Once you decide to adopt, you may be so over the moon with joy that you want to share your decision with friends and family.  In your exuberance, you may not even pause to think about what their reaction will be. Unfortunately, the process isn't what you expect. For numerous reasons, some friends and family members may be less than...

When pursuing the adoption process, prospective moms and dads usually have a lot of questions.  However, no topic typically causes more anxiety than that of the birth father.  The birth father has feelings for the child and deserves respect and consideration. Just about every adoptive family has heard horror stories about a birth father that appeared out of the woodwork...

A checklist can help couples as they move through the adoption process. Many parents-to-be understand that adoption is a very complex process that involves several ups and downs. However, most can’t really grasp how emotionally-charged it can be until they are right in the thick of it. To deal with the uncertainty, many prospective adoptive parents find it helpful to...

  Adoption is about forming a brand new family.  While many people only think the process is only about a couple adopting a baby, the fact is there are several different types of adoptions available for all types of parents and children. Adoptions are generally handled by two types of agencies: Public agencies, which typically take care of adoptions of...

If you’re looking to adopt for the first time, you may not be aware that there are different types of professionals who can help you achieve your dream of having a family. In addition to traditional adoption agencies, you can also choose from adoption attorneys, consultants and facilitators. They should all help you achieve your goal, but not by taking...

On the surface, the adoption process seems simple enough: You want a baby, you find a birth mother willing to share their precious bundle with you, and you adopt and raise the child. However, adoption is anything but that cut-and-dried. It is, in fact, a highly complex and emotionally-charged process. It is nearly impossible for couples to navigate on their...

When you’re looking to adopt, a home visit can be one of the most stressful parts of the process. After all, you know that you have all you need to provide for a child, but now you essentially have to prove that to a stranger who will examine all aspects of your life and home to determine if you and...

Open adoption provides a path for moms and families to work together. If you’ve been exploring adoption options, you’ve likely comes across the term “open adoption.” This is an adoption option that allows moms-to-be to have more say in adoption placement and in many cases allows future contact based on the desires of both families involved. For decades, the majority...

It’s the news no parent of a young, teenage girl ever really wants to hear, but if those words “I’m pregnant” come out of her mouth, you are going to have to find a way to be calm and supportive. It can be hard trying to figure out where to go from here, so let’s plan a roadmap: Stop #1:...

The typical nine months leading up to childbirth can be overwhelming for any mother, especially if she is unequipped to parent her child in the way she hopes and dreams her child to be raised. If you find yourself in the hospital with your new baby, or even after you go home, wishing you had made an adoption plan for...

Open Arms Adoption Agency wants to be able to connect with you no matter where you are or how far away you may be.  There are many places that offer free Wi-Fi so you can connect with us on your phone or tablet to gather the information you need for adoption and our adoption services.  We don't want to lose...

Let’s be honest, teen pregnancy is hard. Often the most difficult task can be revealing your pregnancy to others – especially your parents. You know the news is going to devastate them. Ever since you were little, they talked about nothing except how you would be going to college, following your dreams and having a terrific life. This is especially...

An unplanned pregnancy is never easy to deal with, but that is especially true when it comes to teen pregnancy. Here you are going about your every day, normal life studying for tests, hanging out with friends and working a part-time job when WHAM! you realize that your period is a month late. Should you take a pregnancy test, do...