At Open Adoption & Family Services we are pro-choice, welcome diversity, and offer fully open adoptions with lifelong services.
"The seminar was valuable in that it gave more insight on OA&FS and the philosophy it embodies. It also made us realize we had found the right place at the right time. It took away any fears." - OA&FS Seminar Attendee
"We came to OA&FS by word of mouth with great recommendations. The philosophy of openness and honesty is a value we embrace and choose to live by." - OA&FS Adoptive Parents
"By being able to actually meet birth parents and adoptive parents, it cemented the process and expectations for us. Understanding how the birth parents are counseled made us feel like the best interests of the child are paramount." - OA&FS Seminar Attendee
"Very good services, openly welcoming and affirming for gays and lesbians." - OA&FS Adoptive Parents
"I respect the philosophical perspective of OA&FS - the commitment to everyone involved in the process. I also appreciate the recognition of gay couples and single parents." - OA&FS Seminar Attendee
In This Section
About Open Adoption & Family Services.
Open Adoption & Family Services, (OA&FS), is a non-profit, pro-choice agency that welcomes diversity. Pregnant individuals receive compassion and unbiased support as they explore all of their pregnancy options. If they decide to plan an open adoption, they choose, meet and create a relationship with adoptive parents similar to an extended family. Our fully open adoptions include ongoing visits and lifelong services.
OA&FS is the first and only agency in the Pacific Northwest founded on the philosophy of openness in adoption. We do more domestically-born newborn placements than any other agency in the region. Our first office opened in Eugene, Oregon in 1985. We're now licensed in both Oregon and Washington and provide services throughout the entire United States. Our offices are located in Seattle, Portland and Eugene.
Connect with us.
Are you pregnant or parenting? Or is your partner, or someone close to you, pregnant or parenting? Learn more about the support we can provide. We’re honored to offer our services to people throughout the United States. If you live in the Northwest and would like to meet in person we have offices in Portland and Eugene, Oregon and Seattle, Washington or we’ll come to you. Or, connect with a call, text or fill out our online inquiry form. (OA&FS can place children in adoption up to the age of three and one-half.)
If you're pregnant and would like to explore your options:
Call 1-800-772-1115.
A counselor will contact you shortly when submitted Monday-Friday from 9 am-5 pm PST. If outside of these hours, we’ll reach out to you the following weekday.
Text "open" to 971-266-0924.
Text answering available 9 am-5 pm PST, Monday through Friday.
If you're a prospective adoptive parent:
Call for information, 503-226-4870.
Our Client Services Manager is here to help you Monday thru Friday, 9 am-5 pm PST. She can answer your specific questions and also sign you up for our free Adoption Information Meeting or Adoptive Parent Seminar! To get free info anytime fill out the online form.
For all other inquiries email OA&FS:
Or contact one of our offices:
OREGON
Portland
5200 S Macadam Suite 250,
Portland, OR 97239
503-226-4870
Eugene
150 Shelton McMurphey Blvd, Suite 204,
Eugene, OR 97401
541-343-4825
WASHINGTON
Seattle
2815 Eastlake Ave. E., Suite 160
Seattle, WA 98102
206-782-0442
We're proud to be the only adoption agency in the U.S. with a birth parent as Board President.
At OA&FS, the value we place on the experiences of birth parents is evident in the leadership roles they hold on our board of directors. Birth parent Sage Carter is our Board president, birth parent Melissa Busch is our vice-president, and birth parent Garret Garfield is the first birth father on our board. We want to ensure that our programs reflect their insights, in fact all of our board members are living open adoptions.
Sage Carter is the executive assistant to the head of the Oregon Episcopal School. She has a Master’s in Education with a focus in public policy. She shared, “At OA&FS and in our family we are all respected as an integral part of raising a child. As a birth mom, I am no less important, I just play a different role and OA&FS taught us how to boldly make space for everyone”.
At OA&FS we trust people to make their own reproductive decisions, and we trust birth parents to have leadership roles on our board. That means our services and programs are shaped and endorsed by birth parents. After an era of adoptions in our country in which birth parents stated that their adoptions didn’t meet their needs, we can finally turn that ship around, by having birth parents chart the next era of adoption. We are proud to have Sage Carter at the helm.
Sage Carter, President, Open Adoption & Family Services Board of Directors.
OA&FS Board of Directors
Vice-President Melissa Busch
RN, Providence Health Services, Political Candidate OR SD16.
President Sage Carter
OA&FS Birth Mother.
Nathan Faust
OA&FS Adoptee, Undergraduate Admissions Counselor, Loyola Marymount University.
Garrett Garfield
OA&FS Birth Father, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP.
Secretary Michele Greco
OA&FS Adoptive Parent, Mindfulness Based Life & Business Coach.
Jennifer Johnson
OA&FS Adoptive Parent.
Alisha Phillips
OA&FS Adoptive Parent.
Mark Spaur
OA&FS Adoptive Parent, Vice President, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants.
Steve Stegeman
OA&FS Adoptive Parent, Partner, Davis & Graves, CPA LLP.
Suzie Williams
Executive Director at OA&FS.
April Vanderkamp
OA&FS Adoptee, Nurse.
Counselor Sari with OA&FS adoptee Emma and adoptive parents Kevin and Joe.
Meet our staff.
Dedicated, professional and hospitous.
We care deeply about the needs of the clients we serve. Our counselors embody all that hospitiousness celebrates -- working with clients in a way that gives them a sense of being completely welcomed, accepted and comfortable. They possess social services experience, advanced degrees and the ability to compassionately navigate a wide variety of situations. Our support staff enriches these efforts with specialized expertise in program management, client support, communications and financial services.
Portland
Management and Counseling Staff
Suzie Williams, MA, Executive Director
Suzie joined OA&FS in 1993, and gained perspective through years working as a Counselor and later, Program Manager. She appreciates that our agency is committed to growing and evolving as we learn from those living in open adoptions. Suzie is inspired by the compassion, honesty, and integrity that birth families and adoptive families model for their children within their open adoption relationships.
Maria Villegas, LCSW, Co-Program Manager
Maria re-joined the OA&FS staff in 2021. Her history as an OA&FS Counselor, as well as working in private practice, informs her expertise in managing our Counseling program. She supports counselors as they assist clients in exploring the options that are available to them, while also talking through what their priorities are. She is continually inspired by the resilience of our open adoption community.
Sari Prevost, MA, Counselor
Sari came to OA&FS in 2002, and loves how she is always challenged to be the best that she can be at her job. She is impressed and inspired by the families she works with that allow her to witness their transformation as they move through amazing journeys. Sari is honored to be a part of an agency that has great integrity and is truly a leader in fully open, respectful, hospitious adoptions.
Amy DeGennaro, MSW, Counselor
Amy graduated in 2002 with an MSW from Boston University. She has worked in child welfare, and most specifically adoption, for the majority of her career in social work. She was a Counselor for OA&FS from 2003–2009 and just recently returned to the agency after taking time to be at home with her two daughters. She is excited to continue this work armed with a different perspective and insight that parenting brings. Amy has always been, and continues to be, inspired by the incredible strength, vulnerability and compassion shown by birth and adoptive families who continue to show up for one another with love and respect.
Wendy Coleman, MSW, Counselor
Wendy joined OAFS in 2022 after spending the first two decades of her career working with pregnant and parenting adolescents and their children where she provided support and positive options for young families. Wendy is honored to join the OA&FS team, continuing to build connections with expectant parents and forge relationships with adoptive parents as well. Wendy is drawn to the integrity of OA&FS and inspired by the transparency, mutual respect and shared love in the open adoption relationship, and the compassion and vulnerability participants bring to the process.
Haley Waggoner, MSW, Counselor
Haley joined the OA&FS staff in 2022.
Support Staff
Sally Shuey, Communications Director
Sally brought her love of all things marketing to OA&FS in 2012. Tasked with directing the communications, fundraising and events efforts for the agency, She's inspired by the OA&FS mission and welcoming spirit. Sally specializes in strategic marketing, social media, web design and print production, and uses these platforms to connect people in need of pregnancy counseling and open adoption services to OA&FS.
Lori Maas, Client Services Manager
Lori has been at the support helm of OA&FS since 1999. She enjoys working closely with prospective adoptive parents as they explore their options and providing ongoing support to both clients and counseling staff throughout the adoption process.
Cindy Lee, Fiscal Manager
Cindy joined OA&FS in 1996. She began her tenure as Office Manager, and added fiscal responsibilities in 1999. Cindy also coordinates IT and HR for the agency. She loves the diversity of her job and appreciates the amazing staff she works with on a daily basis. Cindy takes great satisfaction in working for a non-profit that's continually evolving and finding new ways to be more inclusive and transparent in the services it offers.
Eugene
Management and Counseling Staff
Jan Jamieson, BA, Regional Supervisor /Counselor
Jan became a part of OA&FS in 2005. She loves the opportunity to work with and meet so many amazing, insightful, generous people. Jan is honored to watch as open adoptions unfold over time, especially when she hears stories from birth parents, adoptive parents, and their children talk about how much they all care about one another.
Adam Thomas, Systems Administrator and Outreach Supervisor
Adam first joined the Eugene OA&FS team in 2016. He grew up in Oklahoma, but his love of the outdoors brought him to the great state of Oregon in 2014. He has a passion for helping others, and finds he does his best work through providing assistance to those in need. He enjoys volunteering his time at the sake of making someone's day better, and loves to share his knowledge and expertise when he sees an opportunity to jump in and help. He is passionate about open adoption, and the work OA&FS does not only with counseling and open adoption, but within the pro-choice community as a whole.
Seattle
Management and Counseling Staff
Delphine Veith, MSW, Co-Program Manager and Counselor
Delphine joined OA&FS as a counselor in 2015. She appreciates being part of people’s journeys at a pivotal time in their lives, and being able to witness the unfolding of new families and relationships over time through open adoptions. Delphine is proud of the progressive history of OA&FS, including providing full options counseling for expectant parents. She strives to support everyone in making informed and empowered decisions for themselves and for their children, and enjoys the diverse group of people she interacts with through this work.
Lynn Skirven, LICSW, Counselor
Lynn comes to open adoption with a variety of experiences in child welfare. After working in the foster care system, she recognized the importance of building a healthy and deep connection between birth an adoptive families. Lynn is drawn to OA&FS' progressive and empowering approach to open adoption.
Leah Lusk, MA, LMHCA, Counselor
Leah joined OA&FS in 2021. Counseling is her second career after many years as an editor, and the common thread for her is the beauty of helping people write their own stories. As an adoptive person, she is honored to now work in a facilitative role supporting and witnessing the establishment of lifelong connections that benefit adoptive children and their families. She was drawn to OA&FS because of the organization’s commitment to transparency, openness and continual teaching and learning.
Support Staff
Jamie Masterson, Outreach Coordinator/Office Administrator
Jamie joined the Seattle OA&FS team in 2022.
Our expertise: open adoption and reproductive choices.
Media Inquiries
Interested in writing a story about Open Adoption & Family Services? Need a source for open adoption or reproductive choices information? You've come to the right place. Contact our Communications Director Sally Shuey, 503-226-4870, sally@openadopt.org. She'll be happy to make connections for you.
Presentations
Because of our agency's decades of experience, we often give presentations to groups both locally and nationally. For these we draw from materials developed by OA&FS as well as other subject matter experts. If you'd like to schedule OA&FS to speak at your organization, please contac
OA&FS in the media.
- OA&FS First Agency in U.S. with Birth Parent as Board President. Sage Carter is our Board president, birth parent Melissa Busch is our vice-president, and birth parent Garret Garfield is the first birth father on our board.
- Birth Parent Advocates and Activists Video. OA&FS birth parents advocate for open adoption at Oregon's state legislative session. Meet them in this video.
- Infertility, Adoption and a New Perspective with Allie Phillips, via the Art of Joy Podcast. It's so gratifying to hear her articulately describe our philosophy and process in her own insightful words. Knowing that our open adoption aspirations have been meaningful to her and her family is deeply inspiring to us. Allie is truly an ambassador of open adoption.
- Rational Enquirer. Open adoptee, Taylor Roghair, wrote an article about her open adoption experience for the 21st edition of the Oregon Teen Pregnancy Task Force’s Rational Enquirer It’s available in print and online. The Rational Enquirer is distributed to over 5,000 schools, health centers and social service agencies annually in Oregon. This publication is primarily by and for teens on a variety of topics regarding adolescent sexual health.
- NW Kids Magazine. OA&FS adoptive mom and magazine editor Kelley Schaefer-Levi interviews open adoptees in "The Voices of Open Adoption: A Q&A."
- Portland Radio Project's Community Voices. This public service program features four interviews with OA&FS community members representing different perspectives of open adoption. Hear from OA&FS Executive Director Shari Levine, birth father Garrett, adoptive mother Heather and birth mother Sage.
- Connecting the Dots of Adoption. Becca Freimuth taps into the expertise of OA&FS Executive Director Shari Levine for this feature in Klipsun.
- Open Adoption: From Bias to Genuine Love. Author Ron Schultz of Entrepreneurs4Change interviews OA&FS Executive Director Shari Levine.
- Open adoption fosters relationships that benefit child. OA&FS Executive Director Shari Levine explains how open adoption works in this article for the Eugene Register-Guard.
- Do you have any children? A difficult question to answer. OA&FS board member and birth parent Melissa Busch shares her feelings about answering this typical question from a birth parent's point of view. Picked up from RH Reality Check by the Huffington Post.
- "Think Out Loud" Open Adoption Family Holidays. In this Oregon Public Broadcasting program, OA&FS adoptive parent Heather Allmain and other Oregonians share how their family celebrates the holidays. (Heather's contributions are about seven minutes into the program.)
- Open adoption keeps birth family involved. This article from The Columbian features OA&FS adoptee Gavin Vallance, and shows how his birth and adoptive families keep their connection alive.
Publications with first hand experience.
At Open Adoption & Family Services, we learn so much from working with expectant parents and families as they make decisions regarding reproductive choices and open adoption. We feel strongly that this learning should be shared, and publish original articles that illuminate the multi-dimensional experiences of these clients. Read our annual reports and "Open Page" newsletters below for stories, insights and continuing education.
OA&FS Annual Reports
"Open Page" Newsletter
Our "Open Page" newsletter is now a blog, however you can access back issues here:
- Spring 2014 (PDF). Articles include: Openness as an Attachment Enhancer, Talking with your Child about Their Adoption, Make Lasting Connections Through Groups, Teen Affinity Group, Agency News -- Birthmothers' Retreat, Out-of-State Placements UP, Origins Therapy.
- Summer 2013. Articles include: Celebrating Marriage Equality in Washington, Adoption Transparency Law, How to Talk About your Open Adoption, Agency News -- Marketing and More, Birthmothers' Celebrated at Retreat.
- Fall 2012 (PDF). Articles include: Hospitality in Action; Keep OA&FS in the Loop. This keepsake edition provides a unique picture of how truly hospitious open adoptions work in the real world.
- Spring 2012 (PDF). Articles include: Feeling at Home in Your Open Adoption; Gritter Event; Developing Resiliency: Seven Core Beliefs; Milestones and Changes by OA&FS Birth Mother and Birth Mother Mentor Bethany; Communicating to Resolve Issues also by Bethany.
- Winter 2011. Articles include: About My Open Adoption by Ariel (Open Adoptee); Why We Chose Open Adoption by Ariel's Family; Milestone Reached with DHS; OA&FS Sister Agencies; The Birth Mom to Birth Mom Connection by Liane (OA&FS Birth Mother).
- Summer 2011. Articles include: New OA&FS Web Site Launches, Creating Community by OA&FS Adoptive Mother Lisa Adriance, Becoming A Family by OA&FS Adoptive Father Scobie Puchtler, Resource for Seattle-Area Families by OA&FS Adoptive Mother and AFFGS Volunteer Toni Higgs, Bulgarian Adoption Professionals Visit OA&FS, Open Adoption: What Do You Want the World to Know? and more.
- Fall 2010, (PDF). OA&FS 25th Anniversary Issue, articles include: Raising Awareness About Open Adoption; Remembering Annette Baran; Meet Board Member April Vanderkamp (Open Adoptee); Pregnancy Options Dialogue in Portland; Birthmother Retreat 2010; Volunteer Spotlight: A Birth Mom Shares Her Wisdom; OA&FS Joins the Adoption Access Network.
- Winter 2010. Articles include: Opening Adoption: A National Trend; Do You Have Any Children? by Birth Mom and OA&FS Board Member Melissa Busch; Study Includes OA&FS Families; Culture, Race and Opennness; Birth Parent Grief and Openness; Support for Adoptive Parents.
- Summer 2009 (PDF). Transracial adoption issue, articles include: Preparing for Transracial Adoption; Pregnancy Options Dialogue, Interview with Claire (open adoptee adopted transracially); Lifegivers: An Annual Retreat for Birth Mothers; Words from Adoptive Parents Who Adopted Transracially; Resources for Transracial Adoption; A Transracially-Adopted Child’s Bill of Rights.
- Winter 2008 (PDF). Articles include: Dialogue with David (Open Adoptee and OA&FS Board Member); Rain or Shine Children’s Book Now Available; This I Believe by Ashleigh (Birth sister of Lela); Adoption Dialogue; Dan Savage; Making Room In Our Hearts book review by Kathleen Silber; OA&FS Teen Panel and Birth Mother’s Story DVDs Available.
- Spring 2008 (PDF). Articles include: Benefits of Birth Father Involvement; Birth Father’s Matter; Including Birth Fathers?; Juno movie review by Shari Levine (OA&FS Executive Director); 2008 Client Survey.
- Summer 2007 (PDF). Articles include: Out of Touch 2: Guidance from a Birth Parent on Maintaining Contact; Sharing the News: Why Adoptive Parents Might Slip Out of Touch by Carol Merwin (OA&FS Board Member and Adoptive Mother); Life Challenges Can Create Distance; Insights from Lifegivers Retreat
- Spring 2007 (PDF). Articles include: Openness Without Contact?; Out of Touch: Why Some Birth Parents Are Unable to Stay in Contact; Honoring Sibling Connections; Tool Kit for Creating a Culture of Openness In Your Adoption; Ask Astrid; Openness A to Z by Carol Merwin (OA&FS Board Member and Adoptive Parent).
Learn along the way, with these resources.
Adoption by LGBTQ+ Parents
Books and Publications:
- The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant: by Dan Savage
- The Son with Two Moms: by Tony Hynes
Organizations:
- Adoptive Family and Friends of Greater Seattle
- Families Like Ours
- GLAAD
- COLAGE: Children of Lesbians & Gays Everywhere
- Families Like Ours
- Family Pride Coalition
- Fathers Association of Seattle
- LGBT Parenting Research
- Love Makes A Family
- Human Rights Campaign
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform (PEAR)
- PFLAG
- Q Center
Podcasts:
- The Adoptee Next Door: Season 1, Episode 3 with Tony Hynes
The Adult Adoptee Perspective
Websites:
- Lavender Luz. Blog about adoption and mindful living.
Books and Publications:
- Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self by David Brodzinsky, Marshall D. Schechter and Robin Marantz Henig
- Journey of the Adopted Self: A Quest for Wholeness by Betty Jean Lifton
- May the Circle be Unbroken: An Intimate Journey into the Heart of Adoption by Lynn C. Franklin with Elizabeth Ferber
Attachment and Adoption
Books and Publications:
- A Child’s Journey Through Placement by Vera Fahlberg
- Adopting the Hurt Child: Hope for Families with Special Needs Kids by Gregory Keck, PhD, and Regina Kupecky, LSW
- Attaching Through Love, Hugs, Play: Simple Strategies to Help Build Connections with Your Child by Deborah D. Gray
- Attachment-Focused Parenting: Effective Strategies to Care for Children by Daniel A. Hughes
- Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents by Deborah D. Gray, MSW
- Attachment, Trauma, and Healing: Understanding and Treating Attachment Disorder in Children and Families by Terry Levy and Michael Orlans
- Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control: A Love-Based Approach to Helping Attachment Challenged Children with Severe Behaviors by Heather T. Forbes, LCSW and B. Bryan Post
- Building the Bonds of Attachment by Daniel A. Hughes and Jason Aronson
- The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family by Karyn B. Purvis, PhD, David R. Cross, PhD., and Wendy Lyons Sunshine
- Nurturing Adoptions: Creating Resilience after Neglect and Trauma by Deborah D. Gray, MSW
- A Secure Base by John Bowlby
- Toddler Adoption: The Weaver’s Craft by Mary Hopkins-Best
Classes:
- Adoption Learning Partners offers a variety of online courses related to adoption, attachment and parenting.
- Strengthening Attachment with Your Child. Adoption Mosaic class offered at various times throughout the year in Portland.
Organizations:
- The Children’s Program. A Portland-based team of experienced clinicians who provide diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services to children, adolescents, and families.
- Cooper House. A Seattle-based group of professionals who are trained to understand and treat social and emotional problems that arise in infancy and early childhood.
- Kinship House. Consultation, therapy and educational services for children who have been touched by foster care and adoption, located in Portland.
- The Center for Adoption Support and Education. They are based on the East Coast and offer webinars, downloadable handouts and book recommendations that are attachment friendly.
- The Attachment Center of Central Oregon. This program in Bend, Oregon offers outpatient therapy, training, consultation, and supervision.
Children’s Books
Books and Publications:
- ABC, Adoption and Me by Gayle H. Swift
- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
- Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi. A picture book that empowers parents and children to uproot racism in our society and in ourselves
- What Makes a Baby by Corey Silverberg
- Beginnings: How Families Come to Be by Virginia Kroll and Stacey Shuett
- Born From My Heart by Gabrielle LaFrank. Written by OA&FS adoptee. Learn more about Gabrielle here.
- Did My First Mother Love Me? A Story for An Adopted Child by Kathryn Ann Miller
- Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester
- The Mulberry Bird: An Adoption Story by Anne Braff, Ph.D. Brodzinsky and Angela Marchetti
- Rain or Shine by Hilary Horder Hippely and Margaret Godfrey
- Tell Me a Real Adoption Story by Betty Jean Lifton and Claire A. Niyola
- Tell Me Again About the Night I was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell
- Sam’s Sister by Juliet C. Bond and Dawn W. Majewski
- The Skin I’m In: A First Look at Racism by Pat Thomas
- Megan’s Birthday Tree: A Story About Open Adoption by Laurie Lears and Bill Farnsworth
- We're All Not the Same, But We're Still Family: An Adoption and Birth Family Story by Theresa Frazier
- What Makes a Family? By Gil Bar-Sela.
- When Joel Comes Home by Jim Fowler
- Oregon Public Broadcasting website lists several children’s books that encourage conversations about race and diversity with your children.
- Tapestry Books. Children in multiracial families often find themselves questioning their place in their family, school, and community. Their questions of self-identity can be explored through this literature.
Grief
Books and Publications:
Open Adoption
Websites:
- Adoptive Families. The resource and community for adoption parenting.
- Birthmom Buds. Support for birth moms and pregnant women considering adoption.
- Lavender Luz. Blog about open adoption parenting and mindful living.
- The National Association of Adoptees & Parents. Organization that focuses on education and empowerment with resources for the entire adoption constellation.
Books and Publications:
- Adoption Without Fear by James L. Gritter
- Adoptive Families articles about open adoption.
- Children of Open Adoption by Kathleen Silber and Patricia Martinez Dorner
- Dear Birthmother by Kathleen Silber and Phyllis Speedin
- Domestic Adoption: Myths & Reality by Eliza Newlin Carney for Adoptive Families Magazine
- Hospitious Adoption by James L. Gritter. Jim Gritter, the author of Hospitious Adoption, is known as a pioneer in the modern open adoption movement. At the time he wrote Hospitious Adoption, his ideas were considered revolutionary, helping to guide a significant cultural and legal shift in the world of adoption towards genuine openness. Jim comes from a deep faith background, which is reflected in aspects of his writings. Open Adoption & Family Services does not have any religious affiliations and uses Jim’s book to share some of the roots of hospitality which aligns with our open adoption philosophy. Open Adoption & Family Services welcomes people of all faiths and belief systems and we encourage you to read his words with an open mind, and with consideration to the historical context from which they come.
- The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant by Dan Savage
- Making Room in Our Hearts by Micky Duxbury
- The Open Adoption Book: A Guide to Adoption without Tears by Bruce Rappaport
- The Open Adoption Experience – From Making the Decision Through the Child’s Growing Years by Lois Ruskai Melina
- Out of the Shadows: Stories of Adoption and Reunion by Linda Back McKay
- Sacred Connections: Stories of Adoption by Mary Ann Koenig, photography by Niki Berg
- The Spirit of Open Adoption by James L. Gritter
Research:
- The Adoption Option by Center for American Progress
- The Birthparent Perspective by Adoptive Families Magazine
- Openness in Adoption: From Secrecy and Stigma to Knowledge and Connections by the Donaldson Adoption Institute
- Untangling the Web: The Internet’s Transformative Impact on Adoption by the Donaldson Adoption Institute
Origins Therapy
Websites:
- Donor Conception Network. A site that welcomes couples and individuals – heterosexual, lesbian, gay, single, married, divorced or cohabiting – who are facing issues about donor conception at any stage, and would like to hear the experiences of those of us who have been there before. (UK-based.)
- Donor Sibling Registry. A registry that offers an opportunity for donor conceived people (children and adults) to make connections with half siblings and donors by mutual consent of all parties.
- What is Assisted Reproductive Technology? U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formal definitions of ART.
Books and Publications:
- Building Your Family with Assisted Reproduction. by Elizabeth Larsen for Adoptive Families Magazine. A look at choices American families are making as infertility treatment technology advances.
- X, Y, and Me. this website carries a series of children’s books to assist parents in disclosing their conception by assisted reproduction and donor. They believe that every child has the right to know of his/her circumstances and their special story that occurred before they were born.
Parenting the Adopted Child
Websites:
- Adoptive Families magazine has numerous parenting resources.
- The Child Information Gateway provides a wealth of information on topics related to parenting after adoption, such as: what to expect at various developmental stages, how to talk about adoption, address adoption issues in school, helping children with grief and loss.
- Oregon Department of Education Early Intervention & Early Childhood Special Education Program information.
- WA State Dept. of Children, Youth & Families Early Intervention Services.
Books and Publications:
- Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents by Deborah D. Gray, MSW
- The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption by Lori Holden with Crystal Hass
- Positive Adoption Conversations. This guide is a compilation of articles and publications that provides a wealth of information related to adoption conversations. It provides examples, tips, considerations, conversation starters, information of the developmental stages of a child’s understanding of adoption, and recommendations for navigating sensitive topics, talking with friends and family, and much more!
- Raising Adopted Children, Revised Edition: Practical Reassuring Advice for Every Adoptive Parent by Lois Ruskai Melina
- Real Parents, Real Children: Parenting the Adopted Child by Holly van Gulden and Lisa M. Bartels-Rabb
- Secret Thoughts of an Adoptive Mother by Jana Wolff
- Talking With Young Children About Adoption by Mary Watkins and Susan Fisher
- Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Parents Knew by Sherrie Eldridge
- Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child: Making Sense of the Past by Jayne E. Schooler and Betsy E. Keefer
- Breastfeeding Your Adopted Baby article for adoptive mothers.
Classes:
- Discipline and the Adopted Child: Ain’t Misbehavin’ Adoption Learning Partners online course.
- The Neufeld Institute classes and information for making sense of kids — developmental science in practice.
- Northwest Adoptive Families Association baby and toddler care classes for adoptive parents, waiting families groups and social events.
Parenting and Discipline Strategies
Websites:
- Hand in Hand Parenting has classes, resources and support for parents of young children and professionals who work with them.
- Healthy Children created by the American Academy of Pediatrics, this website covers topics such as physical and emotional health, child development, car-seat safety, immunizations, general safety tips and injury prevention, literature recommendations, and links to other resources.
- Zero to Three promotes the health and development of infants and toddlers.
Classes:
Books and Publications:
- The Emotional Life of the Toddler by Alicia F. Lieberman, Ph.D
- Hold on To Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Mate, MD
- Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman, PhD
- Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn
Pregnancy Options
Websites:
- Abortion Care Network. Organization that has a list of reputable clinics and offers guidance with choosing a provider, acquiring financial support and more.”
Organizations:
- All-Options. Toll-free talk line provides unconditional and judgment-free support for the full spectrum of decisions, feelings and experiences with pregnancy, parenting, adoption and abortion.
- Birthmom Buds. Support for birthmoms and pregnant women considering adoption.
Books and Publications:
- Pregnancy Options Workbook. Accurate, non-biased information on pregnancy options.
- Pregnant? Adoption is an Option by Jeanne Warren Lindsay
- The Third Choice: A Woman’s Guide to Placing a Child for Adoption by Leslie Foge & Gail Mosconi
Prenatal Drug and Alcohol Exposure
Websites:
- March of Dimes. Fact sheets on the effects of prenatal exposure to tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroine, and prescription opiods.
- Mother to Baby. A service of the non-profit Organization of Teratology Information Specialists. They provide evidence-based information on prenatal drug exposure via fact sheets and access to experts.
Books and Publications:
- Adoption & Prenatal Alcohol and Drug Exposure: Research, Policy, and Practice by Richard P. Barth, Madelyn Freundlich, David Brodzinsky and Child Welfare League of America
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Fact Sheet by the Centers for Disease Control
- The Mystery of Risk: Drugs, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and the Vulnerable Child by Ira Chasnoff, MD This is an excellent book and a must-read for adoptive parents contemplating adopting a child with any kind of substance exposure. Dr. Chasnoff is one of the nation’s leading researchers in the field of prenatal exposure to alcohol and illicit drugs.
Classes:
- Adoption Learning Partners Webinar: FASD: Risk, Development, and Intervention. Dr. Ira Chasnoff explains the physical and developmental impact of pre-natal alcohol exposure on children as they grow.
Organizations:
- Babies First! Is a state-wide nurse home visiting program for families in Oregon with babies and children up to age five. Nurses provide parents with information on home safety, child development, healthy practices, relationship-building, and help with breastfeeding.
- CaCoon is a state-wide program and operates in most counties. It's for children with a disability or a chronic health condition.
- Center for Adoption Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center. Information and articles on prenatal drug/alcohol exposure, various medical issues, parenting and attachment tips.Doctors specializing in adoption medicine are available for phone consultation, as well as pre-adoption and post-adoption clinic appointments.
- Child Development and Rehabilitation Center. With locations in Portland and Eugene, the center provides comprehensive diagnosis, evaluation, and management of various conditions including developmental delay, speech and language disorders, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and orthopedic impairments. CDRC serves individuals birth to 21 years of age. A primary care physician referral is necessary.
- Early Childhood Cares. Developmental screening, early intervention and early childhood special education to children (birth to school age) who have developmental delays. Educational services may include home visits and parent consultation; education in community preschools; speech, physical or occupational therapy; behavior or autism consultation. All educational services are free to eligible children.
- Early Intervention. Useful links and directory of early intervention services for the state of Oregon.
- WA State Dept. of Children, Youth & Families . Guide to early intervention services offered in Washington.
- Pediatric Interim Care Center, (PICC) This center located in Kent, WA cares for drug exposed infants that are in the custody of the state. Founder Barb Drennen works closely with pediatricians at University of Washington in caring for these premature newborns. She's happy to talk to prospective adoptive parents considering adopting a drug exposed infant. Rather than cite research, Barb can share her knowledge that is based on her experience and what she has witnessed. Both Barb and the PICC website have information on how to care for an infant exposed to drugs, as well as what symptoms you can expect to see. She can give hands-on instruction or consult over the phone, 253-852-5253.
- University of Washington’s Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit. An information specialist can provide information on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, potential effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and parenting interventions for those raising a child affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
- Washington State Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network, (FAS DPN). This organization is a network of four Washington State community-based interdisciplinary FASD diagnostic clinics linked by the core clinical/research/training clinic at the Center on Human Development and Disability at the University of Washington in Seattle. Any parent who adopts a child with documented prenatal alcohol exposure is strongly encouraged to contact the clinic and explore and learn more about the diagnostic process and the importance of early intervention. We recommend reviewing this site prior to your adoption.
Reference
- Coalition of Oregon Adoption Agencies, (COAA). A state-wide coalition of adoption agencies that serve the state of Oregon, of which OA&FS is a member.
- Oregon DHS Policy. Rules, policies, tools and resources for the Oregon Department of Human Services.
- Sex Etc. Comprehensive sexual health and education information by teens for teens.
Special Needs and Mental Health Issues
(See also Prenatal Drug and Alcohol Exposure for other special needs resources.)
Websites:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Act Early. Facts about developmental screening, autism spectrum disorders, Asperger Syndrome, cerebral palsy, vision loss, intellectual disability, hearing loss, ADHD and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. An A to Z index with fact sheets on birth defects and developmental disabilities.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness, (NAMI). Find out more about specific mental illnesses with this comprehensive listing.
- National Institute on Mental Health, (NIMH). Child and adolescent mental health facts.
Reference:
- Coalition of Oregon Adoption Agencies, (COAA). A state-wide coalition of adoption agencies that serve the state of Oregon, of which OA&FS is a member.
- Oregon DHS Policy. Rules, policies, tools and resources for the Oregon Department of Human Services.
- Sex Etc. Comprehensive sexual health and education information by teens for teens.
Transracial Adoption, Race and Multi-Racial Issues
Online Courses:
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Adoption Learning Partners offers several compelling and informative online courses and webinars for adoptive parents considering transracial adoption, or for those who have adopted transracially. Some of these include: Adopted: The Identity Project, Raising Black Boys, Raising Black Girls, Color of Education, and Perspectives on Transracial Adoption, and Conspicuous Families.
Websites:
- MAVIN is a national non-profit organization that builds healthier communities by providing educational resources about Mixed Heritage experiences.
- The Adopted Life
- EmbraceRace.org is a website dedicated to raising race-conscious kids.
Portland:
- Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) is a grassroots organization that helps empower Asian and Pacific Islanders through a variety of programs that focus on community organization, cultural work, political advocacy, and leadership development.
- El Centro Milagro (Miracle Theatre) provides Latino theatre, culture, and arts education for the enrichment of all communities.
- Hacienda Community Development Corporation is a Latino Community Development Corporation that strengthens families by providing affordable housing, homeownership support, economic advancement and educational opportunities.
- Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) offers a wide array of programs and services to foster understanding, compassion and communication between Oregon's established communities and newest arrivals.
- IRCO Africa House provides culturally specific services to African refugees and families that emphasize family unity, strength, and community cohesiveness.
- IRCO Asian Family Center provides culturally specific services for Asian and Pacific Islander communities that focus on early childhood development, parent education and support, youth services, and health education programs.
- KairosPDX is a non-profit organization that focuses on delivering excellent, equitable education to underserved children, their families and their communities.
- Latino Network is a Latino-led education organization, grounded in culturally specific practices and services that lifts up youth and families to reach their full potential.
- MAVIN Foundation is a national non-profit organization that builds healthier communities by providing educational resources about Mixed Heritage experiences.
- Native Youth and Family Center (NAYA Family Center) provides culturally specific programs and services that guide Native youth and families in the direction of personal success and balance through cultural empowerment.
- Portland African American Leadership Forum (PAALF) is a movement of African American leaders and officials that are committed to the revitalization and sustainability of a vibrant African American community.
- Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI) offers resident services that give families culturally specific skills and support necessary to achieve self-sufficiency, begin the process of wealth creation and, in many cases, become–and remain–successful homeowners.
- Self-Enhancement Inc. (SEI) is a non-profit organization that helps youth and families, especially African Americans and others living in poverty, to realize their full potential through learning opportunities in the areas of academics, health and wellness, and performing arts.
- Unite Oregon represents the merger of two organizations – Center for Intercultural Organizing (CIO) and Oregon Action (OA) – to address racial and economic disparities and strive to improve quality of life by offering programs within the community that focus on civic engagement, policy advocacy, leadership development, and community organization.
- Urban League of Portland (ULPDX) offers a variety of programs that help empower African Americans and others within the community through advocacy, services to seniors, family health and wellness, youth and workforce development.
Seattle:
- Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington (AAAW) is a non-profit organization that provides mentoring, fellowship and educational opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islander adoptees and their community.
- El Centro de la Raza provides a unique blend of bilingual and multicultural services and programs that focus on children and youth, education and asset building, community building and development, and environmental justice.
- Families of Color Seattle (FOCS) is a non-profit organization that strives to build a strong community by supporting families of color through parenting programs, resource-sharing and fostering meaningful connections.
- Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington is an organization that is committed to sharing Japanese and Japanese American culture and heritage by creating, funding, and supporting multicultural and inter-generational education that celebrate diversity, art, culture, and language.
- Seattle University: Office of Diversity and Inclusion consistently holds cultural events for students and community members to attend.
- United Indians of All Tribes provides educational, cultural and social services that reconnect indigenous people in the Puget Sound region to their heritage by strengthening their sense of belonging and significance as Native people.
- Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle is a non-profit organization that empowers African Americans and underserved communities to thrive by securing educational and economic opportunities.
Eugene:
- The Chinese American Benevolent Association (CABA) is a non-profit organization that promotes education, arts, and cultural programs related to Chinese, Chinese Americans, and Asian Americans.
- Communities of Color and Allies Network (CCAN) creates a safe space that fosters friendships and networks for people of color, social justice allies, and equity workers. Meetings are held on the first Friday of every month.
- Asian American Council of Oregon is a non-profit organization that presents events and activities that stimulate a better understanding of Asian and Asian-American cultures.
- Honoring Our New Ethnic Youth (H.O.N.E.Y.) is a non-profit organization that provides support and advocacy for the enhancement and acceptance of multiracial persons and their families.
- University of Oregon: The Division of Equity and Inclusion partners with many others on campus to host culturally specific events throughout the year.
- University of Oregon Multicultural Center (MCC) brings together students, faculty, and the community at large to promote personal growth, cultural pluralism, community education, positive social change, and an end to human oppression.
Books and Publications:
- Adoptive Families Magazine has an abundane of resources relevant to multiracial families, from books, to websites, to articles.
- Adoptive Families Magazine articles on celebrating heritage and culture.
- Black Baby White Hands: A View from the Crib by Jaiya John
- Does Anyone Else Look Like Me?: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Multiracial Children by Donna Jackson Nakazawa
- Hate Hurts: How Children Learn and Unlearn Prejudice by the Anti-Defamation League, Caryl Stern-LaRosa, and Ellen Hoffheimer Bettmann
- In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rita J. Simon and Rhonda M. Roorda
- Inside Transracial Adoption by Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall
- Loving Across the Color Line: A White Adoptive Mother Learns about Race by Sharon E. Rush
- Of Many Colors: Portraits of Multiracial Families by Gigi Kaeser and Peggy Gillespie
- Tapestry Books. Children in multiracial families often find themselves questioning their place in their family, school, and community. Their questions of self-identity can be explored through this literature.
- Tapestry Books lists books pertaining to transracial adoption, multicultural parenting and celebrating diversity.
- What Are You? Voices of Mixed-Race Young People by Pearl Fuyo Gaskings
- Why Are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatu
Statement regarding Oregon SB 710.
In accordance with Oregon Senate Bill 710, a quarterly report regarding the use of restraints and involuntary seclusions of children in care are available to the public. Open Adoption & Family Services does not utilize any form of restraints or involuntary seclusion. View our quarterly report.