Our adoptive families gathered for a fun-filled picnic to kick off National Adoption Awareness Month. Adoption is one of Catholic Charities’ founding ministries. The expertise and support that staff provides both birth parents and adoptive families leading up to and following adoption is one of the things that sets the program apart from others. “Adoption is truly a gift of love on both sides,” explains Donda McLaughlin, Pregnancy Counseling and Adoption Program Director. “We are very aware of that as we carefully match the birth and adoptive parents.” Adoptive and birth parents must agree to an Open Adoption.
“We don’t have set guidelines, meaning that open adoption varies from family to family. It’s often something that changes over time. But it’s in the best interest of the child to have some form of communication, especially when it comes to learning about their medical history.”
