Adoption Goes Online

The Division of Child and Family Services and private adoption agencies are about to launch a Web site intended to match adoptable children with potential parents.

The site will supplement weekly newspaper and television features about adoptable children.

"As an agency that is representative of adoption agencies in the state, we see this as just one more way to find the best possible homes for children free for adoption," said Marty Shannon, executive director of the Children's Service Society, a private adoption agency.

The site was to be running June 1, but programmers are working out a few remaining kinks and may need a few more weeks, Shannon said.

The site will offer three links to aid in adoption. One will feature short profiles and photos of all children whose birth parents' rights have been terminated and are available adoption. Most of the children are elementary and middle-school age, and have special physical, mental or emotional needs.

A second link will operate on a password basis, and will be accessible only to adoption workers and potential parents who have begun the adoption process. It will feature information about children who are in foster care and whose goal is adoption but whose final placement has not yet been determined, said LeRoy Franke, DCFS adoption specialist. Access to the site will be limited to protect the children's privacy.

A third link will provide limited information about potential families that are working with DCFS or private agencies to adopt.