How Do We Know If We’re Ready to Adopt…
Adoption brings a mix of excitement, hope, and plenty of questions. Many families feel a deep pull toward it but wonder, Are…
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What to Expect When Choosing Transracial Adoption
Adopting a child of a different race comes with both joys and challenges. It means embracing their culture, understanding their experiences, and…
Common Questions in an Adoption Home Study Interview
Starting the adoption home study can feel overwhelming at first. You’re opening up your home and heart to be evaluated, and that…
Finding Comfort in Support Groups for Adoption
Some days, adoption feels like the best decision you’ve ever made and other days, it leaves you searching for answers. Support groups…
Adoption through Safe Haven vs Traditional Adoption
Every birth parent facing an unexpected pregnancy deserves real options, clear information, and compassion. For some, placing a baby for adoption feels…
Can a Single Father Adopt?
For those thinking about single-parent adoption in Illinois, understanding the steps and requirements is essential. Knowing your rights and what’s expected can…
Step-by-Step Guide to Pursuing Open Adoption in Illinois
In Illinois, as well as other U.S. states, open adoption is the norm. Many families have found it a wonderful way to…
How Does the Adoption Tax Credit Work
For many families hoping to adopt, figuring out how to handle the expenses can feel overwhelming. Naturally, this raises an important question:…
How to Adopt in Indiana: Simplifying the Process
Adoption can be a life-changing event, whether you’re a birth parent or someone looking to grow their family. For those considering adoption…
Essential Facts on Adoption Every Prospective Parent Should Know
For families looking to adopt, figuring out how can feel daunting. With so many different ways to adopt, it can be difficult…
Is Adoption Permanent? Addressing Common Concerns
Adoption is a life-changing experience for both adoptive families and birth parents. Naturally, though, questions arise—especially around something as significant as the…
Adoption Home Study: Preparing for the Home Visit
An adoption home study is a comprehensive assessment conducted by a licensed social worker or agency representative. This process includes evaluating the…
Adoption Center in Illinois: How to Make the Right…
You’ve been dreaming of growing your family, and now you’re ready to look at adoption options. Picking the right adoption agency in…
What are the 4 Types of Adoption and Which…
Adoption is a beautiful way to grow a family and offer a loving home to children in need. Yet, choosing the right…
Are Adoption Expenses Tax Deductible for Domestic Adoptions?
When thinking about adopting, one of the biggest concerns for many is the cost. A common question that comes up is Are…
Handling Adoption Paperwork Efficiently – Step-by-Step Guide
Dealing with adoption paperwork can feel like a challenge. You might find the process intimidating, with forms to complete, papers to collect,…
Factors That Determine How Long the Adoption Process Takes
The path to adoption can be both rewarding and unpredictable. With various factors influencing the timeline, each adoption is unique, much like…
Is Adoption Worth It Compared to Fertility Treatments?
Choosing between adoption and fertility treatments is a significant decision that many prospective parents face. Both processes can be filled with emotional…
Legal Adoption Age Limit and Adoption Agencies: What to…
For families considering adoption, every detail matters. Understanding the legal adoption age limit and knowing what to expect from adoption agencies can…
A Step-by-Step Guide for Birth Mothers on How Adoption…
Considering adoption is a deeply personal and emotional decision. For many birth mothers, the choice to place a child for adoption can…
Do You Have to Be Married to Adopt?
You’ve dreamed of being a parent, imagined what it would be like to have a child, and explored options for growing your…
Adoption Planning: Financial Tips You Need to Know
Did You Know? The average cost of adoption ranges from $20,000 to $70,000, depending on various factors. While the emotional rewards of…
Types of Adoption in the U.S. – What Is…
Have you ever wondered how many different paths there are to adoption in the U.S.? With more than 400,000 children in foster…
Maintaining Birth Family Connections in Open Adoption
Imagine a scenario where a child grows up knowing both their adoptive parents and their birth family. Maybe you are wondering if…
Pros and Cons of Domestic vs. International Adoption
For those contemplating the path to building a family through adoption, there are numerous factors to consider. One of the primary decisions…
Honoring Your Child’s Background: Tips for Adoptive Parents
Understanding and respecting a child’s background is one of the most significant responsibilities that adoptive parents undertake. It goes beyond simply providing…
How to Create an Adoption Profile That Stands Out
Creating an adoption profile that stands out is a critical step in the adoption process. It can significantly increase your chances of…
Common Myths and Misconceptions About Adoption
Did you know that about 95,000 children are adopted by American families each year? Despite this significant number, many myths and misconceptions…
20 Strategies for Overcoming Adoption Challenges
Adoption can be one of life’s most fulfilling experiences, yet it is not without its challenges. Both adoptive families and birth parents…
What to Know About Adopting for the Second Time
The adoption process can be complex and filled with many twists and turns. Adoptive families learn a lot along the way. For…
Adoptive Parenting Techniques Every New Parent Should Know
Planning to adopt and wondering how to prepare? Adoptive parenting is unique, and filled with its own joys and challenges. As new…
Tips for Strengthening Your Marriage While Adopting a Child
Adoption may not always be easy, but it can be incredibly rewarding, especially for married couples. In fact, many couples who decide…
Key Documents Needed for the Adoption Process
It’s true that the adoption process involves extensive paperwork, but each document is essential for ensuring the child’s safety and stability. Understanding…
Finding Your Adoption Match Through an Agency
Adopting a child is one of the most rewarding decisions a family can make. The process of adoption creates bonds that last…
5 Essential Tips for Dealing with Adoption Wait Times
The tick of the clock can often feel louder as you find yourself in the waiting phase of the adoption process. Each…
Navigating Loved Ones’ Reactions to Your Adoption Decision
Deciding to adopt is a big step that brings a mix of emotions, from anticipation to apprehension. It’s a time full of…
How Much Does It Cost to Adopt Internationally vs.…
What if every child had a loving, permanent home? Adoption bridges this gap. Many families dream of adopting to make this a…
Supporting Adopted Children – Tips for New Parents
Each year, the beautiful process of adoption brings together thousands of families, either forming new ones or expanding existing ones. This decision,…
Glossary of Adoption Terms – Guide for New Parents
For parents thinking about adoption, the many terms used can seem unfamiliar and a bit confusing. This article is like a helpful…
The Adoptee Experience in Transracial Adoption
Over the last few decades, transracial adoption has become a larger focus of adoption education as our perception and understanding of race…
Considering Single Parent Adoption? 9 Things You Should Know
In recent years, there’s been a notable increase in single-parent adoption. In fact, more than a quarter of children adopted from foster…
Adoption Agency Vs Independent Adoption – What’s Best for…
Deciding to adopt a child is a process filled with love, hope, and sometimes a bit of uncertainty. For many prospective parents,…
Why Do We Practice Open Adoption?
Although adoption has existed for centuries, practices have changed significantly overtime. Legislation has been introduced to regulate adoption, ensure the safety of…
A Guide to Preparing an Adoption Plan as Expectant…
As expectant parents making an adoption plan, it can often feel like you’re putting together a complicated puzzle with lots of different…
Why is Post Adoption Support Important?
Post adoption needs are vast and varied, just like adoptions! As we know, there is a wide spectrum of what adoption can…
Birth Mother Series: Gina’s Story
Over the years, we have worked with hundreds of birth mothers. Each have their own story and experiences that led to them…
Preparing for the Birth as a Prospective Adoptive Parent
You’ve made it through the waiting period, matched with an expectant parent, and the moment you’ve been waiting for is now here.…
Birth Mother Series: Susie’s Story
Over the years, we have worked with hundreds of birth mothers. Each have their own story and experiences that led to them…
Preparing for the Delivery as a Birth Parent
For someone considering placing their child for adoption, preparing for the birth can feel overwhelming. Not only are you physically going through…
Birth Mother Series: Angel’s Story
Over the years, we have worked with hundreds of birth mothers. Each have their own story and experiences that led to them…
What to Expect at a Match Meeting
Match meetings are very big step in the adoption process. For expectant parents, you’ve likely looked at many family profiles to find…
We Are Family – Maintaining Connections After Placement
In September, ACFB hosted our very first adoption celebration for families who have adopted through us in the last ten years. Our…
Why Do We Fundraise?
Each November we celebrate Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity focused on giving back to our communities in need. This year…
What is Relative Adoption?
Relative adoption, also known as kinship adoption, is an option for family members to obtain legal custody and parental rights of a…
Unplanned Pregnancy and Considering Adoption? Here’s How to Choose…
Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be overwhelming and scary. Maybe you feel that adoption is the best plan for you and your…
9 Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering Adopting Transracially
When parents decide to grow their family through adoption, they are asked about what characteristics they are open to. This often includes…
Self-Marketing in Adoption
One of the most common questions we are asked by families waiting to adopt is “What can we do to increase our…
What is Birth Mother’s Day?
Every year, the second Sunday of May is dedicated to mothers. At ACFB, we celebrate all mothers on this day, from birth…
Safe Haven Awareness Month
In Illinois, April has been declared Safe Haven Awareness Month with the goal of informing residents of the Safe Haven option for…
6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering Placing Your…
Adoption is a courageous and responsible choice. That said, it can be one of the most difficult decisions a parent ever makes.…
How to Select an Adoption Agency as Adoptive Parents
So, you’ve decided to grow your family through adoption! You’ve taken time to consider all of your options and you feel strongly…
5 Things to Know When Making Your Adoption Profile
Congratulations! You’ve completed the home study process and are officially approved to be an adoptive family. Now comes the next daunting task…
Resources for Transracial Adoption
Last month on the ACFB blog, we discussed the importance of acknowledging race and ethnicity in adoption. If you missed it, check…
Trans-racial and Trans-Cultural Adoption
Every January we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, honoring the achievements Dr. King made as a leader of the Civil…
Positive Adoption Language
Most people have a general understanding of what adoption is. Even if they don’t personally know anyone who was adopted or has…
Navigating Closed Adoption: Chloe’s Story
Chloe came into the world on a cold day in October 2011. She was lovingly placed for adoption with Kelly, who had…
National Adoption Month – An Adoptee’s Story of Searching…
As we have previously shared on the blog, November is National Adoption Month. A time to spread awareness about the impact of…
National Adoption Month – A Birth Mother’s Story
For those who may not know, November is National Adoption Month. A month where we raise awareness about what adoption can truly…
Introducing the ACFB Board of Directors
Adoption is part of many people’s stories in different ways. From adoptees to birth families, to adoptive families and more, adoption touches…
Supporting Expectant Parent’s Choices
“If it is to be, it is up to me.” – William H. Johnsten Considering an adoption plan for your child is…
The Journey to Tucker
Waiting to adopt can be a long and emotional process. At times it may feel isolating for families who do not know…
Featuring This is the Quarry: Mining Hope in My…
The journey to build a family though adoption is filled with ups and downs. As families go through the home study process,…
Sibling Connections in Open Adoption
Over the last several decades, open adoption has become the norm in the United States. The benefits are clear for everyone involved…
Birth Fathers in Adoption
Every adoption story involves an expectant mother making a plan to place her child. Much of the literature, education, and overall culture…
Thinking About Adoption? Call an Expert
Many hundreds of women contact the Adoption Center for Family Building each year by completing an online information request form
Adoption Counseling for Expectant Mothers in Indiana
For women with an unplanned pregnancy, there are only a few options to choose from: termination, parenting and adoption.
How To Choose the Best Adoption Agency in Indiana…
Choosing an adoption agency can be a harrowing experience, but a very important one. Adoption scams are not common, but people who…
Unplanned Pregnancy? Top 10 Questions Expectant Mothers Ask
Although every expectant mother has her own concerns and questions, this article addresses the most common issues that are raised with an…
What is Adoption Counseling?
The purpose of this blog is to help expectant mothers and prospective adoptive parents as well as professional understand exactly what adoption…
Hoping to Adopt an Infant? Five Easy Steps to…
Pursuing adoption is a major life altering decision. Most people who consider adoption have first tried other means of starting their family.
Considering Adoption? Find the Best Adoptive Parents
If you have decided to move forward with an adoption plan, you may have a good idea about the kind of family…
Unplanned Pregnancy? Considering Open Adoption?
If you are considering placing your baby for adoption, make sure that you know all of your options. You will also want…
3 Things that Surprised Me about Open Adoption
By Maura Vivona, Mother through adoption I remember the first time my adoption counselor explained open adoption to me, I was skeptical…
Considering Placing Your Baby for Adoption? Choose the “perfect”…
If you have decided to move forward with an adoption plan, you may have a good idea about the kind of family…
Unplanned Pregnancy? Is Adoption Right for you?
Placing your baby for adoption can be a difficult decision, but it’s an important one that will impact you and your child’s…
