The Adoption Journal

Vicki's Perspective on the Journey of Adoption

Welcome,

We are pleased to share our new resource for pre and post adoptive families and anyone interested in learning more about adoption. Come back often, as the content is always changing! Features of the journal include:

• Timely articles about the adoption landscape
• Highlights of recent media exposure and speaking engagements
• Stories from WHFC families about their adoption experiences

At Wide Horizons For Children, our desire is to match the overwhelming need of children for a family with the equally strong desire that so many people have to bring a child into their life through the journey of adoption. Like many others on our staff who have a personal involvement in adoption, I am an adoptive parent who knows that the work we do with families is life-changing in so many wonderful ways.

Vicki Peterson
Executive Director of External Affairs

I began working in the field adoption almost 30 years ago when adopting internationally was just starting to become a recognized option. Initially, the challenge was finding prospective parents for needy children from other countries. Overseas adoption was not a common choice or widely understood among those interested in bringing a child into their lives. Over time, enormous changes have taken place.

By the early 1980’s our organization was working in a dozen countries and each year placing more than 200 children with U.S. families. We began to focus more attention and resources to support humanitarian aid projects in countries that needed our help. Members of our staff began to travel abroad regularly to assess the needs in orphanages and help with decisions regarding how funds raised could best be used to help children in orphanage care. We recognized the need to provide assistance for children waiting for a family as well as for those who could not be adopted.

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