The Spirit Of SUpport

Support is the thread that connects every aspect of our work. In many places we serve—where healthcare or social services may be limited, where children lack the resources they need, where families are not always treated the same—it is this transformative support that defines our mission and drives our vision forward. As we expand our reach across the country and around the world, your generosity helps us continue to uphold the Spence-Chapin way—providing the support every child, parent, and adoptee needs.

532 Children Cared For Through The Granny Program Last Year

123 Community Programming Participants Last Year

550+ Children Placed Through Special Needs Adoption Program

325 Days of Interim Care Provided To Newborns Last Year

First Placement in Arizona

Last June, just a few months after opening our new office in Phoenix, Arizona, Spence-Chapin received a referral call about a couple who was in need of guidance. They had been approached by someone from their church about caring for her baby grandchild whose mother was currently incarcerated. The grandmother had been caring for the newborn, along with another grandchild, and was overwhelmed by the responsibility. The couple had been looking into adoption as a way to grow their family but had no idea how to navigate this new situation.

Spence-Chapin immediately went to work, with a social worker scheduling a visit for their home study, and a birth parent social worker connecting with the corrections department to arrange contact with the birth parent, who was serving a long sentence.

We received permission to email the birth mother, who responded immediately that she would like to be in contact and receive more information on her options. She and her social worker began to communicate through email and phone and finally were able to schedule a visit. The birth mother voiced from the beginning that she was interested in an option that would provide a loving, stable environment for her son, something she was not able to provide, but was especially important to her because of the trauma she experienced herself in the foster care system, and she hoped for a better future for her son.

The social worker counseled the birth mother on her options, and together they explored open adoption, birth parent-led adoption process, and her rights as a birth parent. When the birth mother was ready, we/SC arranged for a phone call between her and the prospective adoptive family, which led to several phone calls, and finally an in-person visit. The birth mother shared that she feels a strong connection with the family and is confident they will provide the right home for her child, and “the life he deserves.”

Through the guidance of her own attorney that Spence-Chapin connected her with free of charge, the birth mother crafted an open adoption agreement she was comfortable with, providing for continued contact with her son and the adoptive family.

The child is thriving in his home. The birth mother continues to receive updates on his progress, and both families have stayed in touch with Spence-Chapin, who is able to provide them with ongoing support, as they navigate their open adoption and life journey.

El bebé Nolan y su hermano mayor

A finales de 2024, al bebé Nolan* le diagnosticaron un trastorno genético poco común que provoca una amplia gama de problemas de salud graves y crónicos que afectan al corazón, los nervios, los oídos y los ojos, y que requieren cuidados continuos de por vida. Sus padres biológicos estaban muy preocupados porque las necesidades del bebé superaban su capacidad para atenderlas y contactaron con Spence-Chapin en busca de apoyo.

Durante las semanas siguientes, trabajaron con su asistente social para sopesar detenidamente sus opciones, y finalmente decidieron que Nolan necesitaba una familia que pudiera darle todo lo que necesitaba, en un hogar estable donde pudiera permanecer, y que la adopción le brindaba esa oportunidad.

En cuanto Spence-Chapin empezó a buscar familias adoptivas para Nolan, el equipo recibió una llamada de Holly, quien había adoptado a su hijo a través del Programa de Adopción para Niños con Necesidades Especiales hacía varios años y buscaba ampliar su familia. Inmediatamente se sintió conmovida por la historia de Nolan tras leer la descripción en la página de Niños en Espera y esperaba que ella y su familia encajaran bien. La familia biológica de Nolan se reunió con ella y consideró que Holly y su familia le brindarían un hogar maravilloso a su hijo.

En marzo, Nolan finalmente se recuperó lo suficiente como para ser dado de alta y regresar al hogar de su nueva familia, quienes ya habían preparado la casa con todo lo necesario para él. Su nuevo hermano estaba especialmente feliz de que él y Nolan compartieran una herencia cultural similar y se mostró entusiasmado ante la perspectiva de compartir algún día con Nolan todo lo que ha aprendido sobre su cultura de origen a través de las clases para jóvenes y la comunidad con la que su madre adoptiva lo ha conectado.

Hoy en día, Nolan se encuentra bien en su nuevo hogar y, según se informa, ha aprendido a sonreír, especialmente en los momentos en que su radiante hermano mayor está a su lado.

*Los nombres de los niños se han cambiado para proteger su privacidad.

Ella & Myriam

When six-year-old Ella* arrived at the children’s home in Bogota, Colombia, she was shy and was adjusting to her new surroundings. She had difficulty sharing with the other children and often struggled to express how she felt, instead crying and hiding under tables when she didn’t get her way. That is, until she was connected with Myriam, a Granny through the Granny Program.

It took some time for Ella to warm up to Myriam. But Myriam put into practice the child development training she had received from the program, and through patience, consistency, and love, her and Ella’s special bond began to form. Now, Ella and Myriam look forward to their time together every day. They read stories, dance together, and play pretend. Because of her Granny’s steady love and encouragement, Ella has learned to express herself in ways she never could before. She now says what she likes and doesn’t like and has learned how to share with other children.

One of the most memorable moments for the two of them was the day that Ella celebrated her birthday for the first time in her life. Myriam took care of every detail, even procuring a beautiful dress so Ella could feel like a princess. She made sure that Ella felt special and cherished on her special day, just as every child should.

“Ella has changed so much since we met,” Myriam recently shared. “She is intelligent, affectionate, and a little leader. But more than that, she has given me a gift. The sparkle in her eyes and her smile when she greets me brightens my afternoons…I’m so grateful for these moments we share every day.”

*Los nombres de los niños se han cambiado para proteger su privacidad.