Local adoption support groups can be a lifeline for those who have adopted and those still on the journey. It is so helpful to talk to someone who “gets” what we are experiencing through adoption.
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I’ve written about the 12 reasons why you need a local adoption support group. Now that you know why these groups are so important – let’s show you how to find one.
How (and where) to find a local adoption support group:
The North American Council on Adoptive Children (NACAC) has a searchable list of hundreds of groups so you can find one in your community.
Adoptive Families magazine has a searchable list of support groups. Just enter your state to find one near you.
Childwelfare.gov is government site that has a searchable database of adoption support groups.
AdoptionServices.org has local support groups listed from every state.
Meetup.com allows you to search for adoption to see if there are support groups in your city.
Here are sites that list groups in a particular city and/or state:
Chicago – this site lists numerous local groups in and around the Chicago area.
Adoptflorida.org – has a clickable map and downloadable list with contact info for local support groups all over the state of Florida.
New Jersey & New York City – there are lots of local support groups here.
One more tip to find a local adoption support group:
Contact your local adoption attorneys and adoption agencies. Ask them if they know of any adoption support groups in your area.
They likely will have heard of some – and maybe they’ve been guest speakers at local meetings. You can either Google “adoption attorney in (type in your hometown)” or you can find an adoption attorney through the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys – which I highly recommend – and they also have an adoption agency list.
Local support groups are great. They bring together people with similar struggles so you can give each other much needed help and hope. Adoption is fabulously rewarding but it can also be frustrating and discouraging at times for hopeful adoptive parents.
Support groups are a great place to get information, encouragement, and invaluable insight into what it takes to adopt. I hope and pray that you find a local adoption support group – and it provides you a shoulder to cry on, a boost of confidence and a helping hand you need to get through the domestic infant adoption journey.
Can’t find a local support group? How about the next best thing? We have started the private online community called the Infant Adoption Guide Community where you get to be a part of small groups of people just like you. These small groups we call “Buddy Groups” because you meet with the same people over Zoom or other online video calls so you can get to know each other, support each other, and go through your adoption journey together. Go check out the Infant Adoption Guide Community page to see what it is all about!
