Resource Guide

General Adoption

These are great places to begin learning about adoption, the adoption process, and the many different options available to families:

How to Adopt

Show Hope created this website as a resource for families to help with decisions, adoption agencies, expectations, and fundraising.

www.howtoadopt.org

Christian Alliance for Orphans

This website contains a wealth of information about church and global initiatives, Orphan Sunday materials, and an extensive list of trusted nonprofit organizations.

www.cafo.org

Domestic Adoption

NDSAN: National Down Syndrome Adoption Network

Adoptive families with a current, approved home study can join the registry of parents hoping to adopt a child with Down syndrome. Visit the website to watch the webinar, learn more, or find local adoption agencies to complete a home study.

 

International Adoption

Reece’s Rainbow

Reece’s Rainbow is not an adoption agency. The mission of Reece’s Rainbow is to advocate and find families for orphans with Down syndrome and other special needs by raising funds for adoption grants. Profiles of orphans waiting for families are available for prospective adoptive families to view. Reece’s Rainbow provides connections to adoption agencies with specific adoption programs in countries around the world.

www.reecesrainbow.org

Rainbow Kids

Rainbow Kids is not an adoption agency. They are a central resource linking families, adoption professionals, humanitarian organizations, orphan-care and support missions, and children living out their lives in orphanages and group homes. Rainbow Kids provides a wealth of information about country programs, international adoption agencies, waiting children profiles, and stories from adoptive families.

Orphan Care

Families unable to adopt at this time may be interested in learning about other ways to offer support and care to orphans. These organizations work directly with children in need, providing much-needed medical care, therapy, nanny sponsorship, education, equipment, supplies, and more. Please consider helping orphans in need.

Open Hearts for Orphans

Individuals and families can contribute to the “Say Yes” adoption grants for families adopting children with Down syndrome, the Orphan Care sponsorship programs, or the Medical Interventions to help support orphans with additional medical needs. The Safe Hearts Program is an international foster care program for chiLdren that may not be orphaned, but are at risk. Sponsorship is available for foster families providing safety and care for children in need. Contributing sponsors will receive periodic updates. 

 

Love Without Boundaries

Love Without Boundaries has a wide-reaching impact with their programs as well as transparency of where the funds are used. They provide medical care, education, foster homes, nutrition programs, healing homes, camps, specialized equipment, supplies, therapy, and special education support. LWB helps support orphans and at risk children and families within their home country. Sponsorship is available for the many programs as well as for individual children. 

Lifesong for Orphans

Opportunities for giving include sponsoring an orphan, adopting an orphanage or school, and going on short-term mission trips. One hundred percent of donations go to orphan care. Lifesong also helps mobilize churches to meet local needs through foster care as well as providing grants for adoptive families. 

 

Lost Sparrows

Lost Sparrows is dedicated to improving the lives of orphans and those with special needs through education, proper medical care, and adoption.

Show Hope

Show Hope enables you to sponsor orphan care centers, contribute to adoption grants, go on a short-term mission trip, or fundraise in your local community to raise awareness of the orphan crisis. 
 

Tim Tebow Foundation

The foundation’s Orphan Care outreach provides essentials such as food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, and the sharing of the Gospel to orphans in several countries. One hundred percent of your orphanage donation goes directly toward orphan care. 

 

Reece's Rainbow

Consider donating to a child’s adoption grant or supporting an adoptive family financially on their journey by contributing to the family sponsorship fund.
 

New Day Charities

Opportunities for sponsorship include medical care, basic needs for orphans, infant formula, or surgeries for specific children. Sponsors receive monthly updates on the child/children they are supporting. 
 

Financial Assistance Organizations for Adoptive Families

Adoption Bridge

Adoption Bridge, a ministry of Every Child Has a Name, brings waiting children and loving families together by bridging the gap between the emotional needs and financial challenges of adoption.

Tim Tebow Foundation

The Foundation’s Adoption Aid program is focused on providing financial assistance to families adopting children with special needs.

RODS: Racing For Orphans With Down Syndrome

A unique organization focused on raising awareness and contributing to grants for orphans with Down syndrome.

Angels in Disguise

Families adopting a child with Down syndrome internationally can apply for a grant.

Ephesians 3:20 Foundation

Families can apply for financial assistance for their domestic or international adoption.
 

The Rollstone Foundation

Supports the adoption of children with special needs worldwide by providing grants to qualified prospective parents. 
 

Adoption Bridge

The mission of Both Hands is to fulfill James 1:27 by serving orphans, widows, and Christian adoptive families. Both Hands helps adoptive families fund their adoption by coordinating service projects fixing up a widow’s home.

Brittany's Foundation

The mission of Brittany’s Hope is to empower families and communities to make lasting changes in the lives of orphans and at-risk children through international special needs adoption grants. 

 

Gift of Adoption Fund

Adoptive families with an approved home study can apply for an adoption assistance grant for both domestic and international adoptions.

Adopt Together

The world’s largest crowd-funding platform for adoption.

Katelyn’s Fund Orphan Ministry

Adoption agents are available for both domestic and international adoptions.

Room For One More Child

This organization offers adoption aid as well as providing a list of other organizations with grant opportunities. 

 

Books

Cowboy Joel and the Wild Wild West Book

Cowboy Joel and The Wild Wild West

By The Gagon Family.

Extraordinary Book

Extraordinary

Stories of Adopting Children With Down Syndrome.

Compiled by Cady Driver.

The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family

By Wendy Lyons & Karyn Brand

The Connected Parent: Real-Life Strategies for Building Trust and Attachment

By Lisa Qualls

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder (The Out-of-Sync Child Series)

By Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.

Securely Attached: How Understanding Childhood Trauma Will Transform Your Parenting

By Mike & Kristin Berry

ALL IN Orphan Care: Exploring the Call to Care for Vulnerable Children and Families

By Jason Johnson

Everyone Can Do Something: A Field Guide for Strategically Rallying Your Church Around the Orphaned and Vulnerable

By Jason Johnson

The Global Orphan Crisis: Be the Solution, Change Your World

By Diane Lynn Elliot

Orphan Justice: How to Care for Orphans Beyond Adopting

By Johnny Carr

Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability, Revised and Updated

By Stephanie O. Hubach

Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs

By Heather Avis

The Lucky Few: Finding God's Best in the Most Unlikely Places

By Heather Avis

Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care

By Tony Merida & Rick Morton

The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home

By Russell Moore

Adoption: What Joseph of Nazareth Can Teach Us about This Countercultural Choice

By Russell Moore

Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches (Updated and Expanded Edition)

By Russell Moore

Until Every Child Is Home: Why the Church Can and Must Care for Orphans

By Russell Moore