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How Can I Get More Information About a Child? You have seen a child who interests you on an adodption photolisting website, such as the Wednesday's Child or Adoption Center of Delaware Valley site. But the description is only eight sentences long. How can you make a monumental, life-changing family decision based on only eight sentences? You could fill in the online interest form, but should you first contact the website coordinator to ask more about the child? It may seem like a good idea to call or send an email to the website coordinator. But, in fact, the person you would reach on the phone or by email probably won't know any more about the child than the few sentences shown on the site. Children's social workers or their adoption exchange workers provide the descriptions that accompany their photographs. Website managers and staff members of organizations like the National Adoption Center are limited to the information that the children's social workers provide. But surely somebody somewhere knows more about the child! So how do you find that person? Nearly every website that includes photos and descriptions of children also provides a way for interested families to let workers know of their interest. Some websites list a worker's phone number right on the child's page of the website. On some sites, clicking on a link will provide the opportunity to email a child's worker or exchange worker. And many sites, including Wednesday's Child and Adoption Center of Delaware Valley offer an interest form which can be filled out and submitted online. Sometimes the phone number, link, or online form is not so easy to find. You may have to read carefully or use the back button on your browser to return to an earlier page. Some websites require families to register on the site before making an inquiry. On other sites, such as AdoptUSKids, you must have a completed homestudy in order to register and learn more about specific children. Filling in an interest form does not mean that you are making a commitment to adopting a particular child, and it doesn't guarantee that you will get more information. It's just a way to tell a child's caseworker about your interest. If the child's worker thinks your family may be a match for a child, he or she will request a copy of your homestudy, and in return will send a child profile, with much detailed information, to your social worker. When your worker agrees that you're a good match, you are entitled to receive all available information about the child's medical, emotional, developmental, and educational needs. If you don't have a homestudy, you may not be able to learn much more about a specific child at this point in the process. While you may include a child's name and identification number on the interest form of some sites, such as Wednesday's Child, children's workers usually contact only families who are approved and ready to adopt. Your best move is learning all you can about how to adopt , and using online interest forms to ask for adoption information. Then contact an agency in your state to start the process. One thing that any family can do to get more information about waiting children is visit other websites. Often a child will be listed on more than one site, and you may find additional descriptive information, different photos, or even a video of the child. For example, every child listed on the national Wednesday's Child Website is also shown on the website of the television station that aired the child's Wednesday's Child feature. You can reach the stations' sites through links from the Wednesday's Child website. If you don't find the child who caught your attention listed on other sites, you will surely find other children, just as much in need of families. --- |