Resources

Safeguarding the Rights and Well-Being of Birthparents in the Adoption Process
  
Child Welfare Information Gateway:Impact of Adoption on Birth Parents

Foster Parent/Birth Parent Relationships

Birth Parent Involvement

You Are Not Alone: An Empowering Guide for Parents Whose Children are in DCF Foster Care
This guide was written by parents for parents and published by Parents Helping Parents—The Roundtable of Support, Inc. and Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts, Inc. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), the state’s child protection agency, reviewed the guide for accuracy, but made no editorial decisions. The guide includes stories and quotes from parents and also provides information on the following topics: Answering First Questions; Helping Yourself Helps Your Child; Learning Quickly: The First Day; Visiting Your Child; Making Decisions about Your Child’s Care; Managing Your Case; Understanding the Legal System; Working with DCF; Creating Your Service Plan; Resources and Tools. The guide is not meant to offer legal advice, but rather serves as a source of information to help parents advocate for themselves and their children. (2010)

“A Guide to Show Parents They Are Not Alone”
In the March 2011 Feature Story from Rise Magazine, Sandra Sanchez-Cochran discusses her experiences with the child welfare system, and her work to develop the guide as a source of support for other parents.

Organizations

Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute

Adoption A Gathering

American Adoption Congress

Bastard Nation

Concerned United Birthparents

International Soundex Reunion Registry