Below are some resources about open adoption. Please contact Open Adoption & Family Services (OA&FS) at 1-800-772-1115 or information@openadopt.org for additional information.
- About Pregnancy Options
- For Birthparents
- For Adoptive Parents
- For Open Adoptees
- For Service Providers
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About Pregnancy Options
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Pregnancy Options Websites
Choice Link Up
This is a website devoted to resource links with information about reproductive health and pregnancy options. http://www.choicelinkup.com
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Pregnancy Options Organizations
Backline
Backline is a pro-choice national talk-line for women and their loved ones to discuss all aspects of pregnancy decisions. http://www.yourbackline.org
Birthmom Buds
Created by two birthmothers, this nonprofit organization offers a peer mentor program for women who are considering adoption who would like to learn more about this option from someone who has chosen adoption. Birthmom Buds also offers a separate peer mentor program for women who have placed a chld for adoption. The organization offers a newsletter, online chat meet ups and other services. http://www.birthmombuds.com
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Pregnancy Options Publications
Pregnancy Options Workbook
Completing exercises in this online workbook can help you identify your feelings and clarify your thoughts about your choices and your pregnancy. http://www.pregnancyoptions.info
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For Birthparents
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Websites for Birthparents
Choice Link Up
This is a website devoted to resource links with information about reproductive health and pregnancy options. http://www.choicelinkup.com
Family Equality Council
The Family Equality Council lists Open Adoption & Family Services as a LGBTQ-friendly adoption agency in Oregon and Washington. http://www.equalfamily.org
Open Adoption Bloggers
This Web site features a collection of blogs from a diverse group of bloggers writing about open adoption. Includes blogs by birthparents, adoptive parents and adoptees. http://www.productionnotreproduction.com/p/open-adoption-blogs.html
Open Adoption Support
Created by an adoptive mom in a fully-open adoption, this Web site is a forum for people living open adoptions to share advice, thoughts and information with each other. www.openadoptionsupport.com
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Organizations for Birthparents
Adoption Mosaic
A nonprofit organization serving Oregon and Washington with a mission of connecting, honoring and serving all members of the adoption constellation through education and support services. Organizes events for members of the adoption community throughout the year and offers classes, workshops and panels as well, including regular classes and events about transracial adoption. http://www.adoptionmosaic.org/
Backline
Backline is a pro-choice national talk-line for women and their loved ones to discuss all aspects of pregnancy decisions. http://www.yourbackline.org
Birthmom Buds
Created by two birthmothers, this nonprofit organization offers a peer mentor program for women who are considering adoption who would like to learn more about this option from someone who has chosen adoption. Birthmom Buds also offers a separate peer mentor program for women who have placed a chld for adoption. The organization offers a newsletter, online chat meet ups and other services. http://www.birthmombuds.com
OA&FS Birthparent Mentor Programs
Open Adoption & Family Services (OA&FS) offers peer mentor programs to OA&FS birthmothers and OA&FS birthfathers. If you'd like to talk with a fellow OA&FS birthparent or if you'd like volunteer to serve as a mentor, please call or e-mail the agency: 1-800-772-1115 or information@openadopt.org. http://www.openadopt.org/about-us/contact-us/
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Publications for Birthparents
Birthparent Grief
A booklet by birthmother Brenda Romanchik that helps birthparents in open adoptions identify the stages of grief and when to seek counseling, while offering advice for dealing with difficult days. Published by Insight: Open Adoption Resources and Support, 1999, and available directly from Insight.
Licensed in Washington
OA&FS is a domestic adoption agency licensed to operate in Washington, see page 3 of this resource guide published by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services: www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ca/exchange.pdf
Making Room In Our Hearts: Keeping Ties Through Open Adoption
Written by Micky Duxbury, this book includes first-hand stories from birth and adoptive families about how they developed open adoption relationships in child-centered open adoptions. Published by Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2007, and available at Amazon.com.
Out of the Shadows: Birthfathers' Stories
Written by open adoptee Mary Martin Mason, this book features interviews with birthfathers, advocates for recognizing the important role birtfathers have in a child's life and includes chapters for birthfathers about opening adoptions and healing. Published by O.J. Howard Publishing, 1995, and available at Amazon.com.
Pregnancy Options Workbook
Completing exercises in this online workbook can help you identify your feelings and clarify your thoughts about your choices and your pregnancy. http://www.pregnancyoptions.info
Sam's Sister
Written by social worker Juliet C. Bond and illustrated by Dawn W. Majewski, this children's book tells the story of an open adoption from the perspective of a birth sibling. Published by Perspectives Press, www.perspectivespress.com, 2004, and available at Amazon.com.
The Birthparent Perspective
Families often find their open adoption family relationships so worthwhile, they want more openness. A national study of 360 open adoption families, including Open Adoption & Family Services (OA&FS) families who participated in the survey, found that over time, adoptive parents, birthparents and adoptees all tend to wish for more openness in their adoption. Learn more in The Birthparent Perspective, a special report in the September/October 2008 issue of Adoptive Families Magazine.
The Spirit of Open Adoption
By social worker James Gritter, widely-regarded as the "father" of open adoption, this book offers a deeper look at why openness in adoption is needed and how it can benefit all members of the adoption constellation. Published by the Child Welfare League of America Press, 1997, currently out of print and available at Amazon.com.
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For Adoptive Parents
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Websites for Adoptive Parents
Family Equality Council
The Family Equality Council lists Open Adoption & Family Services as a LGBTQ-friendly adoption agency in Oregon and Washington. http://www.equalfamily.org
Open Adoption Bloggers
This Web site features a collection of blogs from a diverse group of bloggers writing about open adoption. Includes blogs by birthparents, adoptive parents and adoptees. http://www.productionnotreproduction.com/p/open-adoption-blogs.html
Open Adoption Support
Created by an adoptive mom in a fully-open adoption, this Web site is a forum for people living open adoptions to share advice, thoughts and information with each other. www.openadoptionsupport.com
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Organizations For Adoptive Parents
Adoption Mosaic
A nonprofit organization serving Oregon and Washington with a mission of connecting, honoring and serving all members of the adoption constellation through education and support services. Organizes events for members of the adoption community throughout the year and offers classes, workshops and panels as well, including regular classes and events about transracial adoption. http://www.adoptionmosaic.org/
Adoptive Family and Friends of Greater Seattle
Formed by adoptive moms Dawn Lum and Karen Lindh to create a support network for Seattle-area families, Adoptive Family and Friends of Greater Seattle (AFFGS) has helped adoptive and waiting families build friendships and share information with peers since 1997. The nonprofit supports Seattle-area families waiting to adopt and offers ongoing support, education and fun activities for families after they've adopted. http://www.affgs.org/
Families Like Ours
A Seattle-based nonprofit providing centralized resource for information and support to LGBT adoptive and pre-adoptive families. Web site includes resource list, FAQ and more. http://www.familieslikeours.org
Human Rights Campaign
This Washington D.C.-based nonprofit advocates for all aspects of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered equality. The HRC Web site’s family section includes information about adoption. http://www.hrc.org
Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform (PEAR)
This nonprofit organization began as a grasroots group of prospective and adoptive parents interested in ethical and meaningful adoption reform. PEAR gives prospective and adoptive parents a voice in adoption-related legislation and advocacy for improving the way adoption is practiced. http://www.pear-now.org
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Publications for Adoptive Parents
Adoption USA Chartbook
When Open Adoption & Family Services (OA&FS) was established in 1985, most adoptions were closed and open adoption was a new concept. How common is open adoption today? Nationwide, the trend over the past 25 years has been towards openness. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted a nationwide survey of 2,089 adoptive families. The 2007 National Survey of Adoptive Parents is the first of its kind and its findings were published in 2009. The national survey showed 97% of all adopted children age 5 and older know that they were adopted. It also found over two thirds (67%) of parents who adopted domestically, chose to create pre-adoption contact agreements with birthparents. An estimated 68% of all adopted children in families surveyed, had some level contact with birthparents after placement. To read the full report, visit the Adoption USA Chartbook.
Licensed in Washington
OA&FS is a domestic adoption agency licensed to operate in Washington, see page 3 of this resource guide published by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services: www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ca/exchange.pdf
Making Room In Our Hearts: Keeping Ties Through Open Adoption
Written by Micky Duxbury, this book includes first-hand stories from birth and adoptive families about how they developed open adoption relationships in child-centered open adoptions. Published by Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2007, and available at Amazon.com.
Out of the Shadows: Birthfathers' Stories
Written by open adoptee Mary Martin Mason, this book features interviews with birthfathers, advocates for recognizing the important role birtfathers have in a child's life and includes chapters for birthfathers about opening adoptions and healing. Published by O.J. Howard Publishing, 1995, and available at Amazon.com.
The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided To Go Get Pregnant
Novel by Dan Savage about how he and his partner adopted through OA&FS. Published by Plume, 2000, and available at Amazon.com.
The Spirit of Open Adoption
By social worker James Gritter, widely-regarded as the "father" of open adoption, this book offers a deeper look at why openness in adoption is needed and how it can benefit all members of the adoption constellation. Published by the Child Welfare League of America Press, 1997, currently out of print and available at Amazon.com.
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For Open Adoptees
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Websites for Open Adoptees
Adult Adoptees In Open Adoptions
A forum for adult adoptees in open adoptions to share discussions, published by Adoption.com.
Open Adoption Bloggers
This Web site features a collection of blogs from a diverse group of bloggers writing about open adoption. Includes blogs by birthparents, adoptive parents and adoptees. http://www.productionnotreproduction.com/p/open-adoption-blogs.html
Open Adoption Support
Created by an adoptive mom in a fully-open adoption, this Web site is a forum for people living open adoptions to share advice, thoughts and information with each other. www.openadoptionsupport.com
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Organizations for Open Adoptees
Adoptees Internet Mailing List:
Adoptees Internet Mailing List (AIML): Putting the Pieces Together, is a free listserv reserved for adoptees only. The listserv provides a forum for adoptees to share their experiences and perspectives with each other. To learn more about this list and for instructions of how to request to join, please see the AIML Web site: http://www.aiml.bravehost.com/faq.html
Adoption Mosaic
A nonprofit organization serving Oregon and Washington with a mission of connecting, honoring and serving all members of the adoption constellation through education and support services. Organizes events for members of the adoption community throughout the year and offers classes, workshops and panels as well, including regular classes and events about transracial adoption. http://www.adoptionmosaic.org/
OA&FS Open Adoptee Mentor Program
Open Adoption & Family Services (OA&FS) offers a peer mentor program to OA&FS open adoptees, children who were placed in open adoptions through our agency. If you'd like to talk with an adoptee mentor in your age range or volunteer to serve as a mentor, please call or e-mail the agency: 1-800-772-1115 or information@openadopt.org. http://www.openadopt.org/about-us/contact-us/
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Publications for Open Adoptees
Beginnings How Families Come to Be
Written by Virginia Kroll and illustrated by Stacey Schuett, this children's book shares six stories of how families come together, including by birth, open adoption, closed/international adoption, guardianship and into single-parent families. Published by Albert Whitman and Company, 1994, and available at Amazon.com.
Megan's Birthday Tree: A Story About Open Adoption
Written by Laurie Lears and illustrated by Bill Farnsworth, this children's book shares the story of Megan, who learns her birthmother is moving, and how their relationship grows with the changes. Published by Albert Whitman and Company, 2005, and available at Amazon.com.
Rain Or Shine
Written by adoptive mother Hilary Horder Hippely and illustrated by birth grandmother and former Open Adoption & Family Services (OA&FS) counselor Margaret Godfrey, this children's book shares the story of Finn's birthday and the relationship he shares with his birthmother in spite of breaks in regular contact between them. Published by OA&FS via Xlibris and available directly from OA&FS or at Amazon.com.
Sam's Sister
Written by social worker Juliet C. Bond and illustrated by Dawn W. Majewski, this children's book tells the story of an open adoption from the perspective of a birth sibling. Published by Perspectives Press, www.perspectivespress.com, 2004, and available at Amazon.com.
When Joel Comes Home
Written by adoptive mother Susi Fowler and illustrated by her husband Jim Fowler, this children's book shares the story of an older sibling who is looking forward to meeting her baby brother Joel for the first time. Published by Greenwillow Books, New York, 1993, and available at Amazon.com.
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For Service Providers
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Websites for Service Providers
Pregnancy Options Dialogue
A Web site announcing unique all-options pregnancy counseling training events held periodically in Oregon or Washington for service providers, by partner organizations Open Adoption & Family Services, Backline, Center for Health Training and Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette. http://www.pregnancyoptionsdialogue.org/
State of Oregon: Licensed Agencies
A list of adoption agencies, including OA&FS, that are licensed by the state to operate in Oregon is provided on the Oregon Department of Human Services Adoption Services Web site: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/adoption/indadoptions/licensedag.shtml
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Organizations for Service Providers
Adoption Access Network
The Adoption Access Network (AAN) is a national network of pro-choice open adoption agencies that offer a high-quality of care for clients. Open Adoption & Family Services is proud to be the Northwest representative of the AAN and a founding partner of this new organization.
Coalition of Oregon Adoption Agencies
A state-wide coalition of adoption agencies that serve the state of Oregon, of which Open Adoption & Family Services is a member. http://www.oregonadoptionagencies.org/
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Publications for Service Providers
Licensed in Washington
OA&FS is a domestic adoption agency licensed to operate in Washington, see page 3 of this resource guide published by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services: www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ca/exchange.pdf
Oregon DHS Policy
The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) recently issued a memorandum that clarifies a policy for child welfare workers whose clients are at risk of losing their parental rights. The policy allows these clients to pro-actively plan an open adoption with a private agency before their parental rights are terminated in court. Open Adoption & Family Services can now bring its open adoption model to parents who have previously had very few adoption options. Download Policy in PDF: http://www.dhs.state.or.us/policy/childwelfare/im/2010/cw_im_10_021.pdf
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