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“Hospitious Adoption” offers vision, guidance.

Posted by Lori Maas | Last updated March 9, 2022

By Shari Levine. “Hospitious Adoption”, Jim Gritter’s book has given our agency a new paradigm for exploring open adoption in greater depth. It has served as a beacon of hope, a light in the distance guiding us forward. Is his vision too idealistic? Not at all. We see these hospitious acts every day. In fact we’ve interviewed adoptive parents Michele …

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“If I can have two families, there can be magic in the world.”

Posted by Lori Maas | Last updated May 5, 2017

By Shari Levine. Nathan is a believer. He believes in himself, his birth and adoptive parents and in open adoption. Nathan, a 16-year-old OA&FS open adoptee, came to me with a question: can I give back to the agency by volunteering? As a student at the Oregon Episcopal School (OES), he was asked to complete a community service project. For …

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Milestones and changes.

Posted by Lori Maas | Last updated April 18, 2017

By Bethany, OA&FS Birthmother. As a birthmother, my life has gone through several milestones and changes since my daughter Claire’s open adoption in 2009. Open adoption is a wonderful alternative to closed adoption and foster care. It’s also very beneficial for those who are already parenting and don’t have the means to parent another child. Being part of the open …

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My adoption story: love is limitless.

Posted by Sally Shuey | Last updated April 18, 2017

by Christine Bergman Every adoption story is unique; we all experience it a little differently. It can be challenging, it can be messy, and it can even be a little scary sometimes because we don’t always have all the answers. But my adoption story is by far the most beautiful part of me. It is part of who I am …

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Adoption: closed and open.

Posted by Sally Shuey | Last updated April 18, 2017

By Peggy, Adoptive Grandparent. When merely in the telling I hear the story of my birth the question, Why? shudders through me. Abandonment hangs heavily on my neck, despite the tender arms that shelter me. But as I walk the open door to greet her, know her in my forming years, and more, the origin, my beginning fill me with …

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Openness is welcoming, inclusive.

Posted by Sally Shuey | Last updated May 4, 2016

By Norm Levine, Adoptive Grandparent. Open, is among my favorite words. It carries special significance for me. Whether it be an open-arms, open-faced sandwich, an open-hearted person or a sign on a door. I have two personal reasons for embracing the word. When my youngest daughter was born deaf we set about to teach her how to lip-read and speak. …

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Our philosophy.

Posted by Sally Shuey | Last updated May 4, 2016

Open Adoption & Family Services is a non-profit, pro-choice agency that welcomes diversity. We provide an empowerment model to expectant parents. Pregnant women/couples are treated with dignity and respect as they explore all of their pregnancy options. They are empowered with extensive information so they can make the decision that feels best to them. Regardless of their choice, they receive …

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“Phantom” fears.

Posted by Sally Shuey | Last updated March 9, 2016

by Janet, OA&FS Adoptive Mother. As we drove to Eugene, my husband, Les, and I tried to imagine what this first meeting after the adoption with the birthparents would be like. Things were different now. In the back seat was Darcy, our  5 month old daughter and we were taking her to see her birthparents for the first time since …