This list of resources for self-education for those coming to adoption with little real information is continued from here.

The Human Rights Databank gives a complete view into just why international adoption is often a wonderful thing, as a picture of the real world is all that's needed to remind people of how life, and death, is for far too many children.

... quite possibly the world’s most comprehensive listing of human rights material derived from independent, grassroots NGOs around the globe. All 12 of our former “stand alone” databases are now merged with the existing e-pages on our Website including For the Record: The United Nations Human Rights System, the Human Rights Tribune, and the E-Doc Centre.

The University of Oregon's adoption history project makes for fascinating reading on the often dark and horrid past of adoption and puts today's situation in an historical perspective.

The US Department of State has an entire web section dedicated to intercountry adoption and gives detailed, country-by-country adoption information.

The Joint Council on International Children's Services is, " ... is the lead voice on intercountry children’s services. With a mission to advocate on behalf of children in need of permanent, safe and loving families, Joint Council promotes ethical child welfare practices, strengthens professional standards and educates adoptive families, social service professionals and government representatives throughout the world. International child welfare agencies, child advocacy groups, parent support groups and international medical clinics choose membership in Joint Council as a means to address the critical issue of parentless children and creating permanent solutions."

For a look at the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, here it is.

Advocating for adoption for children of color, PACT has at its heart a mission to serve " ... children of color in need of adoption or who are growing up in adoptive families."

Pact helps build an essential bridge for African American, Latino, Asian and multiracial children born in the US and in need of adoption, a bridge connecting birth families thinking about making an adoption plan and prospective parents seeking to adopt. We are always seeking same-race families and are also happy to work with prospective adoptive parents who are prepared to develop tools to help their child build a positive racial identity. We work with birth parents and adoptive parents from all over the country.

Adopting.org offers online education resources, including one on "Conspicuous Families"

Other resources for information on multiracial families are Rainbow Kids and Multiracial Sky.

Country-specific information for international adoption is also available. In addition to the country blogs right here on Adoptionblogs.com, which is a great resource if I do say so myself, there is Families Without Borders for those interested in Guatemala, Korean Focus for Adoptive Families, the Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network, Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption, among many others.

Starting with even brief perusals of some of the information linked to here will start anyone along an adoption journey by, if nothing more, showing them were to find the maps they need.

Deeper investigation may bring more questions than answers at first, but in on this path questions are often the more important.

The individual is the at the root of either the problem or the solution in adoption. It's up to each person to decide which they will choose. Considering that it's children at issue, is there really a choice?

Coming up: Real adoption reform: Step 2 -- educate others