These officials usually have offices in the state capital. The state government information operator can help you locate the officer for your state. For information on independent adoption, check with your state, county, or city bar association. Ask if independent adoptions are legal in your state. Also ask if the bar association will refer you to lawyers who handle independent adoptions.
Many communities offer shelters for battered spouses and their children.
Details on these shelters are available from the police, crisis intervention services, hospitals, churches, family or conciliation courts, local newspapers, or women's organizations. A resource is the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, P.O. Box 18749, Denver, CO 80218. Every state has Child Support Enforcement Units that help custodial parents establish and enforce child support orders and locate absent parents. You can locate the offices by looking under county or state government listings in the telephone book or by asking the state government switchboard. Another resource is the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, which can help parents find their state's enforcement officers.