8 Ways to Celebrate National Adoption Month

November is finally here, and that means it's National Adoption Month! It is a time to celebrate adoption and each triad member and recognize the challenges it brings. Sometimes it can seem challenging to figure out how to participate, but there are many ways to become involved and spread awareness! This article will inform you…

Dealing with Bullying for Adoptees

Adopted children may encounter bullying and teasing throughout their lives. Bullying of adoptees can be about race, gender, adoption status, development, social skills, and much more. Teasing and bullying can easily be dismissed as “kids being kids” or you, as an adoptive parent, can relate to a time that you were bullied or teased. While…

Wellness Month: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for Our Families Outdoors

After a year of being virtual, nature is calling. Why your family should answer the call. Parks sealed off with caution tape. Virtual schooling and stay-at-home orders. Masks and hand sanitizer stations on display. “Stay Well” truly is the tagline of 2020. As more and more people get vaccinated, our lives begin to reopen. Technology…

Finding Closure When Your Birth Parent Search is Not Successful

Every adoption story is unique. No set of circumstances is ever identical. Many adoptions are mixed in heartache, loss, grief, confusion, misunderstanding, and many unanswered questions. Due to the incredibly diverse mix of emotions, varying circumstances, and the number of affected people, adoption searches can be very complicated. Some adoption searches can be unsuccessful because…

Why Are Visits So Important for the Adoptive Triad?

Why visits are so meaningful and how to promote healthy relationships for every individual AFTH birth mother Samantha helping daughter Charlotte walk during a visit at Millburn Orchard Last year was challenging and frightening. With so many unknowns from the coronavirus, our lives had to halt, keeping us confined to our homes. In order to…

This is Us: Who are the weatherman and librarian? Randall’s Transracial Support Group and Ghost Kingdoms

WARNING! Spoilers ahead. Season 5 Episode 13: A look into Randall’s Ghost Kingdom and experience at a transracial support group. Are you keeping up with NBC’s hit drama This is Us? This season dove deep into Randall’s feelings towards transracial adoption. Throughout season 5, the show portrays the conversations the Pearson family is starting to…

Representation of Adoption in NBC’s “This is Us”

Warning: spoilers ahead! A look into how adoption is portrayed in Season 5. Kate and her husband Toby meeting Ellie, their future daughter's birth mom in a park. Have you joined the “This is Us” fan club yet? Now in its fifth season, the NBC hit drama explores different adoption storylines as it takes viewers…

Ways to Show Birth Parents Love This Valentine’s Day

          Love comes in many shapes and forms, and February, especially Valentine’s Day, is the perfect time to spread the love and affection. This holiday celebrates not only the bonds between couples but also family members. Celebrating with family is not always an easy task, as many families do not look like the stereotypical family…

Explaining Adoption to Your Child in Age Appropriate Ways

The process of explaining adoption to your child can be emotional. Feelings can range from fearful to joyful as you think of how to explain adoption to your child in ways that they can understand. While navigating this process, it is important to use age appropriate language in order to convey concepts that may be…

Scholarships Available for Adopted and Fostered Students

Did you know that a recent study done at the University of Chicago found that only one-half of all adopted and foster students actually graduate from high school AND only six percent earn a college degree? Since adopted children often have faced tremendous hardships in their lives, such as abuse and neglect, many organizations have…