How to Embrace Your Child’s Biological Heritage

Transracial adoption is when an adoptive family adopts a child who is of another race or ethnic background. This type of adoption is more commonplace than it’s been in decades’ past. Helping a child adjust to life in an entirely new country takes time and work. But just as important as it is to make them feel welcome, it is equally as important to help them learn about where they came from.

Adoptive families should make a strong effort to educate themselves on their child’s heritage. There is so much they can learn – traditions, holidays, customs, language. When they share this knowledge with their child, they help him or her create a strong sense of self. Here are some ways to help your child foster a love for their heritage:

Dec

2016

Waiting through the Holidays: Advice for Hopeful Families

With so many holidays on the way, it’s officially time to get into the holiday spirit! But if you are waiting for an adoption opportunity, it can be harder to enjoy the festivities.

To all of our waiting families out there, here are just a few things to keep in mind this holiday season:

Dec

2016

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.

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