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THE INTERNET'S TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON ADOPTION
The Donaldson Adoption Institute’s research for this report affirmed that substantive information
about the Internet’s impact on adoption is scarce in the scholarly literature – or anyplace else –
so there is little reliable knowledge to inform policy and practice, or to guide families or
professionals. To begin filling this gap, the Adoption Institute has embarked on a multiyear, first-
of-its-kind study of the Internet’s impact on all aspects of adoption. Because there is a dearth of
evidence-based information, most of the content of this report was derived from searching the
Internet and getting input from the affected parties through a variety of means, including
interviewing them and setting up a special email address to which they could send their input.
One key goal of this initial report by the Adoption Institute is to stimulate a national discussion
about the Internet’s impact on adoption and how to regulate Internet-based adoption services to
assure that they are legal and ethical, and that the interests of all those affected –particularly
children– are protected. This report provides an overview of the evolving landscape; an
explanation of the scope and impact of the changes; resources (albeit limited ones) to inform,
protect and assist all those affected, and preliminary recommendations on legal, policy and
practice reforms intended to better respond to adoption’s new realities. Our ultimate intent is to
identify and promote policies and practices that enable this powerful technology to best serve
the millions of children and families for whom adoption is part of everyday life.
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