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

Understanding the child adoption laws in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma:

*Use of Advertisement:  The crime of trafficking in children includes:  Advertising of services for compensation to assist with the placement of a child for adoption by any person or organization except by the department or a licensed child-placing agency; and Advertisements for and solicitation of a woman who is pregnant to induce her to place her child upon birth for adoption, except by a licensed child-placing agency or an attorney.

*Birth Parent Expenses Allowed:  Reasonable attorney's fees and court costs, medical and reasonable counseling expenses, and reasonable travel and transportation costs. Birth parent expenses that are not allowed include payments to the birth mother beyond 2 months after placement of the child and payments for counseling beyond 6 months after placement of the child.

*When Consent Can Be Executed: 
The mother of a minor shall not execute a valid consent to the adoption of the minor or a permanent relinquishment of the minor prior to the birth of the minor.
The father of a minor born in wedlock shall not execute a valid consent to the adoption of the minor or a permanent relinquishment of the minor prior to the birth of the minor.
A putative father of a minor may execute a consent to the adoption of the minor, a permanent relinquishment of the minor, or an extrajudicial consent to the adoption of the minor before or after the birth of the minor.
A minor age 12 or older whose consent is required may execute a consent to adoption at any time at or before the hearing on the petition for adoption.

*Except as otherwise provided below, a consent to adoption shall be irrevocable.

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

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.

Adopt Older Kids Support Group (AOK)
11719 South 91 Street East Avenue
Bixby, OK 74008
Phone: (918) 809-1403

Family Ties One Church One Child Famly Support
3129 N. Martin Luther King Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Phone: 405-425-8501/405-424-0225

One Church, One Child of Oklahoma, Inc.
3129 North MLK Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Phone: (405) 424-0225

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