The people of Haiti are in our thoughts and prayers during this devastating time.

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Some children in Haiti have been temporarily separated from the parents and other family members, so the focus at this time is reconnecting families who have been torn apart by this devastating tragedy. If it is discovered that a child has been left parentless, they are often taken in by other relatives in the extended family.

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During times of crisis, it can also be exceptionally difficult to fulfill the legal requirements for adoption of both the U.S. and the child’s country of origin. This is especially true when civil authority breaks down or temporarily ceases to function. It can also be difficult to gather documents necessary to fulfill the legal requirements of U.S. immigration law. There are many ways in which U.S. citizens can help the children in areas of natural disaster or conflict. For example, individuals who wish to assist can make a financial contribution to a reputable relief or humanitarian organization working in that country.

For more information on Intercountry Adoption, you can visit the International Adoption webpage at Adoption.com or the U.S. State Department’s website on Intercountry Adoption.

If you’d like to help, the following organizations are accepting cash donations:

• International Committee of the Red Cross
• UNICEF
• Save the Children
• LDS Philanthropies
• World Vision
• Doctors Without Borders
• The American Red Cross

When making a donation to assist with the need in Haiti, make sure you are donating to a reputable organization.

[Edited 1/19/2010 - We've closed comments on this post because of the amount of response we've had regarding the adoption of children from Haiti. Currently, unless you are already in the process of adopting a child from Haiti, adoption from Haiti is not possible at this time. There is no information about what will happen to children who may be orphaned by the disaster. Please continue to check back for more information]

The Adoption.com Photolisting is excited to announce that the State of Oregon is now featuring it’s waiting children right here on Adoption.com. Now, the children in Oregon can be viewed by potential families from anywhere in the United States at any time of the day or night.

Families who are homestudy ready and certified to adopt in their state can submit inquiries via the Adoption.com Photolisting Inquiry Form. Those not currently homestudy ready can submit a Homestudy Assistance Form and get matched with a caseworker in their area who can help them get started on the journey to adopting from the U.S. foster care system.

National Adoption Month is a great time to get started on your journey to adopt from the U.S. foster care system, so find out how to get started by contacting your local Department of Children & Family Services (or whatever it might be called in your state).

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So you’ve read about National Adoption Month some place or you’ve seen a child featured on a local broadcast that talks about children in need of homes in the US Foster Care system and you’re wanting to learn more. Depending on where you are in the education process, you may or may not know what the next steps are.

Let’s assume, for a minute, you’re brand new and you’re looking for guidance or advice on what the first steps are when deciding to move forward, that’s easy enough, right?

First, you’ll want to find out how your state agency for children’s issues is operated. Are you in a privatized state? Are all matters related to foster care or adopting from foster care handled through a state agency? This is an all important first question to ask, because it will have an impact on the rest of the steps you take going forward.

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One of the best ways to learn more about how your state operates is by contacting the local Department of Children & Families (the name varies by state, but it’s generally the office that handles matters related to children and will often have the word “Children” or “Child” in their name). Often, they will be able to point you in the right direction, but keep in mind – this is a state run agency and it’s not uncommon for communication and/or information to be difficult to come by. Like all other state funded departments, they are bogged down by economic difficulties, staff shortages and no shortage of work to keep them busy. It may take a few phone calls, so be prepared for that from the get go.

Once you’ve made contact, you’ll want to find out what the first steps are for your state. Usually you’ll be invited to attend an informal meeting where they share information about the process in your state as well as the education and home requirements for fostering. This is something that is typically held in a group setting and involves a number of people who are interested in becoming licensed foster parents in your area. I do need to stress, again, this is something that varies by state and in some cases, even by county, so talking to someone local will be important.

Once you’ve learned more about what the process looks like in your area, you’ll likely be invited to complete some sort of application process or even attend classes that meet your states educational requirements for becoming licensed. This is, again, another step in the process that is different depending on your location and the need in your area.

Regardless of the steps required going forward, there is only one certainty in adopting from the foster care system and that is, it’s typically not for the faint of heart. The process of becoming licensed in your state to accept children can be as long as six months to a year or as short as a few weeks. Typically, children available through the state range in age from newborns to older teens and will sometimes come with emotional or physical special needs resulting from abuse or neglect in their home of birth.

Either way, it’s important to remember that children adopted from foster care often come with some amount of baggage that is a result of a difficult start in life. The education you get when becoming licensed is a great first step in becoming prepared to deal with those issues, however, becoming involved with local foster parenting associations is also a great source of support and information on resources available in your county, should you need more guidance.

Next, I’ll blog about the never-ending string of acronyms that is all to common in the system – PRIDE, MAPP, TPR, GAL, CASA – it’s a never ending list of letters that will become second nature to you as you start your journey to becoming licensed.

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National Adoption Month is an ever evolving month-long celebration of adoption that focuses on the needs of children who are currently awaiting their forever families in the U.S. Foster Care System.

If you’d like to learn more about adopting from foster care, please complete the Homestudy Request Form and someone from your local state agency will contact you regarding the next steps required in your area.

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Are you already homestudy approved in your state? The Adoption.com Photolisting features over three-thousand waiting children currently available for adoption.

Adoption.com strives to provide free photolisting services to every state, to help ensure that waiting children have every possible chance at finding their forever family. If you don’t see your state listed, please contact your state representative and ask them to do more for foster children in your state.

Check out the National Adoption Month Calendar of Activities for more ideas on ways you can celebrate National Adoption Month or advocate for the needs of foster children in your state.

Have an inspirational story to share with others about your foster care experience? Share with Adoption.com’s readers by submitting your adoption story today.