Articles & Stories: Birth Families

Clinical Articles

Considering the Benefits of Birth Family in International Adoption
by Amy Webster, MSW, LICSW
One factor that influences the decision to adopt internationally versus within the U.S. is not having to face birth family issues during the adoption process, as traditionally, birth parents have been "invisible" in international adoption.

Invisible But Real: Birth Parents in International Adoption
by Pat Hoopes, MSW, LICSW
Unlike the Magician's invocation, "now you see it, now you don't", his invitation to witness the disappearance of an object you know was there, the birth parents in international adoption seem initially to disappear only to take form later on in the queries and wonderment of the developing adopted child.

Sibling Connections
by Deb Shrier, MSW, LCSW
Family configurations come in all shapes and sizes. With a greater amount of openness being shared between biological and adoptive families, not only are birth parents a part of the adoption story, but information regarding birth siblings may exist as well.

A New Meaning to the Phrase, "Home is Where the Heart Is"
by Annemarie
We would like to share with you a wonderful story that brings new meaning to the phrase 'Home is where the heart is". Our relationship with Wide Horizons began when my husband, Terry, and I first started the adoption process in 1997.

My Direct Sign From God
by Maria
When my husband Carl and I married 16 years ago the one thing we did not agree on was how many children we wanted.

Family Stories

A Mother's Sacrifice
Francis D
My wife and I had heard about the difficulties in meeting with the birth families of adopted children; what to expect, the emotional highs and lows, the benefits and the concerns.

A Necessary Trip
Cynthia L
When my husband and I first met I knew that there was a possibility we could not have biological children. When I told him this he said that he was comfortable with the idea of adoption.

An Unpaved Journey
Cynthia K
An unpaved, narrow, dirt road was before us. It almost appeared a walking path in the middle of a wooded forest.

Mahalet's Story
Paul and Jenine S
One of the great things about the Ethiopia program is the effort the workers there make to connect adopting families with birth relatives.

On a New Grandchild From China
by Freddy F
You had to have — bonded with the growing roundness as it beat