The purpose of the Older Child Advocate is to assist pre-adoptive parents who are considering adopting an older or special needs child as well as to assist adoptive parents whose children are now older. To do this we attempt to network with various agencies and other resources to keep abreast of opportunities for such adoptions, maintain the CAP photolisting, and keep current with on-line listings. We also have compiled resource lists of medical doctors and therapists who are knowledgeable about adoption issues.

The Older Child Advocate also runs the Adoption Awareness Program which is offered to students and staff of NJ high schools.

Adopting a Waiting Child – Domestic

Basically, there are five possible routes to finding and adopting a waiting child in the U.S. They are listed here in order of simplicity….easiest (less complicated) first.

1. DYFS – As the state agency with custody of basically all NJ foster children, working with DYFS is the most direct way. They will do your homestudy and provide training. DYFS has hired additional staff and is working hard to comply with the Adoption and Safe Families Act in moving children to permanent homes as quickly as possible.

2. A NJ agency which places NJ children – Agencies which are contracted by DYFS to place NJ children, such as Downeyside, Children’s Aid and Family Service, Youth Consultation Services, Catholic Charities in Perth Amboy and Burlington.

3. A NJ agency which will help you find a child from another state – Certain NJ Agencies, such as Downeyside, Lutheran Social Ministries, will do your homestudy and assist you in locating a child from another state and in dealing with both state bureaucracies.

4. A NJ licensed, but out-of-state agency – These agencies are licensed to conduct your homestudy and will help you find and place a child from another state.

5. Dealing directly with an out-of-state private or public agency which is NOT licensed in NJ – You will still need to have a homestudy done by a NJ licensed agency and that should be a full-service agency which can provide training and post-placement services. This is the most arduous route and will require your dealing with two state bureaucracies. You can use the internet or photo listings, especially the AdoptUSKids listing, or regional or national exchanges to identify the child.

A listing of agencies, exchanges, and websites is available on CPFA’s “How to Begin an Older Child Adoption” factsheet.

Related Links & Outside Information

Resources for Adoption:

National Adoption Center
www.adopt.org

Adopt US Kids
www.adoptuskids.org

NJ Waiting Children
www.state.nj.us/humanservices/adoption/adopt.html
www.fafsonline.org

NACAC
www.nacac.org

Children Awaiting Parents
www.capbook.org

National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
naic.acf.hhs.gov

Adopt America Network
www.adoptamericanetwork.org

PACT
www.pactadopt.org

The National Adoption Center - The Learning Center
www.adoptnet.org

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
www.adoptionattorneys.org

Resources for Foster, Advocacy, Policy:

NJ Foster Care
www.njfostercare.org

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
www.casanet.org

Adoption Policy Resource Center
www.fpsol.com/adoption/advocates.html

Assoc. for Children of NJ
www.acnj.org

Child Welfare League of America
www.cwla.org

Adoption Institute
www.adoptioninstitute.org

Voices of Adoption
www.ibar.com/voices

NJ's Kinship Navigator Program
www.state.nj.us/humanservices/DHS%20Publications/
kinshipbro1.html

Foster and Adoptive Family Services
www.fafsonline.org 

Adoptees:

NJ Coalition for Adoption Reform and Education
Morristown Post-Adoption Support Group
www.nj-care.org or (973) 580-9013

Post Adoption Resources, Special Needs:

Spence Chapin's Adoption Resource Center
www.spence-chapin.org/006.html

SPAN - Statewide Parent Advocacy Network
www.spannj.org

NJ Adoption Resource Clearinghouse
www.njarch.org