One of the most common questions we are asked by families waiting to adopt is “What can we do to increase our odds of matching?” The initial stages of the adoption process give prospective adoptive families a lot to keep busy with. Between selecting an agency, gathering documentation, completing the home study, and developing profile… Continue reading Self-Marketing in Adoption

Every year, the second Sunday of May is dedicated to mothers. At ACFB, we celebrate all mothers on this day, from birth mothers to adoptive mothers to mother-figures. For some birth parents, Mother’s Day can be very difficult. They may be reminded of the pain of having a child that they are not parenting. While… Continue reading What is Birth Mother’s Day?

In Illinois, April has been declared Safe Haven Awareness Month with the goal of informing residents of the Safe Haven option for their newborn child. The Safe Haven law, also known as the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act, enacted in 2001 in Illinois, is designed to provide struggling parents with a safe, legal alternative to… Continue reading Safe Haven Awareness Month

Adoption is a courageous and responsible choice. That said, it can be one of the most difficult decisions a parent ever makes. Expectant parents have so much love for their child, but often are struggling with an emotional or financial crisis that may impact their ability to provide for their child. Expectant parents understand their… Continue reading 6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering Placing Your Child for Adoption

So, you’ve decided to grow your family through adoption! You’ve taken time to consider all of your options and you feel strongly that adoption is the right path for you. The next step is deciding who you will work with. This can be much easier said than done. There are many different routes for private… Continue reading How to Select an Adoption Agency as Adoptive Parents

Congratulations! You’ve completed the home study process and are officially approved to be an adoptive family. Now comes the next daunting task of creating your adoption profile. While building a profile is exciting, it can also feel overwhelming because it’s the first thing an expectant parent will see when they are looking for a family… Continue reading 5 Things to Know When Making Your Adoption Profile

Last month on the ACFB blog, we discussed the importance of acknowledging race and ethnicity in adoption. If you missed it, check out the post here. We shared how it is crucial for parents in transracial adoptions to create an inclusive, supportive environment for their child to grow up in. This goes far beyond simply having books and toys that represent the child’s background. Parents must be willing to put in the work to educate themselves and the people around them about what it is like for child to grow up in a family that does not look like them.

Every January we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, honoring the achievements Dr. King made as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King’s legacy inspires us to continue working towards diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. His important work has impacted so many areas, including adoption.

Most people have a general understanding of what adoption is. Even if they don’t personally know anyone who was adopted or has adopted a child themselves, are likely familiar with the idea that adoption means a child was “given up” by their biological parent and is raised by their adoptive parent. With this general understanding of adoption comes common terms that people typically use when talking about it. We’ve already mentioned one, “giving up” a child, but there are many other sayings that are regularly used, like “real mom/real dad”, “put up for adoption”, or “gave away for adoption”.

Chloe came into the world on a cold day in October 2011. She was lovingly placed for adoption with Kelly, who had been selected by Chloe’s birth mother a few weeks earlier. Kelly and the birth mother chatted over the phone a few times as Chloe’s birth mother was making her adoption plan.