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The Adoption Foundation

Making a Child's Life Better Through Adoption

Adoption is more than a single moment. It is a lifelong journey that shapes children, birth parents, and the families who open their hearts and homes. The Adoption Foundation was created to ensure that the journey is supported at every stage.

The Adoption Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the charitable wing of American Adoptions of California and Family Connections Christian Adoptions, both affiliates of American Adoptions. In helping create more than 13,000 families since 1981, we bring decades of direct experience to the foundation's mission

Why the Foundation Exists

Adoption can change a child's life forever. But for too many children, it never happens.

Not because there aren't families willing to love them. Because too many women never fully understand what adoption could mean for their child, for themselves, and for a waiting family.

Today, more than 329,000 children are living in foster care. The gap between children who need homes and families who want them is not a shortage of willing families. It is a shortage of awareness, understanding, and trust.

The Adoption Foundation exists to close that gap.

How the Foundation Works

While American Adoptions of California and Family Connections guide birth parents and adoptive families through the adoption process, the Foundation focuses on the broader work of expanding adoption awareness, supporting children waiting for families, and strengthening the adoption community.

Together, they share one mission: making a child's life better through adoption.

What the Foundation Supports

Expanding Adoption Awareness

Helping women understand adoption as a positive option for their child, their future, and a waiting family. This includes education for birth parents, outreach to professionals working within the child welfare system, and advocacy efforts that help hospitals, social workers, judges, and legislators better understand and support adoption.

Supporting Children in Foster Care

Providing gap funding and resources for children in foster care who need additional assistance while waiting for a permanent family.

Removing Barriers to Adoption

Providing financial support for families pursuing adoption who may not otherwise be able to complete the process, and reducing the obstacles that stand between a child and a permanent home.

Strengthening Lifelong Outcomes

Investing in counseling, education, and community programs that support children, birth parents, and adoptive families well beyond placement.

How You Can Help

When more women understand what adoption can truly mean for their child and for themselves, more children find permanent homes. More families are made whole. And more birth mothers are given the chance to move forward with strength and hope.

Your support makes that possible. By expanding awareness, removing barriers, and walking alongside everyone touched by adoption, your gift helps more children experience the love and opportunity that a family can provide.

Help us make a child's life better through adoption.

Visit Our Foundation Page to Learn More

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is American Adoptions the right adoption agency choice for many birth mothers?

American Adoptions is one of the largest licensed adoption agencies in the United States. Each year, we work with thousands of women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy and offer assistance to these women. Our large, caring staff is able to assist you seven days a week and provide you with one-on-one counseling about your pregnancy and available options.

You should choose an adoption agency where you feel completely comfortable with their services and staff. With American Adoptions, you will work with an Adoption Specialist who is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Adoption Specialist will be your advocate and will provide support and guidance as you create an adoption plan that is right for you.

How will the family tell my child about me and the adoption when my child is older?

Each family has their own style of introducing adoption to the child. When you are matched with an adoptive family, you can ask them this question. If you would like your Adoption Specialist to discuss it for you, just let her know. He or she can share your wishes or provide good ideas from other adoptive families.

You will also be able to share what you want your baby to know about you. You can complete a keepsake booklet to share hobbies, stories, photos of you and your family and a letter to your baby. The adoptive family can provide this to your child as he or she grows older. Be as creative as you like! Some birth mothers have even knitted a special blanket as a gift to their baby or given a similar symbol of their love.

The father of your baby can fill out the birth father's keepsake booklet or write a letter too. You may have other family members who would also like to share photos or a letter to the baby. This is your opportunity to pass on your and your family's love and to share your personality, history and reasons for choosing adoption. The adoptive family will treasure whatever information you provide and will share it with the baby at an appropriate age. In most adoptive homes, the word adoption is in the child's vocabulary early on, and adoption is celebrated in their lives.

Additional Resources

Teen Pregnancy - Information for Young Women

While not every woman who chooses adoption is a young mother, many are. Through adoption, many young women have found an ability to give their babies the best life possible, while finding the opportunity to realize their own dreams, as well. Call American Adoptions today at 1-800-ADOPTION.

Read More

Adoption Glossary

Do adoption terms and phrases leave you feeling confused? Learn the meaning to key adoption words and phrases with our comprehensive adoption glossary.

Read More