- Birth Family Search
CCI Birth Parent Searching and Reunion Group
This Facebook group aims to provide information, resources, and encouragement for adult Chinese adoptees who are seeking to find their birth family or are currently in reunion. They also have a confidential discussion forum for any questions or experiences that are wanting to be shared.
- Birth Family Search
Find Birth Parents, Siblings, Adoptees and Family
This is a Facebook group that helps domestic adoptees find and reunite with lost relatives, adoptees, birth parents, and siblings.
- Community Connection
American Adoptions: “Your Adoption Relationships”
This source is a starting point for adoptees who want to understand their relationships. Some of these guides are about friends, reunion, attachment theory, and more. This source can apply to and most benefit adoptees seeking guidance in understanding and approaching relationships.
The Nanchang Project: “Chinese Adoptee DNA”
From the Nanchang Project facebook page, this infographic is a flow chart about Chinese adoptee DNA. This source can apply to and most benefit Chinese adoptees who are overwhelmed by all the places you can add DNA.
- Birth Family Search
23andMe
23&Me is a popular genetic testing service. The website states, “Your genetic data is analyzed, and we generate your personalized reports based on well-established scientific and medical research.” The company also makes an effort to protect your information. This source can apply to and most benefit adoptees who are interested in exploring their DNA.
- Birth Family Search
Ancestry DNA
Ancestry DNA is a popular genealogy company. According to the website “AncestryDNA® gives you much more than just the places you’re from. With clear-cut historical insights and rich geographic details, we connect you to the places in the world where your story started – and you might even discover living relatives.” The company also makes a effort to protect your information. This source can apply to and most benefit adoptees who are interested in exploring their DNA.
- Birth Family Search
FamilyTreeDNA
FamilyTree DNA is a well known genetic testing company and is a division of Gene by Gene. According to the website “Founded in 2000, FamilyTreeDNA pioneered the field of genetic genealogy—the use of DNA testing to establish relationships between individuals and determine ancestry. As leaders in the industry, we provide advanced technology for users to gain further insight into their family history—all with a simple swab of DNA.” The company also makes an effort to protect your information. This source can apply to and most benefit adoptees who are interested in exploring their DNA.
- Birth Family Search
MyHeritage
MyHeritage is another genealogy platform. According to the website “ We search for people whose DNA matches yours: your relatives. Our DNA Matching technology reveals the percentage of DNA you share with your matches, showing you how closely related you are. You can connect with your newly found relatives to learn more about your family and discover shared ancestors.” The company also makes an effort to protect your information. This source can apply to and most benefit adoptees who are interested in exploring their DNA.
- Birth Family Search
WeGene
WeGene is a Chinese DNA company. According to the website “The WeGene Personal Genome Service test includes genetic health risk reports. The test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks.” The company doesn’t disclose its privacy policy. This source can apply to and most benefit Chinese adoptees who are interested in exploring their DNA.
- Birth Family Search
GEDmatch
GedMatch offers a free DNA site built for genetic genealogy research. The website mentions that it may attempt to alert you if information is needed legally. GedMatch also offers you opportunities to engage in forums, this information may also not be protected. This source can apply to and most benefit Chinese adoptees who are interested in exploring their DNA.
- Birth Family Search
Journey Across Forever – China Birth Parent Search Group
Journey Across Forever is a closed group for adoptive parents with children from China who are searching for birth parents, foster parents, finders, etc. There are networking resources, steps to take when searching, and other resources that provide information on the process.
- Birth Family Search
China DNA
China DNA is a group that does DNA analysis to help adoptees connect to their Chinese ancestry, genealogy, and heritage.
- Birth Family Search
Research-China
Research-China.org is an informational website detailing the sociopolitical circumstances of China starting from the causes of the One Child Policy up to recent happenings that affect adoption or are a direct cause of it. It features an adoptive father’s experience with his adoption and helping his daughters conduct a birth family search. This resource is for those interested in the politics behind adoption and its history.
- Birth Family Search
The Roots of Love
The Roots of Love is a Chinese adoptee family reunion project with multiple professional searchers on location. They offer free DNA testing to potential birth relatives and share birth relative contact info for free. This organization would best benefit Chinese adoptees actively searching for birth family.
- Birth Family Search
Birth Family Search Russia
Birth Family Search Russia is a organization created by by Denis M. Rybakov who is dedicated to birth searches. He has undertaken more than 600 birth family searches all over Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and more. He is a member of the Moscow Bar Association. This source can apply to and most benefit Russian adoptees who are interested in birth family search.
- Birth Family Search
Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Boston
The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Boston’s Birth Family Search Process for Adoptee’s webpage gives steps and information on how to do a birth family search. Official paperwork in PDF format is available and a flow chart is also accessible to the public. This source can apply to and most benefit Korean adoptees who are interested in birth family search.
- Birth Family Search
International Child Search Alliance (ICSA)
The International Child Search Alliance (ICSA) is a “ all-volunteer international group of adoptees and adoptive parents founded in November 2018.” They offer reliable information and promote awareness in China of adoptees’ desire to know their birth families. This source applies to and most benefit Chinese adoptees who are interested in birth family search.
- Birth Family Search
Chilean Adoptees Worldwide
Chilean Adoptees Worldwide is a platform for Chilean Adoptees, all over the world. The organization strives to bring awareness/connect with adoptees and birth families in Chile. Birth family search is a big part of their work and offers a secure space where adoptees can upload their adoption documents. This source can apply to and most benefit Chilian adoptees, their families, and their birth families.
- Birth Family Search
DNA Testing for Asian Adoptees
From GenePeace DNA Consulting, this document serves as a guide on DNA testing. This document can apply to and most benefit those who are interested in exploring how “DNA can be used specifically for people of Asian ancestry, including Asian international adoptees and adoptees of mixed Asian heritage (domestic or internationally adopted). “ This guide is packed with information and suggests additional resources.
- Birth Family Search
“2018 I WENT TO CHINA TO SEARCH FOR MY BIRTH FAMILY * 2018年寻找中国亲生父母”
In this short youtube documentary (link to full TV documentary is in the description), an adoptee shares her experience of going to China to search for her birth family. She explains the controversies surrounding her choice and encourages others to search for their birth families.This source can apply to and most benefit adoptees who are wondering about an experience like this.
- Birth Family Search
Bao Bei Hui Jia
Bao Bei Hui Jia is a Chinese birth family searching site where you can post searching posters for free. You can provide information like birthday, missing time, family seeker characterization, possible memories, etc. This site is for Chinese adoptees or adoptive parents searching on behalf of their child.
- Birth Family Search
CCI (China’s Children International): Searching Resources
CCI’s Birth Parent Search and Reunion Resource Guide is a compilation of birth family searching resources for Chinese adoption community, offering various tips, strategies, platforms, etc. This source is for people of the Chinese adoption community interested in birth family searching.
- Birth Family Search
Nanchang Project
The Nanchang Project is a program dedicated to creating a community and resources (DNA testing, searching) for Chinese adoptees searching for birth family. They provide a space to connect, educate, and support the community. This resource best benefits Chinese adoptees searching for birth family or parents searching on behalf of their children
- Scholarships
Considering Adoption: “Scholarships for Adoptees”
Considering Adoption is a resource for prospective parents. Their article links different college scholarships for international adoptees and youth adopted from foster care.
- Scholarships
Holt International: “Holt Adoptee Scholarship Contest”
The Holt Adoptee Scholarship Contest is open to all adoptees (domestic or international) who plan to or are currently in higher education. Applicants could be awarded up to $500. Scholarship applications are centered around a question or theme relating to the adoptee experience.
- Scholarships
UMPS CARE Charities: All-Star College Scholarship
For in-coming college freshmen, the UMPS CARE Charities All-Star College Scholarship is for children adopted later in life (at or after 13) to provide increase opportunities for advanced education. Each year one student will be selected to recieve a scholarship of up tp $10, 000 annually to go towards tuition, books, and other college-related expenses.
- Scholarships
Also-Known-As: Adoptee Excellence Scholarship
The Also-Known-As Adoptee Excellence Scholarship known as the All Star Scholarship is open to graduating or current undergraduate international adoptees “who demonstrate the attributes of leadership, drive, integrity, and civic engagement. We seek candidates who have used their adoption story and formative youth experiences to lead, serve, and pursue a life of purpose and significance, both individually and for their communities.”
- Media
Somewhere Between (2011)
A documentary on four different teenage girls adopted from China under the One Child Policy who are currently living in the United States. The film explores their struggles with racism, identity formation, belonging, and race and gender.
- Media
Found (2021)
The story of three adopted Chinese-American teenage girls who discover they’re blood-related cousins on 23andMe. Their online meeting inspires the young women to confront the burning questions they have about their lost history and travel back to China.
- Birth Family Search
Closure (2013)
A trans-racial adoptee finds her birth mother, and meets the rest of her family who did not know she existed, including her birth father. This documentary explores themes such as identity, the complexities of trans-racial adoption, and closure.
- Birth Family Search
Lion (2016)
The extraordinary birth search family based on a true story. When a little boy from India gets lost on a train and taken thousands of miles away from home gets adopted by an Australian couple. With his unforgettable memories, his determination, and the online technology Google Earth, 25 years later Saroo sets out to find his first home.
- Birth Family Search
Off and Running (2009)
Avery, an African-American adoptee and track star with white Jewish lesbians for parents and two other adopted siblings begins to become more curious about her roots. Her curiosity about her African-American heritage grows and she decides to contact her birth mother. Avery’s life turns into a crisis and struggles over her “true” identity, her isolation from Black culture, and the circumstances of her adoption.
- Media
One Child Nation (2019)
This film includes the various diverse perspectives on the one child policy that China implemented in 1980, from the people who carried out the policy to the people who fell victim to the policy. This film is for anyone interested in learning about one of China’s biggest and most impactful planning initiatives. It’s an eye-opening documentary to give new perspectives and understandings of the causes and effects of the policy.
- Birth Family Search
International Child Search Alliance (ICSA)
ICSA is an all-volunteer international group of adoptees and adoptive parents offering multiple sources of information to help adoptees from China search for their birth families. Advice is given on ‘Getting Started’, ‘Hiring a Searcher’, ‘Birth Parents Searching for Children’, and more. There is also How-To-Guides that include DNA testing, using the app WeChat, Joining a Province Search, visiting the CCCWA, and more.
- Media
NCFA: “Post-Adoption Services Acknowledging and Dealing with Loss”
“An article on the way Loss, Rejection, Guilt/Shame, Grief, Identity, Intimacy, and Mastery/Control, all impact the adoptee experience.”
- Media
NCFA: “How Adoption Will Be Impacted If Congress Passes These Four Bills in 2022”
“An article written in January on the four proposed bills (from 2022) that Congress was set to vote on regarding different adoption issues.”
- Media
The New York Times: “Deportation a ‘Death Sentence’ to Adoptees After a Lifetime in the U.S.”
“An article on the lives lived by adult Korean adoptees deported back to Korea after US adoptive parents failed to attain citizenship for them. It talks about a problem that the US needs to urgently address: adoptees from abroad who never attained American citizenship.
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- Media
Vox: “Why adoption isn’t a replacement for abortion rights”
“When the leaked draft on Roe v. Wade was released, many people argued adoption would be able to replace abortion. This article discusses the shortcomings of this argument and rhetoric. Also, it details the long term consequences for birth parents and also adoptees as a result of separation.
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- Media
American Adoptions: “The Truth About Adopted Adults and Relationship Issues”
“An article explaining that although not many studies have been conducted on adoptees and trauma, many adoptees feel they have relationship issues tracing back to their adoption.”
- Media
NCFA: Stories
“The National Council for Adoption provides articles for and from adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, and expecting parents. “
- Media
The Adoption and Fostering Podcast
“A podcast series that follows birth parents, adoptees, and different family members of adoptees (including grandmothers). It features conversations about contemporary adoption and fostering. Episodes are roughly 40-50 min long and involve first person expertise and experts on different subjects.”
- Media
Two Adoptees Uncensored: “Listening to Adoptees”
“Christopher, identifies as a queer transracial adoptee born in Vietnam and was adopted at 1 year old. He reflects on growing up in a white family, and predominantly white community.
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- Media
Adoptees On: “33 [S2 E10] Marni – A Model Reunion”
A hard and honest conversation, but ultimately heart warming and joyful reunion between birth mother and adoptee. The episode walks you through three guiding principles for a successful family reunion.
- Media
Adoptees On: “24 [Healing Series] How Do I Tell My Adoptive Parents I’m Searching?”
“A podcats on how to talk with your parents about searching for your birth family. The podcasts discusses how it’s mormal for adoptees to want to search, and the difficulties of allowing yourself to pursue that.
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- Media
Time: “My White Adoptive Parents Struggled to See Me as Korean. Would They Have Understood My Anger at the Rise in Anti-Asian Violence?”
An article in Time magazine about a Korean American adoptee’s thoughts on the title of “adoptee” and the racial dynamics in transracial adoptions.
- Media
Los Angeles Times: “‘I’m not allowed to feel those things’: How adoptees experience anti-Asian hate”
A New York Times article on the complex ways Asian adoptees experience anti-Asian hate and racism as a result of their unique identity. Many adoptees in the article speak of how they felt tied to both cultures and/or neither.
- Media
NPR: “‘Am I Asian Enough?’ Adoptees Struggle To Make Sense Of Spike In Anti-Asian Violence”
In this NPR article, adoptee voices take center, and different adoptees explain their complex feelings regarding anti-Asian violence and the different ways in which they are affected.
- Media
The New York Times Magazine: “Why a Generation of Adoptees Is Returning to South Korea”
“A NYT article where a Korean adoptee explores the reasons and ways for South Korean adoptees to return to their birthplace. In addition to the article, there are 994 comments that provide anecdotes and first hand experiences and questions by adoptive parents and adoptees.
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- Media
Vox: “Genes aren’t destiny, and other things I’ve learned from being adopted”
An adoptee speaks candidly about their experience being adopted, dealing with other people’s expectations, and the ways in which birth family connection is powerful, but not everything.
- Media
NPR: “Growing Up ‘White,’ Transracial Adoptee Learned To Be Black”
7 min listen and article on NPR, a Black, transracial adoptee reflects on his identity and experiences growing in life with white parents and white privilege.
- Media
Psychology Today: “Adult Adoptee Voices Are Changing Adoption Narrative”
“The article is written by a Korean transracial adoptee speaking about the Side x Side project where adoptees discuss their lives, relationships, and origins. It summarizes the project and talks about how even if adoptive parents think their relationship is great, it may be prudent to reexamine and ask honestly how their children are feeling
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- Adoptee Groups
Navigating Adoption
“Navigating Adoption is an organization founded on Instagram to provide the adoption and non-adoption community a safe space to discuss adoption-related topics and issues. Their purpose is to serve the adoption community by providing a resource to open up about struggles and an educational platform for adoptees and non-adoptees.
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- Adoptee Groups
Openly Adopted: “Adoptee Resources”
“Openly Adopted’s website contains a resource sheet with websites, blogs, podcast, mental health, and a list of communitites for adoptees. Their goal is to help bring the voices of adopted children to the forefront of the experience and cultivate a sense of belonging and community for those who struggle with and question their sense of identity.
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- Adoptee Groups
American Adoptions: “How to Find Adoptee Support Groups”
An article by American Adoptions that support groups for adoptees, international adoptee support groups, support groups for adoptees of color, and for foster care adoptee support groups
- Media
Adoption Surrogacy Choices of Colorado: “Understanding an Adult Adoptee’s Emotions”
This blog discusses the contradicting emotions some adoptees may face. It provides an introduction to the complex feelings adoptees can experience.
- Media
The Guardian: “Stories of transracial adoptees must be heard – even uncomfortable ones”
Korean-American adoptee Nicole Chung touches on the way adoptees are expected to fit into the framework of white supremacy and which emotions are considered acceptable for adoptees to have. She discusses her own experience with the phrase “a good adoptee.”
- Media
NPR: “Adoptees express their fear, anger and insight on race during social unrest”
A news article that spotlights adoptees of all backgrounds and adopted families, as they explain how their identity has been shaped by social unrest and the ways it has impacted their family dynamic.
- Media
Diary of a Not-So-Angry Asian Adoptee
“Christina Romo identifies herself as a Korean adoptee, mom, wife, and advocate. She details her life and internal thoughts on adoption, but also provides the perspective of a parent learning how to parent her biracial children.
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- Adoptee Groups
Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families
Chinese Heritage Camp connects adoptive families with the cultural community, adoption experts, and families with shared experiences.
- Adoptee Groups
Adopted from Colombia
“This page was created to connect Colombian adoptees with each other to work through shared experiences. It is also open to both adoptive and birth parents, but emphasizes the adoptee’s voice. It is a Facebook group that offers support.
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- Adoptee Groups
Adoptee Hub
“””Our mission is to connect, collaborate, and preserve adoption legacies through community, culture, and post-adoption services. Adoptees deserve the opportunity to know their history, have a sense of belonging, experience their birth culture, and have access to services in a supportive safe space throughout their adoption journey.”
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- Adoptee Groups
Chinese Adoptee Alliance (CAA)
FCC is a nonprofit organization supporting Chinese adoptees and their families and friends. Founded in the early 1990s in Manhattan as a parent support group, and expanding to a nation-wide network, our members include adoptive parents, Chinese adoptees and their siblings and other relatives, as well as friends of the organization.
- Adoptee Groups
Kamp Kimchee
This is an inclusive Korean family camp that focuses on self-esteem, family education and identity. It is a one week camp for adoptees aged 4 years to 12th grade and their families. It is located in Minnesota.
- Adoptee Groups
Chinese Family Camp
This is a camp for Chinese families to combine Chinese heritage with camp fun. It is based in Chicago and is for all Chinese American families. It is a one-week summer camp for Chinese adoptees to meet each other and explore their identities.
- Adoptee Groups
ASIA Families
This group supports adoptees (children, teens, and adults) from Korea in developing their identities. They are located in VA but have a camp in MD as well. They also have culture school, tours and volunteer opportunities for adult adoptees.
- Adoptee Groups
Holt International Camp
Holt Adoptee Camp maintains a focus on fun and community, just like any other summer camp. What makes this camp special is that we have built in a curriculum for adoptees, by adoptees, that provides a space for adoptees to discuss, share and build identity among their peers. Everything at camp has been created and implemented by adult adoptee staff — making this program one of a kind.
- Mental Health
Yoffe Therapy
Yoffe Therapy, Inc. is a group psychotherapy practice composed of dedicated, compassionate clinicians brought together to serve the Adoption and Foster Care community in Los Angeles. Clinicians are seasoned professionals, Adoption and Foster Care competent, highly skilled at their craft, and focused on the growth and resiliency of their clients.
- Mental Health
Unconditionally Adopted
Unconditionally Adopted offers many different types of therapy for children, youth, and young adults. This organization specializes in helping adoptive parents create long-lasting, trusting relationships with their children.
- Mental Health
Hiking the Heart
Maria Trimble is a licensed therapist in the states of Wisconsin, Florida and Hawaii. She specializes in providing psychotherapy services for adults, teenagers, adoptees and families.
- Mental Health
Willow Bay Therapy
Founder of Willow Bay Therapy, Joanna Kelly is certified in PACC. She is a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) and her practice is adoption-competent.
- Mental Health
PAC-UK
PAC-UK is the country’s largest independent Adoption Support Agency. They offer a range of services including adoptive parent and career support, adult adoptee support, birth parent support, and more.
- Mental Health
Adoptees On: 32 [Healing Series] How to Choose a Therapist
The podcast AdopteesOn produced this episode on finding an adoption competent therapist, sharing tips on where to look and who to ask.
- Mental Health
Trust Based Relationship Intervention (TBRI) Search Therapy Engine
A TBRI practitioner directory featuring professionals who specialize in treating traumatized children.
- Mental Health
Center for Adoption Support and Education: About TAC
An article explaining Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) which is commonly used by mental health practitioners.
- Mental Health
Latinx Therapy
A Latinx therapy directory for users looking for therapists with diverse backgrounds and specialties (cultural identities, migration backgrounds, LGBTQ+).
- Mental Health
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare: PACC
The PACC (Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate) was developed to increase the availability and competency of a professional workforce to serve clinical and practical needs for adopted individuals and their families.
- Mental Health
Inclusive Therapists
A search directory for therapists where users are able to filter by therapists characteristics, including age, ethnicity, gender identity, and more (African diaspora, transgender, two spirit, migrant/immigrant, LGBTQ+, etc.).
- Mental Health
TherapyDen: Adoption Issues
Therapy Den is an online community of mental health professionals seeking to make the experience of finding a therapist easy by offering a search directory of therapists. They have a page full of professionals of varying credentials specializing in adoption.
- Mental Health
Finding an Adoption Competent Therapist
A slideshow with suggestions for adoptees to consider when looking for an adoption competent therapist.
- Mental Health
Amanda Baden, PH.D.
Amanda Baden is am a Licensed Psychologist in New York City with a small practice in Manhattan. She specializes in work with those impacted by adoption but I also work with issues related to racial, cultural, and identity concerns.
- Mental Health
Finding and Working with Adoption Competent Therapists
An article on approaches to therapy, finding the right therapist, and knowing how to work with them.
- Mental Health
Grow Beyond Words Adoptee Therapist Directory
“This directory includes licensed U.S. mental health professionals who identify as adoptees & work with adoptees/adoptive families in a variety of public & private settings”
- Mental Health
Florida Department of Children and Families
A compilation of adoption resources in Florida.
- Mental Health
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare
A search directory of Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate (PACC) certified therapists located throughout Minnesota.
- Mental Health
UCONN Health Adoption Community Network Therapy Directory
The purpose of the Adoption Community Network (ACN) Therapist Directory is to identify local clinicians who indicate special training to work with adoptive families in Connecticut.
- Mental Health
I Am Adoptee
Curates an online community of mental health and wellness resources to help navigate the lived experience of being an intercountry adopted person.
