Telling Your Adoptive Parents About Your Birth Family Search — And Other Hard Conversations Every Adoptee Deserves Support For
There are conversations in an adoptee’s life that carry extraordinary weight. Not because they are impossible, but because they matter so deeply — to your sense of self, to your relationships, and to the life you are building on your own terms. Whether you are thinking about searching for your birth family, already in reunion, […]
Women Supporting Women: Community in Conversation in Kingston
This past year, Spence-Chapin has hosted roundtable discussions in various regions across New York to spotlight organizations that support women and families. Each discussion has been different, as they reflect the unique needs of the women in each community, and the expertise of the thought leaders at each table. In honor of Women’s History Month, […]
FREE BIRTHING CLASSES AND RESOURCES IN NEW YORK
Giving birth for the first time can be scary. What can you expect? How will birth go? How will the baby be delivered? You may not know what to expect. But there’s no need for fear. Armed with knowledge, you can go into your childbirth armed with confidence. Here is a list of free resources on childbirth education. Contact us […]
6 MYTHS ABOUT OPEN ADOPTION
For expectant and birth parents, the term “open adoption” may sound intimidating or confusing. What does an open adoption look like? How does it work? Is it really in the best interest of the child? To make open adoption more understood, we’ve compiled this list of Myths and Facts to help guide you through your […]
LETTER FROM A BIRTH MOTHER
by Latoya Sinclair July 24th is my son’s birthday. He turned 7 this year and it pains me because I know he is no longer just a baby, but a big boy who is growing into his own personality. What hurts me is that I am not able to hear his voice; I haven’t heard […]
SHARE YOUR STORY: BIRTH PARENT PERSPECTIVES
Listen to Aline, Latoya, Mariah, Melissa, and Scott share their stories about making a plan for their child with the support of Spence-Chapin.Spence-Chapin provides free, confidential, and unbiased options counseling for pregnant women & biological parents. Aline’s Story: Birth Parent Perspectives – Watch Aline talk about the comfort she received from her Interim Care Provider. Latoya’s Story: […]
REFLECTING ON BIRTH PARENTS AND PLACING A CHILD IN ADOPTION
As a social worker in the International Department at Spence-Chapin, I’ve been enlightened by so many aspects of adoption: the way hearts of adoptive parents can break, heal, stretch, and grow; the tenacious resiliency of children; and the conflicted governments who don’t always recognize the fate they hold in their hands. But, I had not, […]
RECENT ARTICLES BY AND ABOUT BIRTH MOTHERS
Amy Silverman, Spence-Chapin’s Assistant Director of Birth Parent Services, recommends recent articles by and about birth mothers in Newsweek and The New York Times. “I am all too aware of the stigma and misunderstanding experienced by our birth parent clients. The general public continues to have outdated notions of adoption. Few people realize that ethical […]
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. Spence-Chapin’s Domestic Special Needs Adoption Program (formerly called ASAP – A Special Adoption Program) […]
A DAY IN THE LIFE: INTERIM CARE PROVIDER
From the moment she gets a call from Spence-Chapin about a newborn coming into care, Carmela Grabowski goes into mommy mode. “I put fresh linens on the bassinet, clean the car seat, make formula, sterilize the pacifiers, change out all the diapers from size 2 to 1, and sort the clothes depending on the season […]
