Helpful Links
Document and Notary Services
He will go where you need him to notarize your documents. Also will take your documents to Lansing for the State seal and deliver them directly to you or your agency. Contact Jim Nelson at (734)-320-4795 or james.nelson@att.net
This site has a wealth of information on Vital Records and Secretary of States, Consulate Embassy, and country information.
Offers dossier and document assistance for consulates located in Chicago.
Offers document and dossier assistance for the Washington DC area.

Travel Support/Assistance
Travel insurance and medical assistance that travels with you.
Travel arrangements, airline tickets, hotel reservations.
Travel arrangements, airline tickets, hotel reservations.

Funding Resources
There is a new program from the National Council For Adoption and Bank of America that may provide financial assistance for your adoption expenses. NCFA's Adoption Line of Credit is a reliable, renewable source of funds that offers
  1. Unsecured lines of credit up to $25,000.*
  2. Initial repayment terms ranging from 24 to 84 months, depending on the amount borrowed.
  3. Predictable, affordable monthly payments.
  4. No annual fees.
HelpUsAdopt.org is a national non-profit financial assistance grant program that will provide qualified couples and individuals (regardless of race, religion, marital status or sexual preference) with grants of up to $15,000 towards their adoption expenses.
This site explains the Adoption Tax Credit and provides necessary forms.
This site was founded by Steven Curtis Chapman to help families find financial resources they need for adoption. Limited grants are also available.
Gives grants for domestic special needs adoption costs started by golfer Kirk Triplett and his wife Cathi.
"...provides interest-free loans to Christian couples who are called by God to expand their families through adoption and who need help with the cash flow crunch posed by adoption expenses."
"The Dave Thomas Foundation is committed to making adoption more affordable and has joined forces with JPMorgan Chase Bank to offer a new financial resource for adoptive parents. Chase New Additions is a special discounted home-equity loan program for adoptive parents."
The National Adoption Foundation provides financial assistance to qualified applicants who want to bring a child into their family through adoption.
The Gift of Adoption Fund is a national 501(c) 3, that inspires adoptions by giving grants that put adoption in reach: in reach for the 140 million children worldwide in need of families, for qualified parents yearning to adopt, and for those of us who want to do something concrete to move a child from a dire situation into a life of hope and promise.
This website has free information on how to "Remove financial barriers to make your adoption dream come true!"
Through adoption assistance grants, Show Hope donors have helped provide loving, Christian families for over 2,000 waiting orphans from 40 different countries, including the U.S. Look under the Adoption Aid tab.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/adoption_gip_two.cfm
This packet from the Child Welfare Information Gateway includes three factsheets  designed to help prospective adoptive parents and others interested in learning more about the costs of adoption and resources that may be available to help with those costs.
 
Adoption Information & Education
JCICS advocates on behalf of children in need of permanent families and promotes ethical practices in intercountry adoption. Hands Across The Water is a member agency.
This is a great site for adoption education offering a number of courses.
This is the leading adoption information source for families before, during, and after adoption.
Adoptive families social network hosted by Adoptive Families Magazine.
Adoption for Military Families Guide
Adoption advocacy website offering fee guides on special needs adoption, How To Adopt, Getting Started, After You Adopt, and much more.
Fun activities and information for children and parents. Sponsored by the National Adoption Center.
The internet radio show, Creating a Family, is an educational resource for adoptive families covering pre and post adoption issues. The show is the top rated adoption and infertility podcast on iTunes, and is hosted by Dawn Davenport, the author of The Complete Book of International Adoption (Random House). Previous guests have included Deborah Gray (Attaching in Adoption), Sherrie Eldridge (Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew), Mary Hopkins-Best (Toddler Adoption: The Weaver’s Craft) Dr. Jane Aronson (international adoption doctor and founder of Worldwide Orphans Foundation), Gregory Keck (Parenting the Hurt Child), Dr. Foster Cline (Love and Logic and Can This Child Be Saved), Elizabeth Pantley (The No-Cry Sleep Solution), Dr. Julian Davies (FASD), and many more. The show airs every Wednesday from 12:00 to 1:00 Eastern Time and all old shows are still available for listening at the radio page or can be downloaded as a podcast from iTunes.
Macomb Coalition for Fetal Alcohol Resources, Education and Support which is the Michigan NOFAS (National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) Affiliate. Volunteer adoptive parents who can help other adoptive parents navigate the maze of educational, medical and therapeutic supports and services. Phone number 586-329-6722, email charisse@mcfares.org
Provides free post-adoption support services for parents of all international adoptees in person and online. Our purpose is to capitalize on the benefits of open communication between adult international adoptees and parents of adoptees.
"Our goal is to improve access to quality care and supports for children with special needs in their communities by empowering families. Together with other family, community, and state-wide partners, we will seek to enhance our resources and expand outreach to families across Michigan through information, education and parent-to-parent support."

Government Services
To locate information about the Secretary of State office in your state, goto www.asststork.com
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services site.
International adoption information.
You can check your Michigan notary's commission name and expiration date at this site. To check notaries commissioned in other states, go to the State government website where your notary is commissioned and search for the notary.
 
Single Adoptive Parenting
Whether you are just beginning to consider the possibility of becoming a single mother, are trying to adopt or conceive, or are already a mother, we can provide you with information, resources, and a unique support network of your peers.
 
An internet mailing list group for single adoptive parents both male and female.
 
Website for single dads. Deals with issues such as single fathers, single parents, parenting, divorce, child custody, child support, children's rights and support groups.
National Council for Single Adoptive Parents - EMAIL: info@ncsap.org
Members receive a source list and updates of information on agencies placing children with single parents, including estimates of the waiting time and costs involved. The committee publishes the Handbook for Single Adoptive Parents, which covers the how-to aspects of adopting as well as information on bringing up the adopted child and includes single parent adoption accounts. The organization also provides information on local single adoptive parent support groups and books to read and upon request will provide names of single adoptive parents in the requester's area.
 
This link will give you a list of Single Parent adoption groups.

Resources for Gay and Lesbian Adoptive Families
COLAGE is a national movement of children, youth, and adults with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ) parent/s. We build community and work toward social justice through youth empowerment, leadership development, education, and advocacy.
COLAGE Ann-Arbor lavrack@umich.edu (734) 945-2454
COLAGE Metro Detroit Lea Brown Detroit@colage.org (248) 398-7105 ext. 230

The Family Equality Council works to ensure equality for LGBT families by building community, changing hearts and minds, and advancing social justice for all families.

This is a list of children's books as compiled by the Family Equality Council.

This guide was created by The Family Equality Council to help parents discuss their family structures with their child/children in an age-appropriate way.

The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. This vast grassroots network is cultivated, resourced and serviced by the PFLAG national office, located in Washington, D.C., the national Board of Directors and 13 Regional Directors.

List of books on gay and lesbian parenting.

GPM provides resources on gay-friendly private schools, day and overnight camps, and gay-friendly family vacation ideas. Resources also include family building such as reproductive technology, adoption and foster care agencies. Book reviews, news, activities, and events pertaining to LGBT parents and their children are features.

Michigan's leading organization serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied communities.

This guide is put together by COLAGE regarding the use of their two posters which are also available at their website. Posters are intended to "create positive images and promote visability" of LGBT families.

Ordering Documents
Order birth, marriage, divorce certificates. Gives information about costs, in addition to address and phone numbers should you prefer to contact the State agency directly.

Hands Across The Water Families
HATW family's online store of handmade items to help fund her adoption.