How Miss Texas is Using Her Platform to Spread Adoption Awareness

When Shelby Jenkins was only months old, her birth mother left her at a caretaker’s house — and never returned.

Luckily, after more than a year in the foster care system, Jenkins found herself adopted by two loving parents. Despite her rocky start in life, Jenkins became a skilled dancer, graduated from high school and college and even cinched a Miss Texas US International title. Today, she’s teamed up with Adoption Share and Adoption is Beautiful as an adoption ambassador, sharing her story across the country and spreading awareness about the realities of adoption.

Dec

2016

2016 Annual Holiday Photo Contest

Each year, the American Adoptions family grows bigger as more and more families are created through the miracle of adoption. Over the years, our agency has had the sincere pleasure of assisting thousands of families along their adoption journey. We love to celebrate the season by sharing the beautiful faces of adoption through our Annual American Adoptions Holiday Photo Contest!

Dec

2016

5 Lessons ‘This is Us’ Teaches Us About Adoption

“This is Us,” an NBC show about a blended family told in different timelines, is arguably this fall season’s breakout hit. Focusing on three siblings — two twins and their adopted brother — coping with different crises at the age of 36, it’s quickly become a favorite for its honest portrayal of race, class, gender and body size.

One of the biggest storylines revolves around Randall, who was adopted by his parents from the hospital in the 1980s after his adoptive parents lost one of their triplets during childbirth. As an African-American in a white, middle-class family, he struggles to find his identity after he reconnects with his long-lost birth father.

The show is a great resource for adoptive parents, birth parents and adoptees alike, educating viewers about adoption and the struggles all parties experience during their lifelong adoption journey. Although Randall was adopted in the 1980s in a closed adoption (rare today), many of his and his parents’ challenges will resonate with those affected by adoption.

Dec

2016

What Does an Adoption Specialist Do?

Choosing adoption is a big decision. It doesn’t matter if you are looking to be the adoptive family, or if you are the birth family. Both parties have a lot to consider when they choose adoption. The support of loved ones is extremely important and necessary. Also important is the support of an adoption specialist.

An adoption specialist’s role is vast. They are educators, counselors, and advocates for both birth families and adoptive families.

Nov

2016

Famous Adoptees – Infographic

To wrap up National Adoption Month, we want to leave you with an infographic that shows adoptees can be anything, do anything and go anywhere in life. We hope you’ve enjoyed our content throughout the month, and more importantly, that you’ve learned something about adoption.

Nov

2016

Other Types of Adoption

When people hear about adoption, their first thought is that of a family adopting a newborn. Or maybe they think of a family flying across the world to bring home a toddler in need of a loving home. What people may not realize is that there are other types of adoption too, such as step-parent adoption, grandparent adoption and adult adoption.

Nov

2016

18 Ways to Fundraise for Your Adoption

Admittedly, the cost of adoption is fairly high and it can be difficult for some adoptive families to pay for their adoption without going into debt. While tax credits, adoption grants and employee benefit programs can help alleviate some of the costs they don’t always cover everything.

In these cases, adoptive families often turn to fundraising to help pay for the cost of adoption. With the help of Julie Gumm’s Adopt Without Debt, we have complied a list of 18 adoption fundraiser ideas that can help pay for your adoption.

Nov

2016

Birth Mother Myths vs Realities – Infographics

As you know, November is National Adoption Month, and to honor this special holiday, we will be posting a new, helpful infographic every Wednesday this week. We hope these graphics will help you understand more about the adoption process and adoption in general.

Nov

2016

A Birth Parent Specialist’s Role in the Adoption Process

When a woman decides to place her baby for adoption, it’s a huge step — but it’s just the first of many. She will encounter countless important decisions along the way. It can be a daunting process, but a few special American Adoptions staff members are dedicated to helping her decide what’s right for herself and her child.

Nov

2016

All About Foster-to-Adopt: What is it and How Does it Work?

On average, there are around 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system, waiting for their permanent home. They vary in age from infant to adult, although the average age is around 8 years old. Some have siblings in the system as well. Most of these children are perfectly healthy kids who just need a loving and supportive adult in their life. When parents are looking to adopt a child, an option available to them is fostering to adopt.

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