Adoptive Families
National Down Syndrome Adoption Network
“The mission of the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network is to ensure that every child born with Down syndrome has the opportunity to grow up in a loving family.”
“Robin and David Steele founded the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network in 1982, after they fell in love with Martha, who was a young girl with Down syndrome residing at a children's home. When David and Robin inquired about Martha, they were told she was "unadoptable." That set them on a course to advocate for Martha's adoption, and create a program that would help other families adopt children with Down syndrome around the United States.”
“The National Down Syndrome Adoption Network is a program of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati. We are not an adoption agency. We are not a facilitator. We are not an attorney. Our program is considered a “connection point” between expectant/birth families, and adoptive families. We only work within the United States. We charge no fees for our services. We have a registry of families who are home study-ready to adopt, and feel called to adopt a child with Down syndrome.”
They do have a grant program specially for families from their registry who have been matched to a child with Down syndrome.
NDSAD is out of Ohio.
Reece’s Rainbow
“Reece’s Rainbow advocates and finds families for orphans internationally with Down syndrome and other special needs by raising funds for adoption grants and promoting awareness through an online community, media communications, and other events.”
“17 years, 2,355 children home!”
For Annie’s 1st birthday I asked that friends make donations to Reece’s Rainbow in her honor. Their website features actual families raising funds as well as children waiting to be adopted. he family campaigns show their family photo along with their bio and the status of their fundraising. The children’s profiles sometimes show their photo, the country or general area they are currently in, the grant amount they are eligible for to support their adoption costs, and a total dollar amount that has been given to their specific adoption by donors.
There are pages and pages of children, it is both incredible and heart wrenching.
RODS Heroes
“RODS Heroes is a non-profit organization with the mission to inspire families to adopt children with special needs or other unique circumstances. Over the last decade, RODS Heroes has inspired the adoption of 102 children (83 of whom have Down syndrome), providing them with loving forever homes. Through their advocacy and dedication, RODS Heroes aims to raise awareness and promote a positive perception of adoption of children with special abilities, ultimately transforming lives and communities.”
The Heroes Grant- Specifically for the children that they advocate for through their organization.
RODS also promotes a 3-week host family program for children in Columbia who have aged out of the adoption process and are now at risk for homelessness. This program is available in Illinois, Utah, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Columbia covers the costs of this host program. Each child travels with a chaperone. After the three weeks, all the children return to Columbia with their chaperones. If you decide not to adopt, RODS Heroes will continue to advocate for that child.
RODS Heroes is out of Utah.
