§679a — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

§679a National Adoption Information Clearinghouse

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - SOCIAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES › Part Part E— - Federal Payments for Foster Care, Prevention, and Permanency › § 679a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must set up a National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, either directly or by grant or contract. The Clearinghouse must gather, organize, and keep research and reports about infant adoption and adoption of children with special needs. It must create and update directories of resources — for example, crisis pregnancy centers, shelters for pregnant women, adoption training and education, licensed agencies, State adoption laws, intercountry adoption, and other adoption-related resources for pregnant people, adoptive parents, birth parents, adoptees, agencies, and professionals — and share those materials. When an adoption and foster care data system under section 679 exists, the Clearinghouse must also share the data from that system.

Title 42, §679a

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish, either directly or by grant or contract, a National Adoption Information Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse shall—

(1)collect, compile, and maintain information obtained from available research, studies, and reports by public and private agencies, institutions, or individuals concerning all aspects of infant adoption and adoption of children with special needs;

(2)compile, maintain, and periodically revise directories of information concerning—

(A)crisis pregnancy centers,

(B)shelters and residences for pregnant women,

(C)training programs on adoption,

(D)educational programs on adoption,

(E)licensed adoption agencies,

(F)State laws relating to adoption,

(G)intercountry adoption, and

(H)any other information relating to adoption for pregnant women, infertile couples, adoptive parents, unmarried individuals who want to adopt children, individuals who have been adopted, birth parents who have placed a child for adoption, adoption agencies, social workers, counselors, or other individuals who work in the adoption field;

(3)disseminate the information compiled and maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) and the directories compiled and maintained pursuant to paragraph (2); and

(4)upon the establishment of an adoption and foster care data collection system pursuant to section 679 of this title, disseminate the data and information made available through that system.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Medicare and Medicaid Budget Reconciliation

Amendments

of 1985 and also as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, and not as part of the Social Security Act which comprises this chapter.

§679a National Adoption Information Clearinghouse

Summary

Title 42, §679a

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata