LGBTQ+

PFLAG NYC: API Parents & Caregivers Group

This group meets twice a month for a lunchtime discussion for API parents and caregivers whose children are part of the LGBTQ+ community. They are based in New York City but have virtual meetings on zoom. They also have an events calendar for anyone who can or wants to attend. This is a parent resource for API parents who have LGBTQ+ children.

LGBTQ+

The Real Mama Bears

Mama Bears is a source that can apply to and benefit the LGBTQ community. The organization supports, educates, and empowers families with LGBTQ members through its programing. It offers private online communities, resources, opportunities to advocate, regional Mama Bear groups, and numerous other methods of support.

LGBTQ+

Free Mom Hugs

Free Mom Hugs is a source that can apply to and benefit the LGBTQ+ community. It is an organization that encourages education, visability, and conversation. On the webpage you can learn more about their education opportunities for everyone through speaking engagements, webinars, interactive discussions, and other programs. You can also search by state to find a chapter in your area.

Community Connection

Capital Adoptive Families Alliance (CAFA): Support Groups

Capital Adoptive Family Alliance (CAFA) provides a page on the importance of support groups and links to their own support group. The CAFA Support Group offers general support to parents and caregivers raising their adoptive (or soon to be adoptive) children. The support group meetings are free, parent-led, and meet every 4th Thursday.

Medical Needs

Family Resource Center on Disabilities

The Family Resource Center is dedicated to “Providing Parents of Children with Disabilities with Information, Training, and Assistance.” Their resource page contains 20 categories on varying subjects for parents of children with disabilities and is available in Spanish.

Medical Needs

RainbowKids: “Special Needs in Children”

Rainbow Kids Adoption & Child Welfare Advocacy section on special needs is a resource for families considering special needs adoption. With thirteen main categories, each has subcategories that explains different information and considerations for adoptive parents. The site itself also houses a list of children waiting to be adopted that prospective parents may visit after creating an account.

Medical Needs

Utah’s Adoption Connection: Children with Special Needs

This is digital Lending Library allows prospective adoptive families, foster parents, and adoptive parents to rent books for free. Users can check out up to three items at a time for up to six weeks. Within the Children with Special Needs category there are further categories focused on specific special needs, as well as other categories on general adoption, children’s titles, for parenting, for professionals, and LBGTQ focus.

Medical Needs

No Hands But Ours

No Hands But Ours focuses on the children currently being abandoned in China with special medical needs. The organization contains resources for those in the process of adopting a child from China, already home with their adopted child, or just researching special needs. It was founded and is maintained by adoptive parents that specifically focus on special needs adoption from China. The website comprises information regarding specific special needs, family stories, resources (such as before travel and the first year at home) and also opportunities to connect locally and virtually.

Medical Needs

Love Without Boundaries: “Adopting a Child With Special Needs”

Love Without Boundaries’s website contains reference information about common special needs including craniofacial conditions, digestive system conditions, infectious diseases, and more. On the website there is also a family stories page, a resource page (extra packed with info with more information on medical resources and post adoption resources), and a page for the adoption process.

Race Education

NACAC: “Transracial Adoption: Love is Just the Beginning”

“A first person perspective by Deb Reisner (North American Council on Adoptable Children member), mother to a family with a blend of African American, Native American, Latino, and European American races and cultures. She details the importance of listening to her children about their experiences with racism and family methods of externalizing racism.”

Resources