DIFFICULT ADOPTION QUESTIONS: TALKING ABOUT MY ADOPTION PLAN

When you are making an adoption plan, it’s always tricky to figure out how to talk about your plan, and who to discuss it with.  It’s a very personal and emotional decision, and your reasons or feelings might be hard to put into words. Here are some common questions we here on the subject: Will…

DIFFICULT ADOPTION QUESTIONS: ADOPTIVE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP

Part of the adoption process is finding the right adoptive family for your child. Every step of the way we want our birth parents to feel like they had as much say in the process as they wanted, and that their questions were answered.  It’s your adoption plan; we are just here to to help…

DIFFICULT ADOPTION QUESTIONS: GETTING STARTED

There are a lot of things to consider when figuring out how to place a baby for adoption.  It’s hard to know where to start.  Many moms might sit at a computer and google “giving baby up for adoption”, “looking for adoptive couples” “Putting my baby up for adoption” or “Florida Adoption Agency”. There are…

5 QUESTIONS YOU CAN EXPECT AT A HOME VISIT

As an Adoptive Parent Coordinator, I am often asked “what should I expect during the home study process.”  The phrase “home study” is an intimidating one to some families, especially after experiencing years of infertility treatments, disappointments, and losses. Although the home study experience entails gathering a lot of information, conducting interviews, and a home…

WHAT I WISHED MY BIRTH MOMS KNEW

As I look around my office, I notice all of the baby photos displayed on my wall from my past clients. I am reminded of the memories attached to each one, and I can’t help but feel a little heavy hearted today. In the recent weeks, I have done a lot of transitioning here at…

GIFT OF LIFE COMES TO PASCO COUNTY

Gift of Life Adoptions has provided complete adoption services throughout the state of Florida for over 20 years. We have been able to help our clients change the direction of their lives because of our unique social work model. Our goal is to assist birth parents in creating the adoption plan that works for them,…

I LOVED HIM BEFORE I MET HIM: A BIRTH MOM STORY

Gift of Life received this thank you letter the other day.  It’s a great birth mom story, and a wonderful example of the importance of pictures and letters in our birth mother’s lives. Here is Kelly’s Story: I just got the pictures of Cooper in the mail. Most of the day, I’ve been in tears,…

WHAT TO EXPECT AT A HOSPITAL DISCHARGE

Discharge day! There are many unique experiences that come with being an adoption caseworker. Although  some things can feel routine, bringing joy to parents who have waited months and sometimes years to start a family, that experience never gets old. As I arrive at Leesburg Regional Medical Center, I remember a Christmas Eve many years…

A NEW WOMAN’S HOSPITAL AND ONE GRAND EVENT

One of the many perks of my job is that I get to go out into the community and attend special events presented by hospitals, pregnancy centers, medical clinics, and other facilities we often come in contact with. The most recent event I and another staff member had the pleasure of attending was the grand…

A HOMESTUDY: NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF

A few weeks ago I was able to complete a home study update for a family living in the Naples, Florida. It was a great time to catch up with the family and continue in their adoption education. Homestudy is a term we throw around all the time as it is a part of our…