Each state has a photo listing of the children who are available for adoption in their state. You may find them on the website for your individual county or state special needs adoption website, but there are other photo listings as well.

Photo listings are small biographies, along with a photo, of some of the children that are available for adoption. This does not accurately reflect all of the children. There are far more children in care, than can possibly be listed.

These listings can give you an idea of the “types” of children available, and can help to lead you on your search.

There are several things you must know when viewing a photo listing a child’s description.

Do not get your heart set on a specific child, or sibling set.

1) Other parents are viewing these sites as well. You could have 50 or more families that end up inquiring about the same child.

2) Some of these listings are old. Not all the listings are removed promptly, and sometimes children remain listed until an adoption is finalized, just in case the placement does not work.

3) The description of the child is by no means, a full and complete description.

4) Do not fall in love with a photo.

5) Due to privacy issues, many things about a child may not be disclosed on a photo listing. Things such as types of abuse, medical testing done, etc. Not all diagnosis will be listed either.

The information provided in these is very broad and very limited. This is partly done to protect a child’s privacy. What if you were scrolling through photo listings and suddenly saw a picture of child that you’ve seen at school, or out in the community? Suddenly you know that this child has been sexually abused, has been in residential treatment, has behavior problems in school, etc.? Not everyone is going to keep this information private, so the child’s issues are listed in very broad terms.

It is not possible to list a child’s entire history due to space constraints either. Some children’s files can be quite thick and there is no way that it could all be listed, privacy issues aside.



Adoption.com photo listings here and here.

Waiting Children of Asia - Photo listing of Asian children available for adoption in the United States social services system.

Freddie Mac Foundation, Wednesday’s Child

Children Awaiting Parents

Adopt America Network

Northwest Adoption Exchange

Adoption Exchange

The Collaboration to AdoptUSKids

Jewish Children’s Adoption Network

National Adoption Center

South Eastern Exchange of the United States -($50 subscription fee)

Photo credit