Dear Family:

Thank you for your inquiry about the South Carolina Council on Adoptable Children, (SC COAC). We are not an adoption agency; we are a non-profit organization. SC COAC works as an education and support group for adoptive and pre-adoptive families and an advocate for children waiting to be adopted. We explore adoption issues and concerns through local and statewide group meetings. With the help of COAC’s activities and efforts, many waiting children will find permanent homes this year.

SC COAC is a statewide adoptive family network and advocacy group. All of us have “walked in your shoes” and know how frustrating the journey to find your child can be. However, many of us have experienced the joys of adoptive parenthood and know that with support, encouragement, networking, education and most of all, perseverance, you too, will succeed in your quest to adopt. This letter should give you a better understanding of our agency and services that we offer.

SC SEEDLINGS is a photo-listing directory of hundreds of South Carolina’s children who are waiting for a permanent family to call their own. COAC also maintains some photo-listing books from other states. These listings may be located at many public libraries as well as our Columbia, SC office. You may also become a subscriber to the Seedlings Book. We mail out monthly updates for each subscriber. If you would like to subscribe or if you review the SEEDLINGS listing and find a child that you are interested in, please contact us at (803) 256-2622 or 1-888-515-COAC.

The SC COAC LENDING LIBRARY contains adoption-related books, audiotapes and videotapes. We have a television, VCR, and tape player in the lending library for visitors to use while there. To check out any of these resources or review the book list, contact us at (803) 256-2622 or 1(888) 515-COAC.

Our quarterly newsletter, THE BRIDGE is mailed to all SC COAC members. It includes adoption articles from local and national perspectives, features on waiting children, letters from members, updates on chapter meetings, and much more. To become a SC COAC member, contact us at (803) 256-2622 or 1-888-515-COAC.

Our INTERNET website allows you to view information on specific children as well as view a picture of the child. We have adoption information, resources, and links to other adoption sites. You can also complete an on-line interest form and send it to our e-mail address, mailto:gail-coac@sc.rr.com. Our website address is http://www.sc-adopt.org.

SC COAC offers several other adoption education opportunities each year. SC COAC has an annual Waiting Children’s Party. This party brings prospective adopters and waiting children together for a day of fun and fellowship. Inquiries about specific children are handled on site. We also have an annual adoption conference in February, an annual adoption Expo in November to kick-off National Adoption Month, and monthly local chapter support group meetings.

SC COAC would welcome the opportunity to provide information to SC churches or community groups about the needs of South Carolina’s waiting children and how you can help.

Remember, SC COAC is a non-profit organization that provides most of its services through volunteers. We would appreciate any donation you could contribute to help provide services, or even to help us offset the cost of providing and mailing this information.

Thank you for your interest in SC COAC and we look forward to hearing from us soon.

Ada E. Robinson, SC COAC Information Resource Coordinator

* A note about Adoptions*

Currently in South Carolina there are more than eight hundred (800) children waiting to be adopted. These children are currently growing up in foster homes, group homes, and institutions without a family to call their own. Special needs adoptions are usually handled by state and private adoption agencies. Infant adoptions can be done through an attorney or a private adoption agency. If you live outside the state of SC and are interested in waiting children, you should contact your state agency for a homestudy if you have not already done so. COAC advises all inquirers to choose an agency to work with while involved in the adoption process.

SC Council on Adoptable Children