Note: This article focuses on the United States specifically, but the Baby Scoop Era also affected Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom around the same time period. 1939 to 1972. In just 33...
Mahli RuppA Letter to a Birth Mother
Dear Birth Mother, I don’t know if I have ever imagined writing a letter to a birth mother. I have so much I want to tell you about the daughter you carried in your womb and will always carry in your heart. I have never...
Rebecca DellWhen Adoption Triads Don’t Work: Helping Your Adoptee Cope
The papers were signed. Agreements were agreed to. And now, 10 years later, things aren’t working out. You’re still 100% all-in, your kiddo is absolutely attached to you and your partner, and things in the home are...
Christina GochnauerRefugees and Adoption
One year I had a student that was a late addition to my preschool classroom in Washington DC. The student came into my classroom and that day I learned that he was new to the country. On a normal day while lining up for...
Deirdre ParkerHonoring Birth Fathers on Father’s Day
One of the members of the adoption triad that is least discussed is the birth father. The birth mother gets most of the attention, rightfully so. Birth fathers are often thought of as little more than a sperm donor, and...
Jennifer AutryTeaching Adoptees About Birth Fathers
Within the adoptive triad, there is so much discussion about the important relationship between the birth mother, adoptee(s), and adoptive family. It seems as though much of the focus is on the birth mother, but birth...
Sarah Beth BrittonHonoring Fathers in the Adoption Community
A father is an important part of a child’s life. Studies have shown that children who have affection and support from their fathers have great cognitive and social development. When my husband, Ryan, and I were facing...
Alicia NelsonJuneteenth: My Voice in the Adoption Community
Learn all about Juneteenth and what this day means for the adoption community. June 19th celebrates the official day that slavery ended in the United States. This day is called Juneteenth, and it is also known as...
Kandice ConferAdoption From Africa
Are you considering international or foreign adoption? If so, you probably thought of adopting from China or Russia, but have you ever considered adoption from Africa? Maybe you have already considered adopting from...
Emili SchurkeThe Superheroes of Adoption
When I hear the word superheroes, I think of comic books, cartoons, and movie characters like Superman, Batman, Wonderwoman, and Spider-Man. My oldest son started his love of superheroes at a young age. His favorite...