Adoption Support Center

If you're pregnant and considering adoption you may have lots of questions! On the flip side, you might not be sure what questions you need to be asking the adoption professional (agency or attorney) you are working with. We can help you know where to start!

In this month's blog we're sharing 10 questions to ask your adoption professional and the answers to expect in return! If you are in need of assistance, support, guidance as you explore your options, including adoption, we are here and can help.

Click the link in bio to read the full blog.

Post Placement Wednesday over here, where we navigate all things after an adoption has taken place!

Any given Wednesday could include search/reunion support, connecting birth parents with counseling, assisting both adoptive and birth parents in navigating the complexities of open adoption and much much more!

We recently help our spring fling for the triad! Adoptive and birth families navigating open adoptions (with contact) came together for a morning of donuts, coffee, crafts and the Easter Bunny! It was incredibly special to see 12 triads all in one place, connecting and celebrating a holiday/season together.

These days when we talk about open adoption we are careful to do so with intention and nuance. We are listening and learning. For the last two decades and currently still, open adoption is regularly sold as a cure all. Expectant parents considering adoption are told, “Open adoption will make this decision easier. You can do this because you’ll get to see your child grow up.”

There are a lot of beautiful open adoption relationships out there. We witnessed a dozen of them at our recent event. But even these relationships are not without complexity, times of struggle, in need of ongoing tending, flexibility and growth. We believe in the importance of open adoption, but it is not a fix all for the loss and grief inherent in adoption. We have to stop selling it as such.

Let’s continue to support and champion these vital relationships but let’s do so in a way that honors both their importance and beauty and their challenges/shortcomings.

We had a bunny sighting today! They are ready to make their appearance at the Spring Fling tomorrow!

Rain is in the forecast but we are still planning on having the festivities as long as there are no severe storms. Event will be outside but under a covered pavilion. Bring your sweatshirts and rain jackets and be ready for some fun! We're looking forward to seeing many of you there tomorrow!

Can't believe we're already into March! This year is chugging right along!

Our monthly virtual support group for birth mothers is this coming SUNDAY! We'd love to "see" you there. The journey of grieving and healing for parents who have placed a child for adoption is lifelong. You deserve support, connection and a safe space as you process the complexities of such a difficult decision. If you did not place through ASC, that's ok. You are still welcome and encouraged to attend the groups we offer.

As always, if you placed through ASC and group support doesn't sound like the right fit currently, we offer FREE counseling for birth parents in their post placement journey with an adoption fluent therapist. It doesn't matter if you placed last week or 25 years ago, these services are still available to you. Reach out via email [email protected] or call 317-255-5916 to be connected with a therapist. We'd love to hear from you.

There is a version of adoption some (if not many) professionals are still "selling” expectant parents. We say still because we’ve been there, done that. But in the words of Maya Angelou, “when you know better, do better.”

This version, born (potentially with initial good intentions) from the shame and coercion of the baby scoop era, developed into the brave love narrative through positive adoption language, is not the full story. And, it’s potentially just as coercive as the forced adoptions of earlier decades. Just packaged differently.

( We think we first learned the above from you. We have you and to thank for helping us really start to lean in and listen to birth mothers and their experience, insights and knowledge. This blog likely contains some ideas and words we got directly from you both and want to make sure and give you credit. Now, we're listening to and learning from a broad array of birth parents and you two really started it all. Thank you for your bravery in your healing and advocacy work.)

Expectant parents making difficult decisions deserve better. They need the facts, accurate information and a more nuanced look at the complexities of choosing adoption for their infant/child before making this permanent decision.

Expectant Parents considering adoption: If you are in a place where you need to consider or choose adoption, you have the right to do so safely and without pressure, shame or judgement. We’re not trying to talk you into or out of adoption. We’re hoping to give you a more honest, accurate picture as you make difficult decisions. We are here and can help. Please reach out today.

Click the link in bio to read the full blog.