Parent Support Websites

These resources include information on adoptions, new parent support systems and other tools to help first-time parents.

Adoption

AdoptUSKids: AdoptUSKids is a federally-funded project dedicated to raising public awareness of adoption and promoting adoption of children from foster care. It operates under a cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The project recruits and connects foster and adoptive families with waiting children throughout the United States.

Child Welfare Information Gateway: A service of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, the Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to publications, websites and online databases covering a wide range of topics concerning all aspects of domestic and intercountry adoption and foster care, child abuse prevention and resources designed to support professionals across the child welfare continuum. National Foster Care and Adoption Directory Search, included on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website, provides contact information for state child welfare officials, programs, agencies, organizations, support groups and services with a focus on permanency, foster care and adoption.

Defense Finance and Accounting Service Adoption Reimbursement Program: The DFAS website provides an overview of the Department of Defense Adoption Reimbursement Program, along with requirements, procedures and a description of qualifying expenses.

Department of State Office of Children’s Issues: The Office of Children’s Issues formulates, develops and coordinates policies and programs and provides direction to U.S. Foreign Service posts on intercountry adoption. Find information on commonly asked questions about intercountry adoption as well as support resources.

New parent support

Teaching American Sign Language to Infants and Toddlers: This HeadStart web page focuses on strategies for teaching American Sign Language to infants and toddlers to support their communication and overall development.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC, an organization within Health and Human Services, works to provide accurate data, health guidance and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury and disability. Search the A-Z Index for a wide variety of information and resources related to new parents, parents of toddlers and preschoolers, and preventing child abuse and neglect. Topics include Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Life Stage Statistics, Injury and Violence Prevention, Teen Dating Violence, Infant and Toddler Nutrition, and more.

Child Welfare Information Gateway: This government website provides access to information and resources designed to help protect children and strengthen families. It includes information on child abuse and neglect, building healthy families, and adoption.

Other resources

Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Women’s Health and their partners work to improve the health, wellness, and safety of all women. HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau works to strengthen public health systems to meet the physical and emotional needs of mothers, children and their families. Find downloadable guides, such as Depression During and After Pregnancy, a Resource for Women, Their Family and Friends, that can be copied and used during home visits, if appropriate, and include tips for broaching sensitive topics, worksheets to stimulate thoughtful reflection and offer ideas for building and sustaining emotional wellness. Browse the programs for information on a number of health-related topics and programs, home visits and more.

Healthy Children: This American Academy of Pediatrics website features topics of interest to parents such as car safety seat guidelines, immunization information, firearm safety, common childhood illnesses, ADHD, related books and much more.

MedlinePlus: This National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health website contains links to current news and research. The “Parenting” section of the site provides information and links to articles and research reports on a number of relevant topics.

MilitaryINSTALLATIONS: This resource provides contact information for local programs, services and resources, maps and directions, links to comprehensive location overviews and community points of interest for military installations worldwide.

National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome: This website provides information and resources on shaken baby syndrome to educate parents and prevent further injury of children from this type of child abuse.

U.S. Government Center for Parent Information and Resources: This federal website provides information on a number of parenting topics, such as expecting, health issues, education issues, child care and grandparents raising grandchildren.

WIC Overseas Program: The Women, Infants and Children Overseas Program is a War Department/Defense Health Agency program that provides families with food, nutrition tips, health screenings and other resources.

ZERO TO THREE: Parents and those working with families with children birth to 3 years old will find information on the website of ZERO TO THREE, a national nonprofit organization that informs, trains and supports parents, professionals and policymakers in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Find general child development guidance, including information about brain development, early learning, school readiness, child care, health and nutrition. In addition, ZERO TO THREE has a wealth of information specifically developed for military families — and those who support such families — about how to help young children build resiliency and cope with parental separation, relocation and other stressors.