Choice Network

What does a "good" family look like?

2012-02-29T15:36:00.000-05:00

Hey guys- Samantha here again.

In writing the previous post about open adoption it really made me wonder, what does a ‘good’ family look like? Open adoption families have many different faces, and even for biological families it’s obviously it’s no longer the 50’s vision of the ‘American Family’. Dad’s don’t always go to work all day, moms don’t always stay home, children don’t always come from their mothers bellies, parent’s don’t always stay married (or ever get married), families come in many different race and ethnicity combinations, there can be blended and step families and some children even have two mommies or two daddies. All of those possible kinds of families have what it takes to be a great family for a child in need of a home.

I was raised by a lesbian woman so I - of course- feel strongly about the parenting abilities of LGBT individuals and couples as I think I turned out pretty good :) - however thinking about families I wanted to do some more research on the topic of LGBT parenting.

In Ohio there are about 18,100 same-sex households (this is an approximate 250% growth from 2006). Even more specifically, there are approximately 8,610 same-sex households in Columbus alone. That means almost 50% of the entire same-sex population in Ohio accumulates in Columbus.

In 2010 the American Community Survey reported that there were almost 600,000 same sex households in the United States yet only about 17% reported having children in their home as opposed to about 45% of married and unmarried heterosexual households. That results in a 28% difference between the two communities and here at Choice Network we would love to be a part of equaling those numbers out.

In 2010 the United States had over 100,000 still waiting for adoption, and of those 100,000 60%- or 60,000 have already had their biological parents rights terminated.

Over the past decade or so research has repeatedly concluded that children raised by gay or lesbian individuals and/or couples are equal to children who are raised by one or more heterosexual parents in emotional, cognitive and social development. They most certainly fare better than the more than 100,000 children left waiting for a home every year within the foster care system. Research has found there are no significant differences between heterosexual and homosexual parents in their parenting abilities, parenting attitudes or emotional stability.

Choice Network’s only priority is creating happy, healthy, stable, permanent families and we are looking forward to working with more LGBT clients because two dads (or moms) are always better than none. :)

Sources

1. Administration for Children and Families (June 2011). http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/statistics/adoptfs_tbl8_2010.pdf

2. The AFCARS Report. (January 2011). http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/tar/report18.htm

3. Center for American Progress, Family Equality Council, & Movement Advancement Project (October 2011).
http://lgbtmap.org/file/all-children-matter-full-report.pdf

4. The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute (2006). http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/publications/2006_Expanding_Resources_for_Children%20_March_.pdf

5. Same-Sex Couples and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Population: New Estimates from the American Community Survey. (October 2006) http://escholarship.org/uc/item/8h08t0zf

6. Same-Sex Couple Households (September 2011)

www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acsbr10-03.pdf

Adoption Myths in the Media

2012-01-26T10:13:00.000-05:00

Hi all, my name is Samantha and I am one of the new interns here at Choice
Network. My experience thus far has been so incredible and eye opening. Yet the
more experiences I am gaining with this amazing organization, and the amazing
people we have the privilege of working with, the more I am puzzled by where my
previous beliefs and stereotypes about the world of adoption originated. Then it
struck me, a lot of my previous assumptions were likely strongly influenced by
the media. Lately there have been a lot of popular TV shows with adoption plots
including: Glee, Parenthood, Private Practice, Once Upon a Time and Modern Family
as well as “reality” shows like 16 and Pregnant. Five of the six shows (83.3%)
mentioned have had a story line where the birth mother changes her mind to choose
either a different family or to choose parenting. In the experience of our agency so
far, only 8.3% of our birth moms have ever made that choice.

Once Upon a Time has been scrutinized for perpetuating many negative assumptions
about adoption including presenting the birth and adoptive mothers as apposing
and even quite confrontational entities. The show puts the relationships between
the child and his two respective parents as mutually exclusive threats to each
other and encourages him to promote secrecy and lying. Additionally the show is
notorious for its use of negative adoption language using phrases such as “threw
him out” and “unfit mother” rather then embracing the reality that adoption is a
thoughtful, loving, difficult choice that for many women, especially those choosing
open adoption, encompasses a lifelong and ever changing journey of creating and
maintaining balanced, harmonious relationships.

Glee also came under fire for one of their adoption story lines, so much so that
FOX TV was presented with a petition of over 2500 signatures asking for public
service announcements to be aired speaking about the ‘reality of adoption’. In the
story line, a young birth mother changes her mind months after her adoption has
been completed and is portrayed as trying to sabotage the adoptive mother-going
so far as to plant fake evidence in her home and report her to children’s services.
Petitioners were most concerned that though this storyline is obviously dramatic and an
unrealistic situation it still promotes the ideas that adoption is temporary and that a
birth mother could potentially take the child ‘back’ when these are not true realities.

The most striking thing to me now about all of these shows? There is never a
mention of choice counseling, grief counseling, or of matching. Both of these elements
are crucial to the adoption process, for everyone involved, and processes that this agency
makes great efforts to perfect, provide, and improve upon at every need and opportunity.
Though adoption is an intricate and multifaceted journey it is my new experience
and perspective that open adoption is a wonderful, beneficial, and beautiful choice
and experience. I am so happy to be a part of this team and I am looking forward to
sharing more of my knowledge by experiences with others.

-Samantha

Sources:
-http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/adoption/story/2011-10-30/Foxs-
Glee-has-harmful-adoption-story-petition-says/51004490/1

-http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/11/29/discourses-on-adoption-on-
once-upon-a-time/

Secrecy around unplanned pregnancy

2011-10-26T13:38:00.001-04:00

So we all hear so much about Hollywood's Adoptive Families
But what about the birthmoms who made their families possible?! In today's society, women face so much stigma over their reproductive choices. I was recently at a hair appointment, and my stylist said when she announced her pregnancy to her clients many asked her quite frankly whether she was considering adoption or abortion due to her young (25!) age and unwed status.

Working in social services it is apparent whether women choose adoption, abortion or parenting they are liable to be stigmatized. Planned Parenthood has reported recently that one in four women will have an abortion by the time they reach thirty. Yet, no one discusses the prevalence of this issue in society. Similarly, why is it so prominent and positive to be an adoptive family, but still so secretive and scary to be a birth family?

Making an adoption, abortion or parenting plan today more than ever before is about researching all options and making a plan. In the case of adoption, the birth families we work with interview their adoption agencies and adoptive families, research the level of openness they want in their adoption plan and place their child in a situation that meets or exceeds their expectations out of love for their child. Birth families should be given the respect they are due for making the hardest parenting decision any family could make, yet instead they are marginalized by society and taught to be ashamed of their selfless decision.

Do you know a woman who faced an unintended pregnancy? What were some reactions or stigmas you associated with her decision? What if women felt less stigma discussing an unplanned pregnancy, maybe we would have no more need for safe haven laws, or women forced into a decision they weren't ready for based on social standards and expectations.

Another 16 and Pregnant Star Loses their Child

2011-09-26T17:19:00.002-04:00

The scary side of Mtv's 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom

Our social workers at Choice Network have had alternating moments of love and hate towards the ultra popular MTV shows "Teen Mom" and "16 and Pregnant." On the one hand, any shows about unplanned pregnancy raise awareness about the issue.

On the other hand, because of the glamor and appeal that surrounds the popular network station, many teenagers have a very unrealistic view of pregnancy and parenting.

In a 2010 court report, Amber Portwood, one of the stars of Teen Mom revealed she makes $280,000 per year from the show. While the show does not characterize her as wealthy, it is apparent she does not need to rely on employment, budgeting, or social services as the majority of teenagers in similar situations must. All of the Teen Moms are shown purchasing new cars, renting beautiful apartments, traveling and getting cosmetic surgery.

What is the reality about teen moms? According to stayteen.org:

-Only one-third of adolescent mothers will graduate high school, and only slightly over 1 percent of those will earn a college degree before they turn 30.
-Two-thirds of families begun by a young unmarried mother are poor. More than half of all mothers on welfare had their first child as a teenager.
-Daughters of teen moms are three times more likely to become teenage mothers themselves. The sons of teen moms are two times more likely to end up in prison.
-Eight out of ten fathers in cases of teen pregnancy don't marry the mother of their child, and these absent fathers pay less than $800 annually for child support.
-Children who live apart from their fathers are also five times more likely to be poverty striken than children with both parents at home.

The real teen moms of the world are less glamorous than MTV would have you believe.

Interview with a birthmom

2011-09-26T16:55:00.003-04:00

“An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.” Ancient Chinese Proverb

A lot of times when adoptive families first begin to think about adoption, they wonder, who is a typical birth parent. What does a birth mother look like; is she typically Caucasian, African American, Hispanic? Is she typically, young or old. Is she typically religious or atheist?

The truth to this question is; we do not know. While there is plenty of data surrounding women who choose abortion and women who parent, women who select adoption are harder to characterize. Because of the variety of adoption plans in the United States (attorney versus agency, facilitator versus state) it is nearly impossible to have a complete statistic on those most likely to become birth parents. We have some educated guesses about these women though. 91% of the women Choice Network worked with in the past had aspirations to complete an educational or professional goal at the time they placed their child. 100% felt choosing to place their child was done for the benefit of the child. 53% were already parenting other children. 87% had completed some college at the time they placed their child. On average a Choice Network woman is 24 years old.

To get a closer look at a birthmother, we asked some of our clients if they would feel comfortable giving an interview about themselves and their adoption journey. Several were open to this and willing to share their thoughts and feelings on the subject. One client, currently a mother of two gave us the following interview:

CN: How did you find Choice Network?

I got a UTI and went to the hospital. During the exam, the nurse asked me if I knew I was pregnant. I guess she ran a routine test. I thought she was lying and said 'no way." After that I called the clinic

CN: And by the clinic you mean an abortion clinic?

Yes

CN: How far were you in your pregnancy at that time?

Well when they did the ultrasound I found out I was almost 20 weeks. I could have done the procedure, but not being that far. My family was already disappointed when I told them I was going to have an abortion, but I didn't care. I knew I couldn't have another child in my house. I had too much on my plate already. I thought, this person inside of me is...almost grown. I didn't know if I could have the abortion.

CN: So what made you think adoption was a good option?

When I couldn't do the abortion I thought about my little cousin who was adopted. I know she brought my aunt and uncle a lot of joy. I decided I would have to put this child's feelings in front of mine.

CN: When did you choose your adoptive family?

It was right around Christmas. I saw a few books and picked this family. They had two adopted children already, so I knew when the time came to discuss adoption my child wouldn't feel left out. I really connected with Brandon (adopted father) I loved Trina too, but when we met, Brandon and I could talk about everything together. It was just easy. I knew they were the right family for this child... After I met them, I just started to feel like I was doing the right thing for them- carrying this child so they could have the family they wanted.

CN: What was the hardest part of the adoption journey?

Telling my mom. Without a doubt. I sometimes wish I could go back and not have told her. She only put her feelings before mine. She nagged me all the time that adoption was the wrong decision. She was just being a brat. She wanted to take the baby and raise her. She wasn't thinking about my feelings, only her own.

CN: How is your relationship with your mom today?

I think it's better. She told me the other day that she was proud of me and I was shocked! I think because she got to meet the family and the child that she finally realized I did the right thing. I did the right thing for my children and myself.

CN: What advice would you give another woman in a similar situation regarding abortion, adoption or parenting?

I can't really give advice except, do what you want to do. Don't listen to advice or opinions of other people or else you are going to feel regret. It's important to make your own decision.

2011-09-21T17:45:00.002-04:00

The future of true open adoption, check out this Daily Show special interview

Open adoption benefits families and children

"There was joy in the fact that I knew this child was going to know me and also that she had an absolutely wonderful family."

Top 5 Things You Should Ask Your Adoption Professional

2011-09-21T16:16:00.001-04:00

As an agency that works with women choosing adoption, abortion and parenting, our social workers often come in contact with women who have previously chosen each of the above options. Using their feedback we compiled a list of great questions to ask your adoption professional if you are a birth parent considering creating an adoption plan.

5. What Makes you an Adoption Expert? This seems like a no brainer, however with the ever evolving climate around social services it is always important to ask your social service worker what their background and skill set is. What we see in the adoption world a lot is when a woman announces she is pregnant and considering adoption, she can be swarmed by well intended family members and friends who know a friend, who knows an attorney, who knows a social worker who knows a couple from church, who has considered adoption. This networking was an awesome way in previous decades to make a match between a birth parent and an adoptive family. Today, however, we have much more sophisticated methods for finding the perfect match.

Just last year, we had a client come to Choice Network. She stated she was considering adoption but wanted "truly awesome" prospective adoptive family. She wanted her child to be bilingual and she wanted nothing short of "two astronauts." We matched her and her infant with...NASA engineers for an adoptive family.

In today's modern day, the birth family has a right and obligation to find the perfect adoptive family for their children. As a birth parent, you have the right to request face to face interviews, references, and profiles on the families you are selecting from.

Now if you have a right to ask this of your adoptive applicants, you have the same right to ask this of your Adoption Professional. Some great questions to ask: What licensure do you hold? What brought you to adoption work? How many years have you worked in this field? And most importantly...What makes you an adoption expert?

4. What kind of Adoption Plans Does Your Agency Facilitate- In the United States, there are three recognized forms of adoption. Open Adoption, Semi-Open Adoption and Closed Adoption. Open Adoption is everything from in person visits between the birth family and adoptive family, exchange of photos, letters, cards and names can be common. In an open adoption the birth parents, with the help of a social worker usually selects and interviews the adoptive family. Sometimes the adoptive and birth families decide on a name for the child together, share an e-mail account to facilitate picture shares and maintain a connection sometimes beyond or outside of the facilitation done by an attorney or adoption agency.

Semi Open Adoption would be sharing first names, medical histories and other very limited but pertinent information. This information share can be similar to an open adoption in that you are sharing cards, letters, photos but is limited to non identifying information. Usually a social worker or attorney will facilitate the exchange of the information to maintain the confidentiality on both the side of the adoptive family and the birth family. Semi Open Adoption is a great option for birth families who want to remain in control of their own privacy during the process, but still want to remain informed on how the child is progressing and blossoming in the care of their adoptive family.

Meanwhile Closed Adoption would be an adoption professional, such as an attorney, securing the match without ever having any information shared between parties. The birth family would not select the family, and the adoptive family would have no information on the birth family as well.

At Choice Network, we only operate Open and Semi Open adoptions. We feel that when you look at adoption as a lifelong process, and not a singular act, only the above two facilitation processes allow for healing. A birth family may feel today that they don't need to know about the child, but the wonderful aspect of open adoption and semi open adoption is that if they decide they want a more open relationship in five years, the pictures, letters and updates will be waiting and available for them through the agency.

Conversely, when you look at the life of a child, the three most prevalent questions adoptive children have surrounding their adoptions are 1) Why did my birth family choose adoption for me 2) Is my birth family ok today and 3) What do my birth parents look like. All of these questions can be answered in the most truthful and respectful way with Open and Semi Open adoptions.

If your agency or attorney operates all three or only one or two, ask them why they made this decision and what adoption plan they feel would be best for you considering your expectations of the adoption process.

3. Can I Speak With a Former Birth Parent Who Used Your Services? Remember when you first met your favorite teacher or coach and you wanted to tell everyone about them? Remember the first session you had with an excellent therapist who really "got you?" We've found adoption services are no different. If you've had a supportive adoption social worker, many times you will be happy to advocate, volunteer and give support back to the agency. Your adoption worker should have several birth parent references and should be able to link you with a former client that can give you an honest assessment of their interactions with the agency or attorney.

2. What Happens After I Place with Your Agency? This is one of the most important questions you can ask your agency or attorney. The biggest emotional let down a birth family can receive is believing their attorney or adoption advocate will provide ongoing services, only to find this to be untrue. Ask your adoption professional; what support will you give me one week after I place my infant, one month after I place my infant and five years after I place my infant with your agency. Can I call or email whenever I need updates? What kind of aftercare or support have you provided your birth families in the past? Their answers may surprise you or put you at ease in deciding to work with them

1. What Kind of Training do You Give Your Adoptive Families? This is an excellent question to ask your adoption professional. Working in adoptions, we believe two things determine whether an adoption agency is excellent or mediocre. One, is how much support they provide their birth families. The other is how much education and support they offer their adoptive families.

Many large, national, adoption agencies work with hundreds of couples at a time. Families are assigned individual reading assignments, or asked to fill out independent questionnaires to comprise their adoption knowledge to pass state training requirements. The focus of these agencies is less on making the adoptive applicants completely ready- mind, body and soul, to expand their family, but more or less to get through the bureaucracy to the placement.

Choice Network is completely different. Our families go through a boot camp training process in which we hold their hand through completing the initial application, to the home study, to the post placement visits. Through out this all we provide one on one training and counseling on cultural diversity, adoption related issues, separation and loss and other key topics. We work intensively with our families through therapy, counseling, training and education to ensure we know our adoptive families inside and out. We can therefore be confident, each profile we present to our birth parents is screened to be exactly what our birth family is looking for. We have 100% confidence, each family we work with is completely ready to bring a new child into their family.

Now that we've posted our list of suggestions, if you're a birth family, adoption expert or adoptive family, what are some you may have?

2011-09-21T14:53:00.000-04:00

"He said if the baby looks like him, he's the Dad. If he doesn't than he's not the Dad. I said think whatever you want." Claudia, 15

As Americans, we feel we live in one of the most advanced societies. We have a sophisticated form of government, we value personal rights and have a strong sense of social justice. We would never condone or accept the outright violation of human life that occurs through female infanticide a stagnate trend in China and India. However, are we really more advanced when it comes to the rights of women and children in the face of an unplanned pregnancy?

Although, our rates of infanticide are significantly smaller in America, we have a different, yet still insidious trend regarding unplanned pregnancies. In America, we have a culture of young adults whose only experience with sex education, prenatal care and child rearing revolves around what they learned through Mtv's "16 and Pregnant." Young men are not taught or encouraged to parent and young girls are not taught the value of protecting themselves from an early unplanned pregnancy.

What is the result of these trends? In 2006 in the United States, there was 4.6 billion in outstanding child support owed to women by men. As of 2011, 40% of single mothers in Illinois, were reportedly living in poverty. According to the US Census, 23% of single mothers rely on one or more social welfare supports.

In a five year study which followed families experiencing a pregnancy that occurred out of wedlock, Kathryn Edin states; women and children are the most negatively impacted by these recent trends. Women, she found, are often forced into single parenthood, once fathers fall out of the lives of their children. In her exhaustive study she finds single mothers are more likely to experience depression, use and abuse illegal substances and less likely to be financially independent. In a study done by George Brown, these women are twice as likely to experience depression, poverty and work more than married women.

In an interview with PBS, Edin states "Now, it's not that the mother doesn't count on the father. She hopes and plans for him to be involved in her child's life, irrespective of whether he continues to be involved with her. But the way it works out, the couple has problems, the father drifts away; the woman ends up bearing the sole emotional and financial cost of the child. That, by the way, is a really bad deal for women."

Children, are the second most impacted. In her studies, Edin determines, single mothers are more likely, due to stress and frustration, to use punitive forms of discipline as punishment which can result in aggression in children, which is particularly prevalent in boys. Additionally, children were less cognitively advanced than other children being raised in a two parent home. In a study done by George Brown for the Cambridge journal, single mothers were twice as likely to work full time, yet live in poverty than their married counterparts. What these studies show are single mothers are able to spend less time parenting, while spending more time working all of which seriously impacts the lives of their children and themselves

Yet the stigma of contraceptives, abortion and adoption still remain. American society maintains that "good women" struggle. Good women, our society posits, accept the total liability and responsibility for parenting unplanned pregnancies. Good mothers work two jobs, go to school part time and martyr themselves to produce future generations.

In a society where it is so easy for men to opt out of the parental role, it is important for women to get informed of their rights and understand that contraceptives, abortion and adoption, while not always the most natural decision, can still be great alternatives to an unexpected crisis.

Good mothers have abortions. Good mothers choose adoption. Good mothers know all their options and advocate for themselves.

Touching Lives

2010-10-04T12:44:00.000-04:00

I had an experience recently that made me step back and look at things. I was at the grocery store running around because of course my list wasn't in order according to the store layout. An employee approached me and asked if I was finding everything okay, to which I responded with an automatic, "yes, thank you". I was getting ready to go to my grandmother's funeral the next day and just needed something to make quickly for dinner. I'm not sure if the employee could pick up on my stress, or just frazzled look, but she touched my shoulder and said, "have a good evening, okay?". This touch to my shoulder made me snap back from being on auto pilot to realizing that she was an actual person. I mean, because she physically touched me, I felt like she actually cared. All too often this happens. We just cruise along not really recognizing people as people; only recognizing them as positions. My response "yes, thank you" just popped out of my mouth not really thinking that she was actually asking me if I was finding everything, just that as an employee it was her job to ask me.
Of course the next day at my grandmother's funeral, the expierience of laying someone to rest is always a tough and almost uncomfortable expierience. It causes people to reflect upon their own life and think, "If I die tomorrow, who and how long will I be remembered"? It is sobering to think like this. I feel like I should reach out to as many people as possible. The next time I am at the grocery store I am going to ask that grocery store employee how her day is going and actually listen to her response instead of just smiling and nodding. This is life. Caring and talking and listening to others. You can make a difference.

A lesson in love

2010-09-07T15:17:00.000-04:00

I had twin girls in April 2010 and chose adoption. I was in a good situation because I had the support of my boyfriend (the birth father), my parents, and his parents. I chose adoption because I knew there was no way we could financially support the girls without a lot of help from outside sources that we did not want to have to rely on. I think about my daughters every minute of every day and my apartment is decorated with their pictures on every wall. I chose an open adoption which works out very well for us.We talk to the adoptive parents often and we receive pictures monthly. I would never discredit myself and say that I am not a mother. I know I am a great mother! I admitted that I was in over my head, which is hard to do. I knew that I could not properly raise the girls, so I found a very loving couple that could. It is the most responsible thing I have ever done. When I delivered the girls, I knew I only had 3 days with them before they went home with their adoptive parents. I realized that I was voluntarily breaking my heart for the sake of my daughters. The love I felt for the girls when they were born was absolutely indescribable. My parents always said that they would do anything for me, and now I understand. I did what was right for me and more importantly, right for my daughters, and went through with my adoption plan. The love I felt for them enabled me to go through with it. The love you feel for your children, whether adoptive children or birth children, is incredible. It is an infinite love, true love.

Women's Equality Day 2010

2010-08-27T17:17:00.000-04:00

At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.”The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.

The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.

Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971
Designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex; and

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights: and

WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place.

Information courtesy of National Women's History Project.

It's about what's right for you

2010-08-26T12:31:00.002-04:00

Choice Network has partnered with Capital Care Network to offer a full service adoption agency. Choice Network's vision is...It's about what's right for you. We work to ensure every woman makes the best choice for herself with the guidance of a trusted and objective team of professionals. We adhere to the highest standards of excellence and follow a principled approach guided by a licensed Social Worker. Trained, balanced staff partner with community leaders to offer a full array of adoption services.

Services offered for birth mothers include: your own personalized adoption plan, counselor and support network available to you 24 hours a day, as well as grief counseling and support groups.

Services provied for adoptive applicants include: application interview, homestudy, education and training, placement, pre and post finalization services, as well as pre and post counseling and support groups.

Choice Network is also committed to public partnership and education. Our community advocacy group includes staff, community members, and volunteers. We partner with other local organizations and aid in coordination of events that help increase knowledge and awareness.

Choice Network is affiliated with Capital Care Netwprk and is located on-site at all Capital Care Network locations including: Columbus OH, Akron OH, Toledo OH, Dayton OH, and Fort Wayne IN.

A birth mom's story:

2010-08-26T12:30:00.002-04:00

"My adoption journey began last year when I found out, at a routine doctor visit that I was 24 weeks pregnant. From the moment I found out about the pregnancy, I felt shocked and helpless. I cried for three days until I got the referral for Choice Network. To be honest, if Choice Network had not been there for me, I can't even imagine what I would have done. From the day I met Molly, and the rest of the Choice Network staff, I knew I had unconditional support. I could talk to the staff about anything without feeling judged or embarrassed. I choose Choice Network because I needed the support. Choice Network linked me with transportation, housing, and medical care. I am confident that I am making the best decision for my life and my child's life and I am so thankful for my experience with Choice Network."