Adoptive parent resources
Parenting through adoption is unique, and it’s important for adoptive parents to have access to quality support and information along the way. It’s also critical to build community with other adoptive parents, and to listen to the voices of others with lived experience. Seeking support and connection will benefit adoptive parents and their children growing up in adoption.
Here are some resources for adoptive parents:
OA&FS resources for adoptive parents
Please visit our events page to see upcoming speaker panels and peer support cohorts. Our speaker panels are opportunities to learn from members of the OA&FS community who share their lived experience on a range of adoption topics, while our peer support cohorts consist of small groups of adoptive parents with shared interests or similar lived experiences (such as children of a similar age).
We also host summer picnics and winter gatherings for everyone in the OA&FS community in Seattle, Portland, and Eugene. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)info@openadopt.org to make sure you are on our mailing list and hear about these events.
Join the private OA&FS Adoptive Families Facebook Group.
Support groups and connection opportunities for adoptive parents
Adoptive Friends and Families of Greater Seattle. This Seattle-area nonprofit group offers connection and support for those parenting through adoption or in the process of exploring adoption for their family.
Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center. This organization serves adoptive families in the state of Oregon with support groups, therapy referrals, resources, and more.
Pact: An Adoption Alliance. Pact offers a number of support groups for adoptive families, including for transracial families and parents of color.
Finding an adoption-competent therapist
Adoption is a unique experience, and finding someone who gets it is important. Grow Beyond Words has compiled this list of questions to ask when you are looking for support for your child or family from a mental health professional.
Adoptee therapist directory. It can feel important to find a therapist who directly understand your child’s lived experience. This directory from Grow Beyond Words includes U.S. mental health professionals who are also adoptees.
C.A.S.E. accredited therapists. This is a national directory of therapists who have completed the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program through the Center for Adoption Support and Education.
Healing the Adoption Constellation. This database from Unraveling Adoption includes coaches, psychotherapists, hypnotherapists, art therapists, and others who work with members of the adoption constellation.
Resources for adoptive parents
Adoption Mosaic. This adoptee-led organization offers a number of Conscious Adoption courses for adoptive parents.
Creating a Family. This nonprofit organization’s mission is to strengthen foster, adoptive, and kinship families and the professionals who support them by creating expert-based, trauma-informed resources, community support, and training.
Center for Adoption Support and Education. C.A.S.E. provides resources for adoption-competent therapy, case management, support groups, and education.