Adoption Support Groups in Kansas
For Adopting Families

Among the most common things you, as an adopting family, may be looking for is information on "how to adopt a child" whether to use an adoption facilitator, whether to engage in a private adoption or adoption agency, the limitations and requirements for adoption, what to consider in selecting an adoption agency, where to find licensed adoption agencies in Kansas, and the laws relating to what you can and cannot do when adopting a child in Kansas.

Understanding the child adoption laws in Kansas can greatly increase your chances of successfully adopting a child. Important legal concerns include the giving of support or gifts to a birth mother or birth father, fees paid to an adoption agency, attorney, or other intermediary, the legality of using an adoption facilitator, the legal rights of the birth parents and the adopting family, and the critical issues of a disruption and the ending the biological parental rights (called a Consent, Relinquishment or Surrender).  For example, using our most recent update, in Kansas:

*No person shall advertise that such person will adopt, find an adoptive home for a child, or otherwise place a child for adoption. This provision shall not apply to a licensed child placement agency.

*Birth Parent expenses allowed include:  Reasonable fees for legal and other professional services; actual expenses, including medical costs for the birth mother and the child; the birth mother's living expenses; and expenses incidental to the adoption.

*A detailed accounting of all disbursements made shall accompany the petition for adoption.

*Consent to adoption shall be given by the child sought to be adopted if the child is over age 14 and of sound intellect.

*A consent or relinquishment may not be given by the mother or accepted until 12 hours after the birth of a child. Any consent or relinquishment given by the mother before 12 hours after the birth of a child is voidable, prior to the final decree of adoption.

*A consent is final when executed, unless the consenting party, prior to final decree of adoption, alleges and proves by clear and convincing evidence that the consent was not freely and voluntarily given. The burden of proving the consent was not freely and voluntarily given shall rest with the consenting party.

*Notice of termination proceeding is given to every person identified as the father or possible father.

You may be looking for the differences in the waiting period, effort, cost, and success rates involved in adopting children within your state or in other states (domestic adoption) or even from other countries (international adoption) in order to determine which type of adoption will work for you.  Some specific choices you may want to consider, as the waiting lists tend to be shorter, are special needs adoption, bi-racial and trans-racial adoption, and older children (generally from one to 15 years of age) from the Kansas child welfare and foster care systems. The more open you are in the type and age of child you are looking to adopt the better your chances of success. You should also decide before contacting an adoption agency whether you want an open adoption or closed adoption.

In addition to the adoption support groups shown below, there are many sources of help available to you in Kansas. For example, we are always happy to take your calls and offer you help and information (contact us). There are local and private as well as state and federal government resources that can provide financial and medical information and help.  Kansas also has the Kansas adoption exchange or photo listing program and an Kansas adoption contact  office.

You may also be looking for information on special problems in raising an adopted child and being the best possible parent you can be. This may include explaining adoption to your child, family, friends and others. It could also include dealing with special emotional and developmental issues, or adoption and school problems, or issues involving adoption therapy and finding a therapist who specializes in working with adopted children and their families. Then again you may be looking for information on infant nutrition or birth records or one of a myriad of other questions.

If you are specifically interested in an international adoption support group, you may want to visit the support groups for Russian adoption, as well as the groups for Guatemala adoption and China adoption.

American Adoption Congress is composed of individuals, families and organizations committed to adoption reform.

Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA) is for families who have adopted, or are in the process of adoption, from Russia and former Soviet Union countries.

Families with Children from China is a non-denominational organization of families who have adopted children from China.

Guatemala Adoptive Families Network initiates and supports the adoption of Guatemalan children.

National Adoption Center attempts to facilitate the adoption of children in the U. S., particularly children with special needs and those from minority cultures.

North American Council on Adoptable Children is committed to meeting the needs of waiting children and the families who adopt them.

Our Chinese Daughters Foundation (OCDF) is a non-profit foundation that supports families with children adopted from China.

Resolve is dedicated to providing education, advocacy, and support to those who face infertility.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides information on all aspects of both domestic and international adoption.

Adoptive Family Support Group
1701 Amarado St.
Wichita, KS 67212
Phone: 316-722-5503

Attachment Disorder Network
10219 Howe Lane
Leawood, KS 66206
Phone: 913-381-9026

Adoption Support
5202 Skyline Rd.
Huchinson, KS 67502
Phone: (620) 245-5000
Phone: (620) 662-3854

Caring & Sharing Grandparents
2201 S. Bonebrake
Hutchinson, KS 67501
Phone: 316-663-4134

Foster Children of Johnson County, Inc.
827 N. Arroyo Dr
Olathe, KS 66061
Phone: 913-768-1840

Kansas Adoptive Families Support Network
200 SW 30th
Suite 201
Topeka, KS 66611
Phone: (785) 274-3100
Phone: (785) 224-4962

Post Adoptive Resource Center Midwest
16417 W. 138th Terrace
Olathe, KS 66062
Phone: 913-780-2983
Phone: 913-791-0116

St. Francis Academy Adoptive Parent Support Group
509 East Elm Street
PO Box 1340
Salina, KS 67401
Phone: (620) 669-3734

Wichita Adult Adoptees
4551 S. Osage
Wichita, KS 67217
Phone: 316-522-8772/316-729-7474

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