Thank you for visiting the international page on the American Adoption Congress’ Website.
To submit Web links for this page, please email the URL to: international@americanadoptioncongress.org
Please refer to the AAC’s Web Policy before submitting any links for consideration.
Web links are arranged alphabetically, by continent and country, on this page.
Please click on a continent name below, to view the list of country names beneath it.
At the end of the country-specific Websites, there is a list of general email discussion groups.
PLEASE NOTE: THESE WEB LINKS ARE PROVIDED AS AN INFORMATIONAL SERVICE BY THE AAC. THE AAC NEITHER PROMOTES NOR ENDORSES ANY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY BE LINKED FROM THIS PAGE.
Please return often, to take full advantage of all the resources available through these Web links. Thank you for taking the time to visit the American Adoption Congress’ Website and international page.
http://afaad.wordpress.com
Adopted and Fostered Adults of the African Diaspora
Mission statement: “AFAAD is a nonprofit organization connecting, supporting, and advocating for the needs of the African Diasporic adoption and foster community on a global level, through community outreach, political work, research/scholarship and social gatherings.”
www.watts01.btinternet.co.uk
Homepage for Adoption Africa, a search site for adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents.
Statement of purpose: “Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, and for hundreds of thousands of people, there are pieces of the puzzle missing from their life's picture. This page is intended to be a starting point for all those adoptees, particularly Southern Africans (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi) who need to know more about their origins, and for the birth parents
who want to know about their child.”
Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington state (USA)
Stated purpose: Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington is a resource that provides mentoring, fellowship and educational opportunities for Asian/Pacific adoptees and the community. Based in Seattle, AAAW is a Federal 501 (c)3 status non-profit organization comprised of an all volunteer Board of Directors.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SAIA-T
Statement: “This group offers a forum for adult adoptees from South Asia, ie. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, to talk to each other, to network, and to discuss freely their feelings and experiences in being adopted internationally. Currently we define 'adult' as 18 years old and up.”
http://amerasianfamilyfinder.org
From Website: “ A.F.F is an all volunteer, non-profit organization, dedicated to the reunification of Amerasian children from the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan and Korea, with their biological American father, mother, or other extended family member(s) in the USA.”
Purpose: “We are a resource for parents who want to educate their children, and themselves, on the many aspects of Asian culture.” Not specifically an adoption-related site, it lists cultural resources for people of Asian ancestry in several major U.S. cities.
For Asian-born adoptees in Minnesota, USA
Stated purpose: “A non-profit organization committed to supporting the integration of culture, identity, and life experience for adopted individuals, their families, and the greater community.”
China
Established in 2006, to connect ethnic Chinese adoptees worldwide
India
www.legalserviceindia.com/articles/pard.htm
Article entitled: “The Paradox of Inter Country Adoption”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/connectedindianroots
Moderated email discussion group restricted to adult adoptees from India
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iai-adopteesonly
Purpose from Website: “A yahoo-group created specifically for the Indian Adoptees International organization (India/South Asia).”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Desi_Adoptees_United
Statement from Website: “Desi Adoptees United (DAU) is an Indian adult adoptee group for those who live in the United States and were adopted from India.”
http://freenet-homepage.de/connectedindianroots
For triad members of adoptees born in India
Nepal
www.nepalnews.com/archive/2007/mar/mar10/news09.php
Article entitled: “Adoption should always be the last resort, says UNICEF rep”
Philippines
www.filipino-adoptees-network.org
Forums and news articles of interest to adoptees from the Philippines
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/filipino_adoptees
Moderated email discussion group for adult adoptees from the Philippines
South Korea
Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network
Mission statement: “KAAN's mission is to support networking and build understanding among Adoptees, Adoptive Families, Koreans And Korean Americans.”
www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Garden/3947/body1.htm
Association of Korean Adoptees San Francisco, California, USA (AKASF)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/koreanadopteesworldwide
From Website: “MISSION STATEMENT: Korean @doptees Worldwide, shortened as K@W is an international organization with the purpose of educating both Korean adoptees and the general public about issues that concern Korea and adoption.”
Korean-born, adult adoptees in Minnesota, USA
Mission statement: “The mission of AK Connection is to be a resource for adult Korean adoptees by providing information and building a supportive community.”
Global Overseas Adoptees’ Link
From Website: “G.O.A.'L was established in Seoul, Korea in March 1998 as an independent organization to assist returning adoptees.”
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_editorial/226202.html
Newspaper column written by an adult South Korean Adoptee,
“Why does South Korea keep exporting babies?”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kawnews
Korean Adoptees Worldwide News
Describes itself as, “The ultimate news and information source about Korean adoption.”
www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Shrine/8654/kaw.html
Description from Website: “K@W was created in September 1998 as an online forum to unite KADs (=Korean ADoptees) all over the world. It has since then grown into being the largest online forum for and by KADs.”
http://jps.k12.mi.us/~dmeier/koreanadoption.htm
Doctoral dissertation: “Loss and Reclaimed Lives: Cultural Identity and Place
in Korean-American Intercountry Adoptees”
From Website: “In 1997, the Overseas Koreans Foundation (OKF) began as an affiliated organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and charged with the development of post-adoption services. OKF creates post-adoption services such as its Overseas Adoptees Motherland Tour and Korean Language Training program in order to help adoptees form identity and to strengthen the relationship between them and Korea.”
http://geocities.com/Heartland/Village/5473
The Association of Korean Adoptees Southern California, USA
www.adoptioninstitute.org/proed/korfindings.html
Survey of adult adoptees from Korea, conducted by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
Adoptee Solidarity Korea, (ASK)
Website statement: “Our mission is to address the problems associated with Korean overseas adoption. Through education and activism, we aim to raise awareness, advocate change, and support alternatives to intercountry adoption.
Sri Lanka
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriLankaChildren
For triad members of children adopted from Sri Lanka
Taiwan
www.taipetimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/12/21/2003216060
News article on governmental efforts to centralize adoption records in Taiwan
Vietnam
From Website: “This volunteer cooperative which aims to act as one of the virtual 'homes' for adoptees was launched on the 25th Anniversary of Operation Babylift - April 30th, 2000.”
Vietnamese Adoptee Network
Mission statement from Website: “The Vietnamese Adoptee Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to maximize the Vietnamese adoptee experience in a caring, supportive environment by networking them to other Vietnamese adoptees and community resources.”
http://misplacedbaggage.wordpress.com
From Website: “A blog by three adult Vietnamese adoptees as they move forward, reflect back and express their thoughts on just about everything in between.”
Statement on Website: “Operation Reunite is an organization which brings about awareness of the Vietnam War and provides support and understanding to approximately 3000 Vietnamese war babies brought to the United States and other countries like France and Australia.”peration
www.darlo.tv./indigo/VVsancta.html
Site for adult adoptees from the Sancta Maria Orphanage in Saigon, Vietnam
www.adoptioninstitute.org/proed/vietprelim.html
Survey of adult adoptees from Vietnam, conducted by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
Inter-Country Adoptee Support Network
New South Wales, Australia
Vision statement from Website: “The Inter-Country Adoptee Support Network (ICASN) has been set up to provide support to Adoptees who have been adopted cross-culturally. The term Inter-Country Adoptee (ICA) generally refers to those who are raised in a country of origin different to their country of birth but will be used loosely within ICASN to include any adoptee who experiences cross-cultural aspects of adoption.”
Eastern Europe
A quarterly newsletter for children adopted from Eastern Europe
Extensive articles archive
www.unicef.org/ceecis/Guidance_note_Intercountry_adoption.pdf
UNICEF’s Guidance Note on intercountry adoption in the Baltics' region of Europe
Introduction: “Intercountry adoption involves the transfer of a child from his or her country of origin (or of habitual residence) to another country where he or she will live with the adoptive parents, and implies the total and definitive rupture of his or her relationship with the biological family.”
Germany
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/geborener_deutscher
Moderated email discussion group for adult adoptees from Germany
Homepage of German-born adoptee
From Website: “This site is dedicated to all those who have suffered the loss of their homeland, culture, language, family and history through international adoption.”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pmrein2003
Purpose from Website: “A group where people born in Germany and adopted by US Military families can swap info and support each other in their search for birth parents and siblings.”
Greece
Mutual consent registry for Greek-born adoptees
http://books.dreambook.com/maxine815/maxine815.html
Discussion board for Greek-born adoptees in search of their roots in Greece
Italy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/italiadoption
From Website: “ITALIADOPTION is a virtual community intended for all members of the adoption triad (adoptees, birth parents/siblings, adoptive parents/siblings) involved in the Italian American adoption experience. In the period between 1950 and 1970 there have been over 3,700 Italian born "orphans" brought to North America to be adopted by American and Canadian parents.”
Ireland
Its stated goal on Website is “to seek legislative change to benefit adopted people and their natural families” in Ireland.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_2_36/ai_95829287
Article in the Journal of Social History; Winter, 2002; by Moira J. Maguire
“Foreign Adoptions and the Evolution of Irish Adoption Policy, 1945-52”
(scroll through index to find Maguire’s article)
Russia
http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2005/09/12/62715.html
Website for the Russian newspaper Pravda
Article entitled: “U.S. official apologizes for the death of Russian-born adopted children killed in the U.S.”
From Website: “My help is free. I am not an agency, an attorney or a Russian private investigator. I am an adoptive parent who wishes to help others in their search for family members.”
United Kingdom
Transnational and Transracial Adoption Group
Statement on Website: “Our primary purpose is to provide each other with unconditional positive regard, recognizing, respecting and valuing each individual's diverse adoption experience and the resulting lifelong impact upon them.”
http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/intl/CAN/BRITISHHOMECHILDREN.html
Statement of purpose: “A mailing list for anyone who has a genealogical interest in the 100,000 British Home Children - alleged orphans - who were emigrated to Canada by 50 child care organizations 1870-1948.”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LatinAmericanAdoptee
From Website: “The purpose of this group is to bring together people adopted from Central and South America.”
Colombia
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ColombianAdopteesaftertheReunion
From Website: “The focus of this group is for Colombian adoptees to share and discuss their experiences after their reunions. There seems to be many issues that come up after the reunion that we are all learning. For example: cultural issues, sibling issues, distance issues & emotional issues etc... Everyone (adoptive parents, birthparents, adoptees) reunited or not are welcome to join in discussion and learn with us.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fanaadoptees
Stated purpose: “This group is designed for adult adoptees, who were adopted out of FANA. This is for adoptees from FANA who want to or who are in the process of searching. This group is a place where you can speak honestly about your good or bad experiences regarding the orphanage.”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FriendsofLaCasa
Statement from Website: “This group is for people associated with La Casa de la Madre y el Nino Adoption Home in Bogotá Colombia. Its purpose is to serve as a connecting point for Colombian adoptees, adoptive parents, and friends of La Casa.”
Honduras
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AdoptedHonduransNetwork
For triad members, and anyone with an interest in adoptees from Honduras
http://members.aol.com/honduadopt
From Website: “This site is intended to provide a contact point for Honduran adoptees and their families (biological and adoptive) and to provide a starting point for obtaining information on Honduran culture and international adoption issues. Since its creation in 1998, we're happy to say, it has helped a few find one another.”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeamericanadoptioncampfire
Its purpose is “geared to Adoptees and Birth Parents of Native American Descents,
and is open to all with ties to the People whether they are part of the adoption triad
or just want to help.”
Canada
www.canadianadopteesregistry.org
Volunteer-run organization that provides free search resources for adoptees and birth families. Website includes a searchable database, plus links to reunion registries and forms for provincial and territorial governments.
http://lists.rootweb.ancestry.com/index/intl/CAN/BRITISHHOMECHILDREN.html
Statement of purpose: “A mailing list for anyone who has a genealogical interest in the 100,000 British Home Children - alleged orphans - who were emigrated to Canada by 50 child care organizations 1870-1948.”
www.ssc.uwo.ca/economics/faculty/jpalmer/adoptions.html
Early draft of an article that appeared in The New Palgrave Dictionary of Law and Economics, by John Palmer, from the University of Western Ontario
“The Law and Economics of Adoption”
Introduction: “The adoption of a child by non-biological parents is the transfer of a limited property right. To understand an economics-and-law analysis of adoption, one must first examine the nature of this property right. Then the conditions of exchange can be studied and assessed.”
United States (including transracial and mixed race people)
American International Adoptee Forum
Website statement: “. . . for people adopted to the United States from an international origin.”
www.karensadoptionlinks.com/adoptee.html
Extensive links to personal stories and articles by transnational and transracial adoptees
USA and worldwide
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mavin
Mixed race experience in America
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SiblingsLostandFound
For siblings who reunited after being separated by adoption
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWIRLinc
For mixed race and transracial people
www.uoregon.edu/~adoption/topics/proxy.htm
The Adoption History Project
University of Oregon-Eugene
From Website: “During the 1950s, proxy adoptions were the most widely publicized means of international adoption. They allowed U.S. citizens to adopt in foreign courts by designating a proxy agent to act in their place. Thousands of children, especially from Japan, Greece, and Korea, were adopted in this way. Because these adoptees entered the United States as the legal children of parents who had never met them, proxies avoided the requirements of state laws and flouted the notion that child welfare was the dominant factor in adoption.”
Links to support groups and chat lists for triad members
Statement of purpose from Website: “Pact is a membership organization whose mission is to provide services to adopted children of color. To serve the children, we offer them and their parents lifelong education and support on family, race and adoption issues.”
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html
Website for the U.S. State Department
Dual nationality for U.S. citizens
The Website says its purpose is to celebrate the multi-racial heritage of people of color
www.adoptioninstitute.org/FactOverview/international.html
Statistics on the top 20 countries that send their children to the USA for adoption
The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
www.adoptiontriad.org/registry.htm
Free transnational adoption reunion registry
www.iussp.org/Brazil2001/s20/S27_P05_Selman.pdf
Academic paper on demographic patterns in transnational adoption
“The Movement of Children for Intercountry Adoption: A Demographic Perspective”
by Peter Selman, from the Department of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
www.karensadoptionlinks.com/adoptee.html
Extensive links to personal stories and articles by transnational and transracial adoptees
USA and worldwide
www.plumsite.com/shea/states.html
Adoption statutes, legislative code, and links by country
Originally compiled by Shea Grimm
www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=text.display&tid=10#family
Web page for The Hague Conference on International Protection of Children, Family and Property Relations
www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/digest4e.pdf
United Nations Innocenti Digest on Intercountry Adoption
Statement on Website: “The Innocenti Digest is compiled by the UNICEF International Child Development Centre to provide reliable and easily accessed information on a critical children’s rights concern. It is designed as a working tool for executive decision-makers, programme managers and other practitioners in child-related fields.”
www.unicef.org/media/media_15011.html
UNICEF’s position on inter-country adoption
From Website: “The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guides UNICEF’s work, clearly states that every child has the right to know and be cared for by his or her own parents, whenever possible. Recognising this, and the value and importance of families in children’s lives, UNICEF believes that families needing support to care for their children should receive it, and that alternative means of caring for a child should only be considered when, despite this assistance, a child’s family is unavailable, unable or unwilling to care for him or her.”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/international-adopt-talk
Statement: “We are dedicated to listening to grown adoptees, not rebut their experiences. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the discussions membership is restricted to members of the adoption triad -- adult adoptees, birth parents, and a-parents.”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/global_adoption_triad
From Website: “Focused through the Triad's "prism," we discuss its full constellation-like dynamic spectrum: birth-family issues - leaving/finding - abduction - orphanage life - foster care - adoptive-family issues - sibling/birth-family searches - and more.”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/intadoptresearch
Stated purpose: “Intercountry Adoption Research Group is an attempt to bring together academics, researchers, adoption professionals and lay people engaged in and/or interested in current research pertaining to intercountry adoption.”
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raising-adopted-boys
Statement from Website: “This list is created for parents who are raising internationally adopted boys. So many of the adoption lists seem dominated by parents of girls and so many of the issues are girl-specific. The purpose of this list is to explore boy-specific topics in depth.”
