The National Adoption Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to expand adoption opportunities throughout the United States for children with special needs and those from minority cultures.

Founded in 1972, the Center works with social workers and other adoption professionals to bring children and families together. Through its telecommunications network, (the National Adoption Exchange), adoption professionals list their available children and interested families and make "matches" between them. In this way, a child in Oregon, for example, can be matched with a family in Florida.

There are presently 115 members on the National Adoption Exchange. They include social workers, members of parent groups, state adoption exchange staff and government officials. If you have a completed homestudy and are approved to adopt, you can register on the Exchange. An adoption coordinator will do a search to see if there are any children listed that match your interests.