Adoption Support Groups in Maryland
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 Maryland, and the laws relating to what you can and cannot do when adopting a child in Maryland.

Understanding the child adoption laws in Maryland 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 Maryland:

*Except as otherwise provided by law, a person may not charge or receive, from or for a parent or prospective adoptive parent, any compensation for a service in connection with placement of an individual to live with a preadoptive family or an agreement for custody in contemplation of adoption.

*Consent to adoption is not valid unless the consent is given after the prospective adopted person is born.

*Revocation of Consent:  A parent may revoke a Consent at any time within the later of: 30 days after the parent signs the consent or 30 days after the adoption petition is filed, after which consent is irrevocable.

*The natural father is entitled to notice of the filing of an adoption petition.

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 Maryland 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 Maryland. 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.  Maryland also has the Maryland adoption exchange or photo listing program and an Maryland 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.

Adoption Support Group
15 Ridge View Drive
Westminster, MD 21157
Phone: (410) 876-3068

Adoptive Families and Friends
6134 Cornwall Place
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: (301) 371-4903

Adoptive Parent Support Group
United House of Prayer for all People, 3401 Edgewood Rd
Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: 410-466-1734

Adoptive Parent Support Group
Faith Christian Full Gospel Church, 500 E. Lincoln Ave
Salisbury, MD 21804
Phone: 410-241-7475

Baltimore Adopted Support Parent Group
531 E. Coldspring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21212
Phone: 410-323-6468

C.A.S.E./Adoptive Parent Connection
11120 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 205
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Phone: 301-593-9200

Center for Adoption Support and Education, Inc. (C.A.S.E.)
4000 Blackburn Lane, Suite 260
Burtonsville, MD 20866
Phone: 301-476-8525
Fax: 301-476-8526

Center for Adoptive Families
5750 Executive Drive, Suite 107
Baltimore, MD 21228
Phone: 410-451-6841/410-869-0620

Cherry Hill Grandparent Support Group
901 Cherry Hill Road
Apt. 371
Baltimore, MD 21225-1355
Phone: (410) 355-0384

DC Metro Foster & Adoptive Parent Association
7226 Easy St
Temple Hills, MD 20748
Phone: 301-449-1061/301-279-3378

FAB Support Group
4513 Old Philadelphia Rd
Aberdeen, MD 21001

Latin America Parents Association of the National Capital Region
PO Box 4403
Silver Spring, MD 209044403
Phone: (301) 431-3407

Maryland Department of Social Services
201 Baptist Street
Suite 27
Salisbury, MD 21802-2298
Phone: (410) 543-6885

MD League of Foster & Adoptive Parents
11 E. Mt. Royal Ave., Suite . 2B
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 410-385-2715

Prince George's County Foster Parent Association
805 Brightseat Rd
Landover, MD 20785-4723
Phone: 301-249-2748

Prince George's County Foster Parent Association
11809 Cleaver Dr
Mitchville, MD 20721
Phone: 301-249-2748

[ Return to Support Groups ]
[ Return to Help For Families ]
[ Return to Adopting Families ]
[ Return to Adoption Services Home Page ]