Truth in the Adoption Triad
Mutual search and support group for persons separated from their families due to adoption. Call for further information.
Marilyn Phillips
2464 Kansas Street
Saginaw, MI 48601
Business Number:(517) 777-6666

Whaley Children's Center
Provides adoption services for children ages 6-12 who cannot be reunited with their birth families.
1201 N. Grand Traverse St.
Flint, MI 48503
Business Number: (810) 234-3603

Child & Family Services - Genesee County Community Mental Health
Provides post-adoption services for residents of Genesee County.
1102 Mackin Rd.
Flint, MI 48503
Business Number: (810) 257-3676

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