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The Woman Who Experienced Both Sides of Open Adoption

Ereshnee grew up as an Indian woman in South Africa. After becoming pregnant at 17 years old, she decided to make an adoption plan. Her mother knew about her pregnancy but very few other relatives were aware. Her father was not told about the pregnancy. Ereshnee bonded closely with her social worker from the adoption […]

Resources to combat Anti-Asian Violence in America

There were 3,800 anti-Asian racist incidents, mostly against women, in the past year according to NBC News. Crimes targeting Asian Americans have risen dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic. Many Asian adoptees with parents of a different race have noted a harsh awakening to the realities of their racial identities.  Our team of social workers has compiled […]

LGBTQ FAMILIES WAITING TO ADOPT A CHILD DURING A PANDEMIC. HOW TO STAY SANE!

COVID-19 has turned the whole world upside down and has been with us longer than anyone expected. How has it affected your adoption plans? Chances are it did not help them. If anything, it might have extended the wait and placement times. What can you do while waiting? 1. Support GroupsFind a support group. Social […]

National Teen Mentoring Program FAQs

Who are the “Mentees”?  Adoptees between the ages of 13 and 18 who were born domestically or internationally.  Who are the “Mentors”?  Our diverse group of mentors are volunteers who are also are adoptees! Mentors are over the age of 21 and have been screened and trained by our licensed social work staff. They sign on […]

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.   Ancient Song […]

Do you need a Doula?

Labor is a challenging, arduous, stressful experience. Having a labor expert to serve as your companion can relieve the stress. In other words, a doula.  What is a doula, and what do they do?  Doula is a Greek word meaning “a woman who serves”. Doulas provide emotional and physical support for pregnant women before, during, and after labor. While doulas […]

A Conversation Between Adoptees

Interview with Maryjane Stahr of Ombre Originals LLC, by Jessica M. Luciere Maryjane Stahr – Owner and founder of Ombre Originals LLC, “As a T.R.A. (transracial adoptee). I grew up without the ability to love my hair. It was hard to handle. The number one issue was not being able to find the right product […]

Matthew: A Special Needs Adoption Program Story

Baby Matthew arrived at the end of June, a beautiful little boy with gorgeous brown eyes. Both his biological and adoptive families were by his side when doctors confirmed the diagnosis they had suspected in utero—Alagille Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that impacts the liver and heart and often requires a myriad of interventions and […]

Angela: A Special Needs Adoption Program Story

Angela, a beautiful, sweet baby girl, had a rough start. She was born in December of 2016 and immediately transferred to neonatal intensive care with acute respiratory distress and intrauterine growth restriction.  At the NICU, Angela was stabilized and diagnosed with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome with Chromosome 4p deletion. Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome is an extremely rare genetic condition […]

Michoel: A Special Needs Adoption Program Story

Michoel was born in 2014 with and was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Pfeifer Syndrome resulting in craniofacial abnormalities, a fused skull, and fingers. He would require many surgeries throughout his life as well as many interventions and therapies. Michoel’s birth parents knew that his needs would be more than they would be […]