According to a U.S. government listing, there are almost 1,300 licensed domestic adoption agencies. Yet not all agencies are the same. Many do not offer post adoption support. Most will offer the usual adoption services such as:
- Finding and matching expectant mothers with hopeful adoptive parents.
- Completing a home study (required for all who want to adopt).
- Providing adoption education for hopeful parents.
- Helping determine specific state adoption laws.
While all of these services are needed, post adoption support is an important service that can easily get overlooked when researching which agency to work with. Post adoption support is the type and amount of support an agency provides for birthmothers, adoptive parents and for the adopted child.
When or if challenges arise in your adoption, you need someone who is trained to help. Thankfully, there are agencies that provide post adoption support services, such as:
- Navigating open adoption relationships
- Attachment issues
- Dealing with common issues with adoption (grief, loss, rejection, etc.)
- How to talk with kids about adoption
- How to handle issues with trans-racial adoption
- Searching for birth family information
Here are 4 adoption agencies that provide amazing post adoption support:
Bethany is one of the nation’s oldest adoption agencies and has locations in most states.
Bethany created the Post-Adoption Contact Center (PACC) because they are committed to providing quality services that enhance the lives of those impacted by adoption. They know that adoption creates unique needs and challenges after your adoption is finalized. The Bethany PACC is available by phone or e-mail and is staffed by adoption-competent professionals who provide support, education, and referral assistance.
While each branch office is often the best informed about resources in your local community, the Contact Center is also ready to provide support and information to anyone seeking help after adoption. ANY birthfamily members, adult adoptees, and adoptive family members throughout the United States can contact the center.
You do not have to be a current or former Bethany client.
Bethany offers a free initial consultation, extended consultations and one-on-one assistance with researching and accessing services.
Contact info: 1.866.309.7328 8am to 8pm (Eastern) Mon-Fri, except U.S. holidays
BCSpostadopt@bethany.org
You can hear more about Bethany’s Post Adoption Support in this interview on the Infant Adoption Guide Podcast.
Adoption STAR is an agency specializing in newborn infant adoptions. They work with families nationwide. They believe in providing post adoption support, so they created Family STAR.
Family STAR is a department of Adoption STAR that provides post adoption support services to any member of the adoption triad in need of assistance.
They have experienced, professional counselors available to assist with many adoption related issues. Family STAR is committed to offering education, counseling, referrals, support groups or activities to assist anyone touched by adoption.
For information regarding services, visit Family-STAR.com or call 716-639-3030 or send them an email.
Gladney’s domestic adoption programs are committed to providing permanent and loving families for children born in the United States. Not many agencies can claim close to 30,000 success stories over 125 years of service. On average, they place 350 children annually.
The domestic infant adoption program places infants and toddlers with loving adoptive families.
Gladney offers a comprehensive post adoption support program for all members of the adoption world.
Their Post Adoption Services team brings together parent education and training, counseling and support resources to enhance the lives of all members of the Gladney family. Their comprehensive and professional services extend far beyond the post adoption services required by law or offered by most other agencies. Most of these services are provided to Gladney clients at no cost.
They have another special way of providing support. They’ve created Gladney Family Associations, where families can join and get support from other adoptive families who share similar life experiences.
Click here to access their information guide. For more about their domestic infant adoption programs and how they provide post adoption support, call 1-800-687-3097.
4. Nightlight Adoption Services
More than 2,000 domestic adoptions have been completed by Nightlight.
They offer post adoption counseling services to birth parents and adoptive families. For California, Colorado, South Carolina and Kentucky residents, they provide services such as home study, post adoption and pre-adoption education.
You can see their Frequently Asked Questions page for quick answers. For more information on how to begin your adoption journey, you can complete their online contact form.
Nightlight offers a limited number of free counseling hours to birthmothers who have placed for adoption with any agency or attorney. Counseling services are available to adoptive families. For more info, call (864) 268-0570 or email laura@nightlight.org.
__________________________________________________________________
Whether or not you choose to use one of these agencies, I encourage you to research them to see if they are the right fit for your family and your adoption preferences.
Need help finding an agency?
Adoption agencies are not all the same. They can look the same, but operate much differently. How do you know what makes a great agency? Who can you trust? How do you find agencies? Google search?
I get it. I’ve been in your shoes. After adopting 3 times and working for over 10 years with experts, successful adoptive families and even birthmoms, I’ve come up with a way to find & choose the right agency FOR YOU.
This FREE guide is called “How To Find The Right Adoption Agency in 4 Steps”. Just click on the guide below or this link:
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT ADOPTION AGENCY IN 4 STEPS
