Adoption Agencies

Amara

www.amaraparenting.org

3300 E. Union St. Seattle, WA 98122

206-260-1700

email: amara@amaraparenting.org

ADOPTION

Amara’s mission is grounded in the fundamental conviction that there is no substitute for stable, loving families to ensure children grow up to be healthy, capable adults. We believe that a safe, nurturing home is essential for a child to thrive and are focused on the thousands of Washington children currently in the foster care system who are ready to be adopted. Amara is also one of the few agencies in our community that finds homes for at-risk relinquished infants, and works to provide adoptive parents with the support and education they need to embrace these children and build a healthy family. We have no single definition of “family” and our proud to offer our services to everyone, regardless of marital status, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, home ownership, income, or education.

Available Children
Thousands of children wait in foster care in Washington state every day. Some are legally free and ready for adoption, while many are considered “legal risk” where the State is in the process of terminating parental rights. Amara works with adoptive families to determine the comfort level of legal risk appropriate in each case, with the intention of placing foster children with their forever families to minimize the child’s instability. These children range in age from infant to teen, and come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Because of their experience in foster care, many children need extra time and support to heal, learn to trust, and catch up with their peers. Amara knows that what these children need is a safe, loving home to help them thrive, and we provide guidance and support adoptive families to live and grow with these special needs. Amara also places relinquished infants in adoptive homes. As with some of the children from foster care, many of the infants that come into our care have experienced prenatal drug/alcohol exposure. There is a tremendous amount of research about the effects of this type of exposure and how these children can truly blossom with the right kind of support. Amara’s social workers will help each family determine the level of risk they are comfortable with and support them with finding services and information they need for their child.

Support to Our Families
We believe in a high level of support to our adoptive parents to help ensure the best possible environment and experience for the entire family. Once a child joins your family, Amara will provide you with resources and support to help your family thrive. Your social worker will make frequent visits to your home during the transition period and until the adoption is finalized, and will be available by phone to help you with questions and concerns. We’ll make sure you receive pertinent information and referrals to school programs, medical care, family therapists, or other services you might need. We also have monthly support groups for both waiting families and families with children placed in their homes. When the adoption is finalized, we also help you complete the necessary steps for Adoption Support program assistance, a federal program providing medical, mental health and other specialized care until your child is 18 years old.

FOSTER CARE

Our program works with the state to provide care for children between the ages of newborn to twelve years. These children are all ethnicities, may be part of a sibling group, or may have special medical or emotional needs. If a family chooses to foster with Amara, our experienced social workers will be with them every step of the way to prepare them and guide them through the process. We will continue to be a resource for these families for education, information, and support in the years to come.

PREGNANCY COUNSELING

This no-cost program for pregnant women in crisis helps women make informed decisions about their pregnancies. Our social workers work one –on –one with the clients and offer non-judgmental pregnancy counseling, referrals for housing or other basic medical needs, help in locating and obtaining medical care, and on-going support through their pregnancy and beyond, regardless of the parenting decision. If the client decides to terminate the pregnancy, we offer support and referrals to local clinics. If the client decides to parent her child, Amara’s counselors help her create a stable and nurturing environment for both herself and her child through counseling, as well as referrals to local services including prenatal care and housing assistance. If a woman decides to create an adoption plan, Amara works with her to choose an adoptive family, create a communication agreement with the adoptive parents, and cope with the emotional loss of placing a child for adoption.

Many adoption agencies will not serve pregnant women who are homeless, abused drugs during the pregnancy, suffer from mental illness, or have other instability factors in their lives; often they are referred to Amara. Not only does Amara serve these women with nonjudgmental support and guidance, we educate our adoptive families about the risks and issues involved in caring for an infant with special needs due to premature birth, prenatal drug/alcohol exposure, or other factors so that they can fully embrace the child. In addition, all of our adoptive parents must be open to maintaining a relationship with the birthparent/s (when possible) of their child. With over 25 years of experience promoting and facilitating open adoptions, we firmly believe that an agreed-upon level of ongoing communication is tremendously beneficial for the child and healing for the birth parents.

Children's Home Society of Washington

www.childrenshomesociety.org

International Adoption

This program provides information and education, home study and post placement reports for international adoptions. CHSW works with many international adoption agencies and provides pre adoption education that meets the Hague Convention requirements.

Contact Barbara Guerrero at barbarag@chs-wa.org or phone at 1 800-456-3339.

 

Foster-to-Adopt Program

Through this innovative program children are placed in homes with the intention that if they become legally free (the legal connection with their birth family has been ended), they will be adopted into their foster family. Program staff are diligent in their efforts to match families and children, thus avoiding multiple foster placements, which are damaging to a child. The purpose of the program is to find permanent homes for children soon after they come into foster care, when their casework plan indicates that they may be unable to return home. CHSW provides training and support throughout this process.

Email Judy Wood at judyw@chs-wa.org or Sherry Rosing sherryr@chs-wa.org, or phone (253) 472-3355 for more information about CHSW's foster care services.

 

 

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Program

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, a national signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, was established to encourage adoption from the foster care system. The program provides a full-time family recruiter to assist child welfare workers in identifying a safe, loving and permanent family for children awaiting adoption.

Email Judy Wood at judyw@chs-wa.org or Sherry Rosing sherryr@chs-wa.org, or phone (253) 472-3355 for more information about CHSW waiting children.

 

 

Strengthening Adoptive Families through Education

Strengthening Adoptive Families through Education (SAFE) is a post-adoption program offering family center services to families residing in Pierce County, who have adopted their children from the foster care system. The program offers school advocacy, counseling, support groups, parenting classes, relationship building training, information and referral services, parent to parent mentorship, along with other services as needed.

Email Debbie DeLine at debbied@chs-wa.org or Jennifer Dunlap jenniferd@chs-wa.org, or phone (253) 472-3355 for more information about CHSW lecture schedule and post adoption services.

 

 

Search and Reunion

Since 1896, Children’s Home Society of Washington has placed over 30,000 children in adoptive homes. In accordance with Washington law, all adoption files are sealed when the adoption is finalized. The law prohibits the release of identifying information directly to an adoptee or birth parent, who wants to search. Non-identifying information can be provided however. State law also recognizes the confidential intermediary process; in this process a person appointed by the court can facilitate an active search and make contact with the found party. Children’s Home Society of Washington, can act as a confidential Intermediary and can facilitate an active search for adoptees and birth parents separated through adoption. Email Elsa Hominda at elsah@chs-wa.org or phone (253) 472-3355 for more information about searching for your birth parent or adopted child placed through CHSW.

  

 

Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services

332 NW Richmond Beach Rd.

Shoreline, WA 98177

503-681-3075

www.journeysoftheheart.net

info@journeysoftheheart.net

Areas of service and expertise:

Journeys of the Heart serves the following populations:

* Children, domestic and international, in need of loving and permanent homes.
* Children, domestic and international, who we are able to assist through relief
programs.
* Domestic birth parents who are considering completing an adoption plan for
their children
* Adoptive parent's who meet all the necessary requirements of the adoption
program they are enrolled in and who wish to provide a permanent, safe and
loving home for a child born domestically or internationally.

Journeys of the Heart has established the following priorities for our services:
children are the first priority; domestic birth parents are the second priority
because they are responsible for making the decisions that affect the lives of
their child or children; adoptive parents, who make up an important part of
Journeys' service population, are the third priority since the best interest of
the child comes first.

In a typical year, the children placed by JOH are 80 % minority and 20% Caucasian. Currently, the birth mothers that Journeys works with are 85% Caucasian and 15% minority (African American and Hispanic). Journeys' adoptive families are 95% Caucasian and 5% minority (Chinese, East Indian, Hispanic, and African American).

Being a private agency, JOH is not mandated by law or government mandate to work
with any particular population of children, birth parents or adopting parent's.

JOH promotes our mission by providing information on our programs to anyone in
the service population. JOH shares program information with stakeholders,
through this web site, our newsletter (Heartstrings) education programs, and
through brochures, annual report and other informational packets and mailings.

In July 2003, Journeys became fully accredited as an international and domestic
adoption agency through the Council on Accreditation. In February 2008,
Journeys became accredited by The Hague.

Mission

The mission of Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services is to provide, through adoption, loving and permanent homes to the children of the world who are in need. Journeys uses the best-available support and social work practices in assisting families through the life-long journey of adoption, and through its relief programs, helps improve the lives of children not adopted.

Bethany Christian Services

206-367-4604
1-800-733-4604

www.bethany.org

bcsseattle@bethany.org

19936 Ballinger Way NE, Suite D, Seattle, WA 98155

4204 Meridian St., Suite 105, Bellingham, WA 98226

5913 SW Westgate Drive, Suite 117, Portland, OR, 97221

Foster Homes
Bethany trains and supports families who are willing to open their hearts and homes to children who need a loving home in which to stay while their parents are receiving treatment, counseling or other services that may be necessary in order for them to provide a stable home for their child. In cases where the child ends up needing longer care, Bethany can work to facilitate the foster adoption.
For more info contact Erin, emathias@bethany.org, 206-367-4604

State Adoptions

Bethany Christian Services provides adoption services for domestic children who are unable to live with family due to abuse, neglect or delinquency issues. These adoptive families have a heart for children with special placement needs such as emotional or behavioral challenges, developmental delays, and physical impairments. Most of the children have experienced multiple traumas that have affected their emotional, mental and physical health. However, all of these children have exceptional potential.

Working with the state foster system, Bethany Christian Services seeks adoptive parents who are called to meet the life-long needs of these extraordinary children. Families willing to adopt older children (ages 10 and above) and large sibling groups (three or more children) are especially needed. Bethany provides orientation, training, support, and post-adoption services to adoptive families.
For more info contact Erin, emathias@bethany.org, 206-367-4604

Domestic Adoptions

For more than 60 years Bethany has helped build families through adoption. Our Northwest branches alone have placed over 850 children. Recognizing that adoption involves the emotions and expectations of many people, Bethany’s professional staff balance the needs of birthparents and adoptive parents. We assist birthparents who desire an active role in choosing their child’s adoptive parents. We help adoptive parents understand and prepare for adoption. Through the entire process we work to achieve our mutual goal of a secure placement in the best interest of the child. Bethany’s staff guides adoptive parents through all the steps of the adoption process and provides continuing support services following placement.

Bethany offers a number of adoption plans. Bethany social workers will explain the options to birthparents and adoptive parents and help them decide which option is best for the child and for themselves.

• Confidential Adoption: Birthparents and adoptive parents exchange only non-identifying information.
• Designated Adoption: Birthparents choose an adoptive family for their child and authorize Bethany to handle the legal adoptive process. Or, adoptive parents initiate the process by networking to locate a releasing birth parent. Bethany then works with the birthparents and adoptive parents to legally complete the adoption plan.
• Open Adoption: Birthparents and adoptive parents share identifying information and together design a plan for continuing contact after placement. They work out the nature and frequency of ongoing contact they desire and establish a degree of "openness" that is comfortable for all involved.

For more info contact Becky, rwornick@bethany.org, 206-367-4604

Intercountry Adoptions

Since 1982, Bethany has found permanent families in the U.S for more than 5,500 children growing up in orphanages in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Our experienced staff are ready to guide adoptive parents through the steps required to adopt a child from one of many countries.
• African adoptions are available in Ethiopia
• European adoptions are available in Russia, Albania, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Ukraine, and Lithuania
• Asian adoptions are available in China, Hong Kong, Philippines, and Korea
• Caribbean adoptions are available in Haiti
• Latin American adoptions are available in Colombia and Guatemala

For More info contact Marge, mtoeset@bethany.org, 206-367-4604

Embryo Adoptions

Bethany Christian Services offers a full range of embryo adoption and embryo donation services. Embryo adoption services include education and counseling related to the embryo adoption, home studies, facilitation of the medical transfer of the embryos to the adopting couple, assistance with openness choice, post-transfer support, and post-birth visits.
For more info contact Becky, rwornick@bethany.org, 206-367-4604

Pregnancy Counseling

When you call Bethany, an experienced, caring counselor will listen and answer all of your questions. If you are facing an unexpected pregnancy, you may feel overwhelmed, frightened, or confused about what to do next. Who can you tell? What are your choices? What if you are not ready to be a parent?

At Bethany, we'll help you explore your options without any pressure, and with respect for your decision. Your call to Bethany will be kept completely confidential. Adoption has changed dramatically over the years. Call Bethany for more details about the myths and facts concerning adoption.
For more info contact Sarah, sbarnard@bethany.org, 206-367-4604