Here is an awesome new resource for adoptive parents. It is the University of Washington Center for Adoption Medicine website. http://www.adoptmed.org

This site is full of information, including how to have them evaluate a referral, how to schedule an appointment once your child is home (if you live in that area), and perhaps best of all, an “Ask the Doc” blog, where adoptive parents can post questions and have them answered by a doctor who specializes in treating children adopted internationally.

I do realize that not all transracially-adopted children are adopted internationally but this site has a ton of information that is relevant to all adoptions, and I think would be beneficial to most adoptive parents. I hope that it will be a great resource for many.

On the website there is a literal plethora of information on lots of health-related topics for adoptive parents. Here are just a few: ADHD, China, Complementary/Alternative Medicine, Craniofacial, Development and Learning, Diagnoses, Eastern Europe, Foreign Diagnoses, Gastroenterology, General Adoption, Genetics, Guatemala, Hematology, Infections and Immunizations, Korea, Local Resources, Mental Health, Nutrition, Growth, and Fitness, Parenting and Attachment, Physical Features, Prematurity, Prenatal Alcohol and Drugs, Products, Respiratory Issues, Sensory, Skin Issues, Sleep, Teeth and Travel and Transition.


As parents the health and well being of our children is always one of our biggest concerns, and the information available on this site is valuable. I was really impressed with this service.

We “found” the Center for Adoption Medicine at the U of Washington when we ha d questions about the health of our son from Ethiopia. We live in the middle of nowhere (like two hours to the closest Walmart middle of nowhere) and while we love our family doctor, he did not know what tests should be done on our new son or how to handle his positive TB reaction. So I emailed the Center for Adoption Medicine and explained our predicament, and the same day they sent us a list of recommend medical tests for internationally adopted children and the protocol for treating a child with a positive TB test and a BCG scar. We had peace of mind and a specialists’ recommendation, and we were not even charged for the assistance. (Please note that there is a charge to have a referral reviewed or to have your child seen in person).

I hope that parents that are waiting for their children will do some reading on this site and educate themselves on the possible health issues with adopted children, and that parents who already have their children home may find this to be a great resource.