Learn more about the adoption process.
My Experience with Respite Foster Care
My name is Tessa and I am an Adoption Advisor here at Purl. I am an adoptive parent and respite/emergency placement foster parent. I wanted to take some time to share about my experience with foster care. There are several ...
Birthdays to an Adoptee
Today’s blog post is written by Purl’s Administrative Assistant, and transracial adoptee, Emily. She shares with us her feelings toward her birthday, and how this feeling has changed with every passing year. For adoptees, birthdays can be strange. It’s an ...
The Importance of Teaching Diversity at a Young Age
Emily, Purl's Administrative Assistant is a transracial adoptee as well as studying to become certified in teaching. She is learning about the importance of teaching diversity to children at a young age. Today, she shares some of her favorite books ...
Adoption Language from an Adoptee’s Perspective
Our writer today is Emily, Purl's Administrative Assistant and a transracial adoptee. She shares her perspective as an adoptee to help adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents understand arguably the most important voice in the adoption triad. -- As a ...
We All Make Mistakes…
Parenting is hard. I make mistakes as a parent ALL THE TIME! I'm learning to tell my kids when I make mistakes, so that they can learn from my mistakes as well. I made a lot of mistakes as a ...
The Reality of Regret in Adoption
The guest speaker of today’s blog is a birth mom who wishes to stay anonymous. She shares with us a little bit about her daughter’s adoption and what it was like dealing the emotions that came with it. ——— According ...
Understanding the Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”)
This is NOT legal advice, you should contact an adoption attorney skilled in ICWA cases if you think that it may apply to your adoption. The Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”, or the “Act”) is a federal law that was enacted in ...
Our New Adoption Advisor Shares Her Family’s Adoption Story
Purl’s new Adoption Advisor, Kelcie Grace, shares her family’s domestic infant adoption story - the joy, the heartache, and everything in between. She shares her experience working with and adoption advisor like Purl and why she decided to join the Purl team after completing her adoption. Click here to read Kelcie Grace’s story.
Your Adoption Profile – How to Tell Your Family’s Story
In today’s blog, Purl’s Director of Graphic Design, Ali Alvidrez, shares her tips on telling your family’s story through your family profile. “Here is the thing, YOU are the family that SOMEONE is hoping to find for their child. Our job is to show all the unique things about you that will help the expectant family to connect with you….” Click here to read more.
Where Do I Go From Here? An Adoptee’s Thoughts on Search and Reunion
When looking through the section about adoption at any bookstore, you will find that most of the books are geared towards the adoptive parent audience. You may even find a few written for birth parents. We believe the best way to learn about adoption is from adoption perspectives, specifically the perspective of the adoptee, the part of the triad that doesn’t typically get to enter into adoption voluntarily. Today, we are sharing the perspective of an adoptee and Purl’s Administrative Assistant, Emily, who wanted to share more about her adoption experience. Keep in mind that all adoptions are different, there are both positive and negative stories of adoption from adoptees. Today she shares her perspective about the search for her biological family.
Not Your Story to Tell
When you are an adoptive parent, you are bound to get questions from friends, family and strangers alike about the details of your child’s adoption story, particularly if you have adopted transracially. As a mom of two girls only eight months apart in age. I can’t seem to get out of a public place without questioning stares and at least one person asking me how I managed to get two such adorable, but completely different looking children. I have never had a trip to Costco with the girls without some egregious question or comment. But it is my job as an adoptive parent to protect my child’s adoption story at all costs, something I didn’t learn as early as I would have liked. Click here to read more.
The Benefits of Adoption-Informed Therapy
Creating a family through adoption comes with many complexities. Too often, these complexities are minimized or overlooked, and the impact can be catastrophic. Despite well-meaning adoptive parents, if there is not intentionality behind seeking ongoing education and support, children may be emotionally isolated and silenced, no matter how much love a family has to offer. Whether in the pre-adoptive phase or deep into the chapters of post adoption parenting, adoption focused therapy can be a transformative process for children and adoptive families and caregivers. To read more of this guest blog post, written by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MSW, and international, transracial adoptee, Amy Wilkerson, click here.
Adoption Travel, ICPC & Post-Placement
If you are a prospective adoptive parent chosen for a child that is going to be born in a different state than your state of residence, you will need to travel for the birth and stay in that state until you are cleared through the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (“ICPC”). ICPC is an agreement enacted by all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands and it governs the placement of children from one state into another state. To learn more about ICPC, making adoption travel accomodations, what to pack, and what to expect post-placement read more here!
Are You Really Prepared for the Adoption?
If you’ve been following along this month, we are finally to the point where it gets really exciting, but also very nerve-wracking! You’ve been chosen as prospective adoptive parents for a child and you have to get prepared to possibly become a parent, likely in much less preparation time than you’d have if you were pregnant yourself. So, what do you need to know and become prepared for?! Click here to read more.
Being Chosen and Next Steps
You get chosen by an expectant family considering adoption for their child! Such amazing news and one of the major milestones in the domestic adoption journey. Many families have long waits and MANY presentations before they get to this point. But what is next? And what does being chosen really mean? Being chosen just means that you are one step closer to a child, and while it is a major milestone, that child may never actually be yours. Click here to read more about what happens after a match, and what NOT to do when you are chosen by an expectant parent whose baby isn’t expected for a bit.
Empathy and Care for Expectant Mothers
I’ve heard of a few circumstances lately where prospective adoptive parents act entitled to the child they have been chosen for, both before and after the birth of the child, but before consents are signed. This is one area I feel like prospective adoptive parents pursuing domestic infant adoption need the most education on - the respect and love that is required for any expectant mother they come into contact with in their adoption journey, and ultimately for the birth mother for their child.
The Cost of Adoption
Domestic infant adoption can be really expensive and the average cost is currently around $41,000. There is a lot of variability in domestic infant adoption costs by state and by the type of professionals that are involved in your adoption (agency, attorneys, etc.). The costs you might see in a domestic infant adoption will vary considerably depending on the type of adoption (private/independent, attorney, or agency adoption) and the state from which you are adopting. The adoption professionals recommended by Purl typically have adoption opportunities with total costs (including home study related costs) ranging between $8,000 and $50,000, with the majority falling between $25,000 and $45,000. In this post, we break down the types of costs prospective adoptive parents may incur during their adoption journey, but what is permissible and typical will also be governed by the law in the states involved. Click here to read more about the costs you might expect in domestic infant adoption.
The Adoption Wait
Once you’ve figured out your preferences in your adoption, what is next? The dreaded adoption wait. If you’re working with an adoption advisor like Purl, you’re likely getting on the waitlist for many different attorneys and agencies. You might be including some adoption outreach, hoping to connect with an expectant family that way. You are then waiting for an expectant family to choose you or find you through your outreach, typically speeding up your adoption journey. But it can take only a few weeks or months, or even a few years to be selected, but your chances are much better in a multi-faceted approach. Click here to read more about what to expect from the adoption wait.
My Experience with Respite Foster Care
My name is Tessa and I am an Adoption Advisor here at Purl. I am an adoptive parent and respite/emergency placement foster parent. I wanted to take some time to share about my experience with foster care. There are several ...
Birthdays to an Adoptee
Today’s blog post is written by Purl’s Administrative Assistant, and transracial adoptee, Emily. She shares with us her feelings toward her birthday, and how this feeling has changed with every passing year. For adoptees, birthdays can be strange. It’s an ...
The Importance of Teaching Diversity at a Young Age
Emily, Purl's Administrative Assistant is a transracial adoptee as well as studying to become certified in teaching. She is learning about the importance of teaching diversity to children at a young age. Today, she shares some of her favorite books ...
Adoption Language from an Adoptee’s Perspective
Our writer today is Emily, Purl's Administrative Assistant and a transracial adoptee. She shares her perspective as an adoptee to help adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents understand arguably the most important voice in the adoption triad. -- As a ...
We All Make Mistakes…
Parenting is hard. I make mistakes as a parent ALL THE TIME! I'm learning to tell my kids when I make mistakes, so that they can learn from my mistakes as well. I made a lot of mistakes as a ...
The Reality of Regret in Adoption
The guest speaker of today’s blog is a birth mom who wishes to stay anonymous. She shares with us a little bit about her daughter’s adoption and what it was like dealing the emotions that came with it. ——— According ...
Understanding the Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”)
This is NOT legal advice, you should contact an adoption attorney skilled in ICWA cases if you think that it may apply to your adoption. The Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”, or the “Act”) is a federal law that was enacted in ...
Our New Adoption Advisor Shares Her Family’s Adoption Story
Purl’s new Adoption Advisor, Kelcie Grace, shares her family’s domestic infant adoption story - the joy, the heartache, and everything in between. She shares her experience working with and adoption advisor like Purl and why she decided to join the Purl team after completing her adoption. Click here to read Kelcie Grace’s story.
Your Adoption Profile – How to Tell Your Family’s Story
In today’s blog, Purl’s Director of Graphic Design, Ali Alvidrez, shares her tips on telling your family’s story through your family profile. “Here is the thing, YOU are the family that SOMEONE is hoping to find for their child. Our job is to show all the unique things about you that will help the expectant family to connect with you….” Click here to read more.
Where Do I Go From Here? An Adoptee’s Thoughts on Search and Reunion
When looking through the section about adoption at any bookstore, you will find that most of the books are geared towards the adoptive parent audience. You may even find a few written for birth parents. We believe the best way to learn about adoption is from adoption perspectives, specifically the perspective of the adoptee, the part of the triad that doesn’t typically get to enter into adoption voluntarily. Today, we are sharing the perspective of an adoptee and Purl’s Administrative Assistant, Emily, who wanted to share more about her adoption experience. Keep in mind that all adoptions are different, there are both positive and negative stories of adoption from adoptees. Today she shares her perspective about the search for her biological family.
Not Your Story to Tell
When you are an adoptive parent, you are bound to get questions from friends, family and strangers alike about the details of your child’s adoption story, particularly if you have adopted transracially. As a mom of two girls only eight months apart in age. I can’t seem to get out of a public place without questioning stares and at least one person asking me how I managed to get two such adorable, but completely different looking children. I have never had a trip to Costco with the girls without some egregious question or comment. But it is my job as an adoptive parent to protect my child’s adoption story at all costs, something I didn’t learn as early as I would have liked. Click here to read more.
The Benefits of Adoption-Informed Therapy
Creating a family through adoption comes with many complexities. Too often, these complexities are minimized or overlooked, and the impact can be catastrophic. Despite well-meaning adoptive parents, if there is not intentionality behind seeking ongoing education and support, children may be emotionally isolated and silenced, no matter how much love a family has to offer. Whether in the pre-adoptive phase or deep into the chapters of post adoption parenting, adoption focused therapy can be a transformative process for children and adoptive families and caregivers. To read more of this guest blog post, written by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MSW, and international, transracial adoptee, Amy Wilkerson, click here.
Adoption Travel, ICPC & Post-Placement
If you are a prospective adoptive parent chosen for a child that is going to be born in a different state than your state of residence, you will need to travel for the birth and stay in that state until you are cleared through the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (“ICPC”). ICPC is an agreement enacted by all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands and it governs the placement of children from one state into another state. To learn more about ICPC, making adoption travel accomodations, what to pack, and what to expect post-placement read more here!
Are You Really Prepared for the Adoption?
If you’ve been following along this month, we are finally to the point where it gets really exciting, but also very nerve-wracking! You’ve been chosen as prospective adoptive parents for a child and you have to get prepared to possibly become a parent, likely in much less preparation time than you’d have if you were pregnant yourself. So, what do you need to know and become prepared for?! Click here to read more.
Being Chosen and Next Steps
You get chosen by an expectant family considering adoption for their child! Such amazing news and one of the major milestones in the domestic adoption journey. Many families have long waits and MANY presentations before they get to this point. But what is next? And what does being chosen really mean? Being chosen just means that you are one step closer to a child, and while it is a major milestone, that child may never actually be yours. Click here to read more about what happens after a match, and what NOT to do when you are chosen by an expectant parent whose baby isn’t expected for a bit.
Empathy and Care for Expectant Mothers
I’ve heard of a few circumstances lately where prospective adoptive parents act entitled to the child they have been chosen for, both before and after the birth of the child, but before consents are signed. This is one area I feel like prospective adoptive parents pursuing domestic infant adoption need the most education on - the respect and love that is required for any expectant mother they come into contact with in their adoption journey, and ultimately for the birth mother for their child.
The Cost of Adoption
Domestic infant adoption can be really expensive and the average cost is currently around $41,000. There is a lot of variability in domestic infant adoption costs by state and by the type of professionals that are involved in your adoption (agency, attorneys, etc.). The costs you might see in a domestic infant adoption will vary considerably depending on the type of adoption (private/independent, attorney, or agency adoption) and the state from which you are adopting. The adoption professionals recommended by Purl typically have adoption opportunities with total costs (including home study related costs) ranging between $8,000 and $50,000, with the majority falling between $25,000 and $45,000. In this post, we break down the types of costs prospective adoptive parents may incur during their adoption journey, but what is permissible and typical will also be governed by the law in the states involved. Click here to read more about the costs you might expect in domestic infant adoption.
The Adoption Wait
Once you’ve figured out your preferences in your adoption, what is next? The dreaded adoption wait. If you’re working with an adoption advisor like Purl, you’re likely getting on the waitlist for many different attorneys and agencies. You might be including some adoption outreach, hoping to connect with an expectant family that way. You are then waiting for an expectant family to choose you or find you through your outreach, typically speeding up your adoption journey. But it can take only a few weeks or months, or even a few years to be selected, but your chances are much better in a multi-faceted approach. Click here to read more about what to expect from the adoption wait.
