How do agencies find domestic infants?

I was recently at a local adoption agency for a meeting on domestic adoption. This particular adoption agency is very well established in the area in which I live. The question from many pre-adoptive parents was something like “How do you make contact with birthmothers who want to give up their children for adoption? This is a very good question, a question I asked myself prior to adopting my son.

This particular adoption agency indicated that they have someone on staff 24 hours a day to take calls from birthmothers who are considering giving up their child for adoption. The birthmothers find the agency in several ways, including through local churches, clinics and hospitals in our area. The adoption agency has contacts with these places and they know who to call if they come in contact with a birthmother who is considering giving up their child for adoption. Other ways include word of mouth and walk-ins. I was surprised to learn that another way is by the birthmother looking in the phone book under "adoption". This adoption agency said this was actually rather common.

This adoption agency indicated that most of the birthmothers contact them very close to delivering their child or just after giving birth. This must be such a difficult decision. Therefore, I think it is quite understandable that the birthmother is given some period of time (in some states 72 hours, in other states 30 days or more) from initially signing the forms to change her mind. Send me an email if you want to find out what it is for your state.

If you are considering domestic adoption you may wish to ask any adoption agency that you are considering how they find the infants for which they are working to find "forever families". Some adoption agencies only work in their local area whereas others many work in multiple states. This information may not make your wait any quicker or easier, but it may help you better understand what is taking place when you are waiting for that wonderful blessing that will bring you and your new child together.

Robin Bartko

What to Expect at an Adoption Conference

I was recently at "The Adoption Journey Conference," an adoption conference presentred by "A Mother's Charm" (www.motherscharm.com) held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA. My sister-in-law was kind enough to watch our kids as my husband joined me at the conference. If you are thinking about adopting, I would highly recommend attending a conference like this.

The conference took place in three rooms, with the largest containing displays from various adoption related organizations/agencies with personnel at each station. My husband and I got to talk to about a dozen adoption agencies as well as people who finance adoptions and some nonprofit adoption support groups. There was also a domestic adoption lawyer as well as information about adopting from foster care. If you are not sure if you want to adopt internationally or domestically, this is a good kind of conference to attend. I found it very informational and it is a great no pressure way to learn about adoption.

However, the best part for me was that they had seminars on various adoption topics in the other two rooms. Seminar topics included: “Adopt from the Foster Care System”, “Adopt after Infertility- Moving on”, “Medical and Developmental Issues in International Adoption”, and “From Fantasy to Reality: Set Expectations for Adoption”. I found each of these seminars very informative and they were taught by experts who gave very practical advice for anyone considering adoption. This conference was free to the public, but more importantly was well worth my time (and the $25 parking charge in the heart of Philadelphia (ouch!)).

My thanks to "A Mother's Charm" for presenting a wonderful conference.

Robin Bartko