Real Stories from Birth Parents
Hear directly from birth mothers, birth fathers, and adoptive families about their adoption journeys. The emotions, the decisions, and the support that made all the difference. Every story is different, but no one has to go through it alone. Reach out to us and we will help you explore your options.
Free, confidential, and available 24/7
Blog Posts
Noelle’s Adoption Journey — Part One: Where it All Started
Noelle’s story is a powerful reminder of the profound impact of support and understanding in the adoption journey. She reached out to share her experience, hoping it brings comfort to anyone navigating the complexities of adoption. When asked what she would want someone in her shoes to know, she said, “I would want them to know there is relief ahead. As alone as I felt, after I started working with Spence-Chapin, I felt I had a resource, and I didn’t feel any pressure after that.
Noelle’s Adoption Journey — Part Two: Finding the Perfect Family
Deciding to place my child for adoption was hard enough, but finding a family seemed even harder. Deep down I dreamed of a world where I could raise him, but I knew those ideal circumstances weren’t possible. My mission was to find the family that would raise him as I would if I could. This was the biggest decision of my life, and I knew I had to be 100% sure of who I chose.
Journey of Strength and Hope: A Birth and Adoptive Mom’s Story
Domestic Special Needs Adoption at Spence-Chapin: Who Chooses the Adoptive Family?
Families often have questions about what the matching process is like in our Domestic Special Needs Adoption Program. Similar to Spence-Chapin’s Domestic Infant Adoption Program, the matching process in our Domestic Special Needs Program is driven by birth family whenever possible.
Building Families, Nurturing Communities: The Important Role of Social Workers in Adoption
Monica Baker, a social worker with Spence-Chapin for more than ten years, understands well the delicate balance of emotions involved in her work. She spends her days enabling connections between infants and the families who can provide forever homes for them.
Podcasts
Listen to our podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Opening Up About Open Adoption
Birth mother Sarah, adoptive mom Laurie, and adoptee Ela, have been in an open adoption since Ela’s birth. Together, they talk with Spence-Chapin Director of Domestic Adoption Programs and Outreach, Monica Baker, about their experiences with open adoption and what it has meant in each of their lives.
Birth Fathers & Open Adoption
Birth father David and adoptive mom Sarah talk about their experiences in an open adoption, and we hear from Spence-Chapin Director of Domestic Adoptions, Monica Baker, and Associate Director of Birth Parent Services, Mary McCabe, about the importance of open adoption and the role that birth fathers can play in the adoption planning process.
The Unfiltered Truth from Birth Parents (Part 1)
This episode begins the conversation with birth parents Linda and Jack as they speak with Spence-Chapin Director of Domestic Adoption Programs and Outreach, Monica Baker, about their decisions to make an adoption plan, their experience with open adoption, and how they have been working through the challenges and emotions they’ve faced along the way.
The Unfiltered Truth from Birth Parents (Part 2)
This episode is a continuation of the conversation with birth parents Linda and Jack, moderated by Spence-Chapin Director of Domestic Adoption Programs & Outreach, Monica Baker. In this episode, we are also joined by Annie, a birth mother who placed her child for adoption a little over a decade ago. We pick up the conversation with Monica asking Annie what she wants people to know about open adoption.
