Call us to get started on your open adoption journey.


A bridge representing the journey through the open adoption process

We’re happy to discuss our program with you. OA&FS has offices in Oregon and Washington and can provide our services to prospective adoptive parents throughout the US. Call or email us and get started on your journey to become an adoptive parent.

Call for info and answers to your specific questions:
1-800-772-1115.


Our Client Services Manager is here to help you Monday thru Friday, 9 am-5 pm PST. She can also sign you up for our free Adoption Information Meeting or Pre-Adoption Seminar. To get free info anytime email lori@openadopt.org.

Attend our free information meetings to learn more.


Our free information meetings are held twice a month via Zoom, rotating between afternoon and evening start times. If you’re unable to attend at the scheduled time, we’re happy to set up a conference call to answer your questions. Email  lori@openadopt.org if you would like to sign up!

Complete this form to get free info and a fee schedule.


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Client Services Specialist

Become adoption-ready: sign up for our seminar!

Learn how our comprehensive adoptive parent workshop will guide you in exploring the emotional, procedural and legal issues involved in planning an open adoption.

Pre-Adoption Seminar Dates and Details

Feeling at home in your open adoption.


"The relationships we have formed with the counselors have been invaluable both times we have adopted. OA&FS helped us forge through this delicate, unknown territory of adoption, providing great guidance and focus." - OA&FS Adoptive Parent

"Adoption planning was well organized. It took all the complicated steps and made it easy. The counselor was available for questions every step of the way." - OA&FS Adoptive Parent

"The overall adoption experience was FANTASTIC! The programs and services are great, and the team is wonderful." - OA&FS Adoptive Parent

OA&FS Values

We are pro-choice, welcome diversity, and offer fully open adoptions with lifelong services.


Several happy adoptive families, adoptees, and birth parents

Open Adoption & Family Services is a non-profit, agency providing services nationwide from headquarters in the Pacific Northwest. In our program, pregnant people are treated with dignity and respect as they explore all of their pregnancy options: parenting, abortion and adoption. They are empowered with extensive information so they can make the decision that feels best to them. Regardless of their choice, they receive our compassion and support.

When expectant parents choose to plan an adoption, our fully open adoptions include ongoing visits and lifelong services.  At OA&FS, our goal is for all of our clients – birth parents, adoptive parents and open adoptees – to feel at home in their open adoptions. Feeling at home is the reassuring sense of being completely welcomed, accepted and comfortable.

In his book “Hospitious Adoption”, Jim Gritter – a prominent open adoption advocate – uses the concept of hospitality as a framework to describe the components of a satisfying and meaningful open adoption experience.  The giving and receiving among adoptive parents, birth parents and ultimately the open adoptee, is implicit in the model of hospitality, and is at the core of our high-quality open adoptions.

Open adoption is about connecting families, not replacing them because they are both invaluable to the child. For the child, “home” is a state of mind that makes room for all of the people she counts on and loves. The hospitious home welcomes and celebrates every aspect of the adopted child.

When hospitality works, people feel at home. When adoption works, children feel at home.  Jim Gritter
Adoptive parents Margi and Scott with adoptees Teal and Owen

Adoptee Dylan with adoptive parent Rut and birth parent Kiri.

Adoptees Tess and Max

Adoptees Tess and Max.

Adoptive mom Annie with daughter Claire

Adoptive mom Annie with daughter Claire.

“To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul.” Simone Weil

Adoption is a word that can connote many feelings … a sense of family, love, and fulfillment, and also grief, fear, questioning, and secrecy.

Where we come from is often a central component of our sense of identity, helping explain who we are and to whom we are connected. When we don’t know where we come from, or we wonder about an unknown past, this can lead to feelings of uncertainty about our place in our families and in the larger world, especially when we don’t have a way to seek out this information. Open adoption as a process empowers birth parents, children and adoptive parents to know each other’s stories, to ask of each other the big questions, and to foster lifelong connections that lead to a sense of security and belonging. Particularly in the process embraced by Open Adoption & Family Services, each parent, expectant and adoptive, has had an honest and authentic opportunity to reflect on their choice to parent or not, and to be supported through this process with dignity, resources and ultimately respect for their chosen role in a child’s life.

In contemplating the value of open adoption, one is often most struck by the positive intentionality of loving relationships that this process strives to create. Family is not a word with a singular definition; it is both where we come from and where we choose to be in human relationships. In the case of open adoption, each extended family creates, and then recreate throughout their lives, a sense of love, commitment, and respect for each other and most of all for the child (or children) who have brought them together. In an ideal world, this would be true of all families, no matter their origins. With open adoption, an opportunity is created to be mindful, inclusive and respectful in one of the most central human relationships we have.

For birth parents open adoption facilitates an ongoing connection to a person they have created and nurtured into this world.

In choosing to place a baby in an adoption, birth parents are acknowledging their choice to not parent at this time in their lives, and open adoption allows for a path to knowing who this child will become, and also to be known to this child in an ongoing way. This means the growth of, rather than the severing of a relationship. Birth parents can continue to love their child, and can hopefully move past the grief by letting go of what might have been, to embrace a broader experience of acceptance into a new extended family that they have helped to create. Birth parents can respond to their child’s questions with reassurance and honesty, helping them feel secure in a family that loves them completely. They can feel strength in knowing they have played and will continue to play an integral role in taking care of their child’s needs in the best ways they can.

For adoptive parents open adoption allows for a sense of connection to where their child comes from and helps them provide honest answers to their child’s questions as they arise.

Having a structured relationship with birth parents can also support a sense of security in adoptive parents, of their primary role in parenting their child while collaborating in nurturing them as they grow up. During more challenging times in parenting, adoptive parents have the ability to respond from a shared understanding of how their child came to be adopted, because it has been a transparent process. Adoptive parents can experience security themselves in bearing witness to the relationship their child has with their birth parents, rather than fearing betrayal or anger about an unknown parent or a secret past. They contribute to meeting their child’s deepest emotional needs in this way. They can play an integral role in supporting their child in having honored, mutually meaningful relationships with their birth families as they grow and learn to experience trust, love and commitment within the context of family.

For the child, open adoption reinforces a true sense of being supported by many loving adults, including their adoptive and birth parents, and ideally by even larger extended families on all sides.

This supports healthy attachments to their adoptive parents, with a shared understanding of each person’s role in the child’s life. As questions arise about where they came from and what it means to be adopted, they have the ability to ask these questions directly, and with support when needed, to hear honest responses. While this may not always be a smooth path, children learn to feel respected and worthy of trust when their past is not a secret, and when they are honored with transparency and truth from their family. When children have meaningful connections with birth parents that are supported and genuinely respected by adoptive parents, they can feel safe in creating and nurturing their own sense of understanding about who they are. Ultimately, this contributes to their overall sense of self-worth, security and belonging.

Beyond the individuals involved in each open adoption experience, the philosophy itself supports values integral to healthy communities.

This includes empowering people to make informed and respected decisions about whether and when to parent, with access to the support they need to know that they are making the best decision for themselves and for their child. It also includes fostering genuine relationships that are based on mutual respect, transparency, and honesty, especially in times of intense vulnerability. Modeling this for children supports strong communication skills and emotional intelligence, both of which contribute to healthy interactions and relationships throughout their lives. Open adoption supports a broad and evolving definition of the word family, and always includes the right of children to feel loved, completely welcomed, and accepted by their families, whoever they may include, which makes its value immeasurable.

What is open adoption?

Learn about our high-integrity process.


We plan child-centered open adoptions in which birth parents and adoptive families create healthy long-term relationships addressing the ongoing needs of the child. We are deeply committed to completing adoptions in which the child’s need for information is not only met, but exceeded.

In an open adoption, birth parents select adoptive parents with whom they want to place their child. The adoptive parents and birth parents choose the level of contact and openness they prefer. They create a legally enforceable adoption agreement that outlines ongoing contact and communication.

Ongoing contact provides birth parents reassurance that their child is thriving in the adoptive home. This helps them feel at peace with their decision. Knowing that the birth parents fully support the adoption, the adoptive parents feel secure in welcoming the birth parents into their lives.

Open adoption relationships are built on a foundation of mutual respect. In an open adoption, adoptive parents and birth parents value one another’s unique role in the child’s life. By witnessing this relationship, the child feels an unconditional acceptance of his full identity. The child has direct access to information about his history and answers to his questions. This allows for healthy development of the child’s identity and self-esteem.

Steps to Adopt
A new happy family, brought together by the OA&FS adoption process

Adoptive parent Allie shares her story.


For a detailed, first-person perspective of the OA&FS adoption program, give a listen to this podcast featuring OA&FS adoptive parent Allie. 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.

Listen to “Infertility, Adoption and a New Perspective”, an Art of Joy Podcast.
Adoptive parent Allie shares her story.
“I was thrilled to be able to share our story on the podcast- it’s a journey I cannot imagine having gone through anywhere other than OA&FS.”Adoptive Parent Allie

15 reasons to choose OA&FS.


Several happy families who chose Open Adoption and Family Services

  • BECAUSE

    we give absolute equality to every pregnancy option: parenting, abortion and adoption. Our complete focus is on personal choice.

  • BECAUSE

    we provide a safe place for pregnant individuals and couples to make their choice.

  • BECAUSE

    we do not practice coercion.

  • BECAUSE

    we have an empowerment model grounded in dignity and respect.

  • BECAUSE

    of our high quality services, if a person thoughtfully explores all of their options and decides they want to plan an adoption, they will be best served through our agency.

  • BECAUSE

    we facilitate high-integrity fully open adoptions in which the birth and adoptive parents form genuine relationships, much like extended family.

  • BECAUSE

    we welcome all belief systems and are not religiously affiliated.

  • BECAUSE

    we embrace diversity and welcome LGBTQ clients.

  • BECAUSE

    our information is transparent and accessible. There are not separate messages (or hidden agendas) for expectant parents and adoptive parents.

  • BECAUSE

    of our thorough counseling and relationship building, our adoption disruption rates of 4-7% are far below the 20% national average.

  • BECAUSE

    we provide lifelong services for birth and adoptive families.

  • BECAUSE

    our counselors are highly qualified, experienced and compassionate. They’re a dedicated crew whose roster brims with Masters degrees in social work, counseling and marriage and family therapy. Many of them are also licensed clinical social workers.

  • BECAUSE

    we cultivate a vibrant open adoption community and host events such as an annual birth mothers’ retreat, summer picnics, holiday parties and speaking engagements from nationally-known open adoption experts.

  • BECAUSE

    we value the input of birth parents, adoptive parents and adoptees so much, we include them on our Board of Directors.

  • BECAUSE

    expectant parents trust us to support them in this complex decision-making process. And prospective adoptive parents choose us to be their partner in this journey.


Learn more.


Steps to become an adoptive parent.


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Free Program
Info Email


Get introduced to the OA&FS open adoption philosophy and program with our free information email. Request yours via our online form, or give us a call at 1-800-772-1115.


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Adoption Info
Meeting


If you’d like to learn more about our philosophy and hear an overview of the agency’s process, please contact OA&FS to attend an optional, no-cost Adoption Information Meeting: 1-800-772-1115 or info@openadopt.org.


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Pre-Adoption
Seminar


To complete an adoption through OA&FS, the first step is to attend our required Pre-Adoption Seminar. Insights you gain in the seminar will be invaluable as you plan your adoption. See Pre-Adoption Seminar dates and details. To register, contact Client Services Manager Lori Maas at 1-800-772-115, lori@openadopt.org.

This 12-hour workshop guides prospective adoptive parents in an exploration of the emotional, procedural and legal issues involved in planning an open adoption. In the seminar, OA&FS staff members discuss the dynamics of an open adoption and each step towards completing an adoption through our agency. A guest panel of birth parents and adoptive parents share their adoption stories and answer questions. An adoption attorney discusses legal issues. This seminar satisfies Oregon’s requirement for pre-adoption training.

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Application &
Intake Meeting


After you complete the necessary application forms, the agency will schedule an intake meeting in which you’ll meet your OA&FS counselor. The interview provides you the opportunity to ask further questions as your counselor learns more about your unique circumstances and adoption vision.


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Homestudy &
Family Prep


As part of your Family Profile, your OA&FS counselor will write a homestudy report based on information gathered during interviews in your home and at the OA&FS office near you. Our unique and descriptively written homestudy reports are read by pregnant people when selecting an adoptive family. Your OA&FS counselor will also help you create a Family Introduction Letter, autobiographies and a photo collage to include in your family profile.


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Waiting Family
Pool Entry


When your Family Profile is complete, you enter into our pool of waiting families. Each year, hundreds of expectant parents contact OA&FS to request free options counseling. Those that choose adoption select an adoptive family after reviewing family profiles. Adoptive parents wait an average of 16 to 18 months once they enter the pool.

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Adoption
Planning


When a pregnant individual or couple selects you, OA&FS schedules an introductory meeting. After meeting, both parties decide whether to proceed into adoption planning. During adoption planning, you will receive support and guidance as you begin building your open adoption relationship. Your counselor will also ensure the procedural and logistical details of the adoption plan are in place, and assist you in creating an open adoption agreement outlining future communication and contact.


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Placement &
Entrustment


During the hospital stay, OA&FS provides guidance and support to all parties. We facilitate the placement and entrustment ceremony, and complete birth parent consents. After placement, you and your child’s birth parents will have access to support through lifelong services from OA&FS.


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Adoption
Finalization


State laws require an attorney to finalize all adoptions completed in Oregon and Washington. We can provide with a list of reputable adoption attorneys for this purpose.

For a current information packet and fee schedule, please contact us at 1-800-772-1115, info@openadopt.org.



What to expect long-term.


At OA&FS, you will always be welcome to access our ongoing services. These include adoption-related counseling and open adoption relationship guidance. From our summer picnics to our holiday parties, OA&FS hosts a variety of events where you can connect with other adoptive and birth families. There’s also public speaking opportunities. Adoptive parents are invited to help educate others about open adoption by sharing their stories at a variety of venues.

Tenets of our program.

Our core mission is to provide choices, transparency and respect to expectant and adoptive parents.


Comforting hand-holding between a pregnant woman and her pregnancy options counselor

All-Options
Pregnancy Counseling


  • We provide free counseling to pregnant individuals and couples.
  • Our counselors empower expectant parents to explore all of their options: parenting, abortion and adoption.
  • Our all-options pregnancy counseling is free and confidential. Our counselors provide services in a supportive and non-biased atmosphere.
  • Every pregnancy option is supported. We provide community resources and referrals for expectant parents choosing parenting or abortion.
  • Our highly-trained counselors are available seven days a week and are able to respond to urgent situations.
An adoptee and both her adoptive parents and her biological parents

Open
Adoption


We facilitate adoptions in which:

  • Expectant parents receive all-options pregnancy counseling.
  • Those that choose adoption receive ongoing counseling as they create their own open adoption vision.
  • Birth parents may receive financial assistance for pregnancy-related expenses. All services are free of charge to birth  parents.
  • Birth parents choose the adoptive parents from our large pool of waiting families who have a diversity of identities and lifestyles.
  • Services are available to both birth parents and extended birth family members.
  • All OA&FS prospective adoptive parents share a strong commitment to openness in adoption and desire to create a genuine and lifelong relationship with birth parents.
  • We are a licensed adoption agency in Oregon and Washington with over 35 years of experience planning successful open adoptions. Our families are extremely well-prepared.
  • We pre-screen our waiting families according to state regulations before they enter our pool. Our prospective adoptive parents prepare for their open adoption by completing our seminar about building a lifelong open adoption relationship with birth parents. Our seminar meets the pre-adoption education requirements set by the state of Oregon.
  • We provide pre-adoption counseling and support to prospective adoptive parents to prepare them for this new relationship.
  • The level of openness is chosen.
  • Birth parents and adoptive parents create a legally enforceable open adoption agreement outlining ongoing visits and the exchange of letters and pictures.
  • On average, the open adoption agreements developed by OA&FS birth and adoptive families agree to 2-4 visits per year.
    With the support and guidance of an OA&FS counselor, birth parents and adoptive parents build a foundation for a healthy lifelong relationship.
  • After placement, birth parents and adoptive parents have ongoing access to support, consultation and guidance from OA&FS.
  • Birth parents and adoptive parents have access to lifelong adoption-related services.
  • Birth parents and adoptive parents have access to the OA&FS peer mentorship network, where they may give and receive support and guidance with other OA&FS birth parents and adoptive parents.
  • Birth parents and adoptive parents and are cherished members of our open adoption community and are invited to birth parent support groups, the annual OA&FS Birth Mothers’ Retreat, and a variety of agency gatherings and events.

Answers to questions

frequently asked by adoptive parents.

Several adoptive parents who had questions about pursuing adoption

Our adoptive parent Bill of Rights.

We believe that you’re entitled to…


Receive ethical, high-integrity, transparent services.
Be treated with dignity, respect and understanding.
Benefit from our experience and expertise.
Receive education and support as you learn about open adoption.
Explore and process your fears in a compassionate environment.
Receive counseling and guidance throughout the process.
Have the opportunity to enter our diverse pool of families.
Have access to all available information.
Agree to the adoption situation that feels right for you.
Receive guidance as you develop a relationship with the birth family.
Receive a legally enforceable contract for ongoing visits.
Have the birth parents entrust their child to you in a ceremony.
Feel at home in your open adoption: feel welcomed, honored and valued.
Have access to ongoing guidance from the agency.
Be welcomed into a vibrant open adoption community.

Step inside the lives of pregnant individuals and couples that come to our agency.


Meet Marissa, Chloe and Josh and Kendra. Their composite stories were created by OA&FS counselors,  combining details from actual experiences. They show how events within people’s lives inform the decisions they make when facing an unplanned pregnancy. 

Expectant Parent Stories
unplanned-pregnancy-woman-illustration


LGBTQ+ families enrich our community.


Open Adoption & Family Services has welcomed LGBTQ+ prospective adoptive parents into our infant adoption program since we opened our doors in 1985. In 2008, OA&FS was recognized by the Pride Foundation for strengthening and serving the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community. Additionally, OA&FS was a significant contributor to All Children – All Families, an initiative launched by the Human Rights Campaign to develop Promising Practices in Adoption and Foster Care, a Comprehensive Guide to Policies and Practices that Welcome, Affirm and Support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Foster and Adoptive Parents. We were also included in the Transition to Adoptive Parenthood Project, a longitudinal study focused on the transition to adoptive parenthood among same sex couples and heterosexual couples. Abbie E. Goldberg and Katerine R. Allen have subsequently written a book based on this study, “Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children“. This book additionally surveys many relevant studies on the topic of gay and lesbian parenting.

Approximately 25% of the adoptive placements at OA&FS are with LGBTQ+ families. Typically, our pool of prospective adoptive parents is comprised of 25-30% LGBTQ+ families.

Dan Savage, syndicated columnist, author, and regular contributor to NPR’s This American Life, is an OA&FS adoptive father and active advocate of our agency. To get a firsthand account of adopting through OA&FS as a LGBTQ+ family, check out his book “The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant.” This book chronicles Dan and his husband Terry’s experience adopting through our agency.

Additional information and resources.



Important questions to ask

when comparing adoption services.


Here’s what you’ll want to find out when contacting other adoption professionals.

Learn about open adoption with this infographic.



An infographic explaining the benefits and unique features of OA&FS adoption services

The open adoption relationships that are built with our unique program benefit everyone  — adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents. Here’s how.

View Full Infographic

What our clients say about Open Adoption & Family Services.


OA&FS parents are generous in offering insights about their adoption journey. Here’s a sampling.

“My husband and I adopted both of our children through Open Adoption & Family Services (OA&FS), and worked with the agency for a period of four years.  We chose OA&FS after researching several different agencies and attorneys.  Through the inevitable highs and lows of our adoption process, there was one constant: the agency staff’s dedication to helping us through all of it.  From the first information session we attended through our second child’s adoption finalization, we observed OA&FS staff going above and beyond their job descriptions in their work.

Our first adoption involved a long wait and contact with several counselors in different offices.  With each interaction we were struck by how well the counselors were able to advocate for both the expectant parents and the adoptive families, a difficult balance to strike.  We especially appreciated the agency’s dedication to working with expectant parents regardless of whether or not they ended up planning an adoption.  On the adoptive parent side, we always felt very supported by the agency in the decisions we made, and connected to the adoption community even during our wait.

Adoption is often a tumultuous process, full of difficult choices and hard-to-navigate processes.  I needed a lot of support to get through it all.  I got that support many times over through OA&FS, where even the administrative staff went the extra mile to take care of us.  It was a privilege to work with OA&FS, and I recommend them highly to anyone considering domestic adoption.” – Janet

“Both of my kids were adopted through open adoption and family services. Both from Portland from OHSU. Both birth mothers name Robin, and had the same nurse. One born in the evening one in the morning around six. And born three years 10 months apart. Both raised and living in Portland. One grandchild to date. Thank you for being there for us.” – Brenda

“We came to OAFS after a failed adoption with another agency. OAFS was amazing, we could not have been in better hands. In the beginning we had some struggles adjusting to our open adoption, but I feel now we are a true open adoption success story. We have a beautiful, loving, brilliant daughter that we are so proud of her and marvel in amazement every day that we have the privilege to be her parents. We love and respect our birth mother and are one big family. I would not change the difficult road we had to go down to get to OAFS and our daughter, this is what was meant for us and she was meant for our family.” – Marni

“Our family was built with Open Adoption and Family Services. We have two beautiful daughters (aged 27 and 25), and now our family has grown to include a son-in-law and a glorious grandson. I guess we were pioneers in this ‘new adoption craze’, but I have to admit, it has worked out beautifully for us, and after all these years, we still maintain a level of contact with both our daughters’ birth families. We are a lucky, but very normal family.” – Jodi

“I don’t think that Sean or I when starting this journey ever thought that it would just fall into place so wonderfully and right with no doubts or second guessing, and here it is, exactly like that.  We feel truly honored and blessed to have been placed with this birth family.” – Karen & Sean

“We would recommend OA&FS without hesitation. To the extent it is actually possible, they have perfected the adoption process through their years of experience, attention to every detail, and well-trained and highly competent staff. You have to trust the process, be patient, and put your whole heart into it – and the result is amazing.” – Jeff & Jason

“Welcoming our daughter and her birth parents into our family has been one of the most enriching experiences of our lives. Sarah’s birth parents chose us for who we are. Because of that, we have a lot of similarities. They feel like friends to us. Our daughter will grow up understanding her open adoption as a natural part of her life. If she has a question, we can say, “Let’s ask your birth mom”. There are no secrets, no unanswered questions.” – Minne

“During the waiting period, do the things that you’ve been meaning to do or have wanted to do. Finish projects; take an art class; go on dates with your partner. It will help distract you from the anxiety of waiting, and you’ll be happier as a result. And trust me, you’ll no longer have the time to do these things once your child is placed with you!” – Kerri and David

“Flexibility is so important. While we may not have jumped into the situation initially, had we known all the details of the birth family, we are so glad we took that leap of faith and now have our beautiful daughter. Once we met the birth parents and our daughter we realized all the stats were less important and that allowed us to open ourselves up to forming relationships and building trust. – Jaime & Paul

(Our counselor) did a wonderful job of validating everyone’s experience and helping us to share these with one another. She also did a great job of advocating for our birth mom and helping her to voice her desires and concerns to us. She also worked hard to get the birthfather involved.” – Amy & Sarah

“Waiting family groups were great! They helped opening up conversations with people were at the same point in their journey.” – Stephen & Bob

“I am so grateful to have an open adoption, where the story of his life is woven into the fabric of our conversations. From bath time silliness to bed time stories, to crawling, then walking, running, climbing, laughing, and crying. He knows her. He knows him. He knows they made him, she gave birth to him, and they chose US to raise him. To help him travel this road of life, with love and honesty and integrity, we talk. And at 13, he knows this as his story. Not some scary made up fantasy or a story suddenly sprung on him, not some hidden secret, not some shameful fact of his life. But woven into the fabric of his developing sense of self. We honor him, our son, as we honor her journey, and his journey, the birth parents who knew they wanted more or different for their baby boy.” – Jennifer 

“We appreciate the openness and welcoming of OA&FS to same-sex couples such as us.  It is refreshing to deal with an agency that shares our values, and represents a microcosm of the world we want to create, where all people are respected and valued for who they are.” – Ed

“We still can’t believe how much we have learned from building our family this way. It honored all our values, most importantly it truly is child-centered, and at all times the staff made this feel like the sacred experience that it is.” – Elizabeth and Ryan

“Begin the journey. Enjoy the process. Look for support. Involve yourself in classes and seminars. Expect the unexpected. Value your faith. Everything is as it should be!” – Dave and LeeAnn

“So far, we have found the adoption experience to be wonderful. Not only are we enjoying being new parents, but we feel so fortunate to have our birthmother and her family as our extended family. Our love for our child reflects the love our birthmother has for our child as well.” – Suzie and Stasa

“Openness in adoption is much more than knowing a birth family. It also requires opening yourself to opportunities and situations that might seem overwhelming at first. The payoff is spectacular.” – Susan and Mark

“It’s meant so much to have Andrew (birth father) involved. He was involved in choosing us, so we felt an immediate connection to him. We were so lucky he wanted to stay involved in our lives.” – Jan

“The wait can be long and frustrating, but the end result is worth it! The agency’s child-centered philosophy is great. Our experience, while stressful, was well worth the wait — we now have a beautiful daughter in our lives.” – John and Don

“We really enjoyed our mediations.  Katie was great at keeping the conversation flowing and knew exactly when to interject or guide the direction of the conversation.  She really helped us all feel at ease during this process.  It couldn’t have gone any better!  The paperwork and interviews seem to take up a lot of time, but the end result is so worth it! Try to get to know the birth parents as best you can – it will make the whole experience much more worthwhile and easier. When you get in the pool go ahead and start figuring out nursery decorating themes and accepting hand me downs, it can help to plan ahead in case you get a last minute placement or a fast match!” – Sandy and Joe

“Things happen for a reason. Trust your instincts, and the right baby and birth family will come along.” – Melanie and Ed

“Growing up gay came with many secrets … so we knew we didn’t want to put that burden on our child. We wanted our adoption to be honest, and have all choices made out of love and openness … no secrets! Open adoption is the only way for us. We felt an immediate connection with our birth mom. Now six, Jolie knows her birth mom, Megan, can call to talk to her whenever she wants. Jolie can ask any question and knows we will answer honestly. We celebrate and cherish our open adoption every day of our lives!! It brought all of us a love that we never knew we could experience!” – Joe

“We really try to listen to our gut — or heart — to know which direction to turn. Sometimes it’s appropriate to say “no” for whatever reason. Listening to your heart helps with the difficult decisions of entering into an open adoption relationship.” – Jill and Steve

“Garrett (birth father) has a strong sense of responsibility to his relationship with Fin (our son). Garrett is very clear about wanting Fin to know how much he cares about him (and our whole family). Even when Garrett was out of the country for two years, he sent Fin numerous postcards and gifts. Fin will always have those to look through and again see how much his birth father was thinking about him. It’s so valuable to the child to really have the knowledge that his birth parents love him. The best way for a child to experience this is through a relationship with the birth parent. It’s a pretty amazing gift to a child if his birth father can stick it out and stick around in his child’s life, even when it’s scary.” – Joell

Several families who have positive feedback regarding Open Adoption and Family Services

Open adoption facts and fears.

A family exploring the adoption forms available on the OA&FS website

Adoption forms in one handy place.


Thank you for enrolling with OA&FS. We’re honored that you have chosen our agency to facilitate your open adoption. Below are links to pages that include all of the materials and forms you’ll need as you go through our process. Note: These pages are password protected. Please refer to the password emailed to you for access. If you have any questions contact our Client Services Manager, Lori Maas, at 503-226-4870, lori@openadopt.org. We wish you an enjoyable, educational, and inspiring experience!