Indirect Support
Indirect Support
Below is a listing of ways to indirectly support adoptive parents as well as orphans available for
adoption. For specific agencies and resources, please reference the Domestic Resources Page.
Financial
One of the major problems that adoptive parents have in preparing for domestic adoption is
funding the adoption. Supporting the parents financially will be a huge blessing to them. This
can be completed indirectly in many simple ways. To directly assist adoptive parents, visit the
There are a variety of organizations who provide assistance to adoptive parents, orphans, and
other caregivers. Donating to any of them ultimately helps orphans. Please visit our domestic
adoption resources page to begin your search for an organization you may wish to assist.
Prayer
There are so many areas for which an adoptive family requires prayer.
● God’s will to be done in their family
● Family unity in the face of tough decisions
● God’s provision for finances
● Preparation of a child for their home
● Preparation of other family and children already in the adoptive family
● Help for the adoptive child to adapt to the new lifestyle
● That the paperwork could go through smoothly
Awareness of Attachment Issues
Children who spend time in orphanages often experience “care by committee.” This results
in the child not understanding the dynamics of natural family life. In traditional families,
the mother and father serve as primary caretaker. Actions such as providing for the child,
comforting when scared or hurt, maintaining hygeine, etc. are not always assumed by adopted
children, and these are crucial to forming a good, positive bond between the parents and the
child that mimics the bonds of biological children. Adopted children from orphanages often
need to be taught this part of family life. Therefore, it is common for newly adoptive families
to undergo a period of cocooning, during which time the adoptive parents withdraw from
previous social engagements and focus primarily on establishing a strong bond of trust.
Often, friends of the adoptive family, even other family members, can feel put off by the new
changes. One of the best ways to support adoptive family members is to understand this
time period, respect its necessity and even support the family through that time by helping to
undertake their prior responsibilities, offering to watch their other children, and to help other
friends and family understand what is happening.
For more information about attachment and bonding, please visit: http://
Be There Support
Adoptive families can feel alone, especially during the times leading up to the adoption when
they are spending a large amount of money, but have little to show for it and in the first few
months after bringing home their adoptive child. These families need people to talk to, be
friends with, share their feelings and experiences with, and to have people they can count on
to help with menial tasks. Many families respond well to being asked for specifics as to what
can be done. Also, it may be helpful to ask closer friends and families who know the adoptive
family well, as they may not always feel comfortable sharing that they are in need.