Many agencies keep photo-listing books with photographs and brief descriptions of available children. Prospective adopters can peruse the books to learn more about the kinds of children who are waiting and, perhaps, locate a child to adopt. Parent support groups are a valuable resource. Some maintain photo-listing books and have close relationships with agencies and adoption exchanges that match waiting children and parents. Families who have adopted can share experiences and guide interested families through the adoption process.
Libraries can provide general adoption information.
Many have books on adoption, and an increasing number are keeping articles and materials on current trends in adoption, including children with special needs, single parent adoption, and transracial adoption. These features usually appear regularly and highlight children in the communities they serve who need permanent homes. The Clearinghouse has hundreds of articles on all kinds of adoption topics in its bibliographic data base. The search for a child begins, in most cases, at the agency level. A prospective adopter can contact an adoption agency and express an interest in adopting a child with special needs.