Bill Introduced To Ban LGBTQ Bias In Foster Care And Adoption

The Every Child Deserves a Family Act has been reintroduced by two members of the House of Representatives. This bill would protect LGBTQ individuals and families who express interest in adoption and fostering children.

Representative Lewis stated that:

"Many adults want to open their homes and their hearts, but they also are facing more and more barriers, because some officials can say they practice the wrong religion, love the wrong person, or are not married. The Every Child Deserves a Family Act puts the happiness and well-being of our children front and center, engaging every possible match between solid families and children searching for a home. We must each do our part to ensure that every young person and capable, aspiring parents are able to enjoy the dream of a loving, stable family together.”

The bill will also prevent any LGBTQ children from being forced to participate in any sort of conversion therapy.  

Many LGBTQ rights groups have called attention to the bill by praising it and the changes it proposes to make.

Adoptions From The Heart Has Supported LGBTQ Adoption For Decades 

 The experienced adoption professionals from Adoptions From The Heart are proud to have supported the LGBTQ community for decades. Our adoption agency is happy to work with individuals and couples who are interested in adding to their family. 

 Our adoption agency assists with home studies, helps prospective parents find financial and legal help, and adds family profiles to the list of waiting families for birth mothers to review. AFTH is an open adoption agency and is happy to dispel any myths that you may have heard about the open adoption process. 

To learn more about the adoption process, contact Adoptions From The Heart today.

 Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384   


 

Family Adopts Four Children With Rare Disease

Growing up, Kristi Smith was diagnosed with a rare disease commonly known as PKU. PKU stands for phenylketonuria, a genetic disease which causes increased levels of phenylalanine in the blood. This buildup can result in seizures, poor brain development, and other severe health issues. Thankfully, the disease can be controlled through a strict diet.

Getting pregnant with PKU can be dangerous for both mother and child, so when Kristi and her husband Matt decided to become parents, they chose adoption. They also decided that they would be very interested in adopting children with PKU since they already need to live a lifestyle that suits Kristi's needs.

International Adoption Creates A Family Of Six 

After searching for several years, the Smiths found their first two children in China. They flew over and adopted Luke and Andrew, two-year-old boys. A few years later, Kristi also connected with a 7-year-old and a 13-year-old. Unsure if they could afford to adopt two more children, the couple advocated for the children and begged others to adopt, but to no avail. So they once again flew overseas and came home with two more boys.

Despite concerns because the older boys had not been on a PKU diet, the family of four is thriving. Their oldest son, Ben, was originally non-verbal but is already learning to speak in his new, caring environment where his medical needs are being met.

You can read the Smiths full adoption story here.

Are You Considering Adoption?

 Adoptions From The Heart has been helping individuals and couple with the adoption process for more than 30 years. Although primarily a domestic adoption agency, our adoption professionals can assist with international adoption home studies.

To learn more about the adoption process contact one of our local adoption agencies.


Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384   

Adoptions From The Heart Harrisburg Has Moved To A New Office

The team at Adoptions From The Heart is proud to announce that they have moved to a new location in Harrisburg, PA. The new address is now:

Adoptions From The Heart
5630 Linglestown Rd #3012, 
Harrisburg, PA 17112

Services Offered At AFTH Harrisburg

 Over the past several decades Adoptions From The Heart has helped to build more than 6,000 families through domestic adoption. The agency offers assistance to both birth parents and adoptive parents, as well as a lifetime of support for adoptees. 

Services Offered To Prospective Parents 

 Our adoption professionals take the time to educate each prospective parent about domestic adoption. We can assist with home study services, provide counseling, can provide connections to legal and financial resources, and access to our prospective parent database. 

Services Offered To Birth Parents

Adoptions From The Heart helps birth mothers get the medical care that they and their child need, provides counseling services, can assist with helping to find a place to live, and helps to connect birth mothers with approved waiting families. 

To take your first steps on this amazing journey, contact our Harrisburg office today.

Adoptions From The Heart Has A New Location In Pittsburgh

The experienced adoption professionals at Adoptions From The Heart Pittsburgh are pleased to announce that the local office has moved to a new address:

Adoptions From The Heart
116 E Pittsburgh St,
Greensburg, PA 15601

The team will provide the same services as before to both pregnant women and prospective parents.

Adoptions From The Heart: Helping Build Pittsburgh Families Through Domestic Adoption 

 Adoptions From The Heart seeks to connect birth parents and adoptive parents through domestic adoption.

The agency assists birth mothers by:

• obtaining medical care for both mother and child
• providing a connection to legal assistance 
• providing supportive counseling for as long as is needed 
• giving access to a database of waiting prospective parents 

Prospective parents will find that they will be able to:

• find assistance with home study services
• create an online profile for birth parents to review
• connect with legal and financial resources 
• join a support group 

To learn more about additional services that are offered to both parties, contact our Pittsburgh adoption team today. 

Everything You Need To Know About Kinship Care

What Is Kinship Care?

Kinship care, in its most basic form, is an arrangement in which a child who has gone into the custody of the state can be cared for by one of the child's relatives.

According to New York City Caregiver, to be considered a candidate for kinship care you must be one of the following:

• aunts
• brothers
• sisters
• great aunts
• cousins
• grandparents
• husbands and wives of the aforementioned respectively

Why Kinship Care?

Generally, when a parent loses custody of their child, the state will try to eventually reunite the child with his or her parent. The goal of the state isn't to separate the family for more than necessary.

For situations where it looks like the parent will be able to eventually regain custody, or for the state agency to determine its next plan for the child, kinship care allows the child's family to step in and care for the child privately on a temporary basis.

The Pros and Cons of Kinship Care

The Pros

• Keeps the child with family members
• Gives the child more stability
• Allows grandparents or other relatives to continue being part of the child's life
• Eligibility for kinship care isn't too strenuous once the familial relationship status is met

The Cons

• Kinship care amounts to temporary physical custody
• Major decisions can't be made without the consent of the state or the agency with legal custody
• Foster care payments aren't available to kinship care providers

Is Kinship Care the Right Option For Me?

As with any question related to custody arrangements for children who have been taken from their homes, the answer here is that it depends.

If it appears that the parent will soon meet the requirements for custody, kinship care might be a quick and easy final solution.

On the other hand, if you want to care for the child permanently, you may have to consider using kinship care as a stepping stone to formal adoption or guardianship.

Contact us to find out more about your options if you're considering the adoption of a relative.

To learn more about adoptions, contact our Adoptions From The Heart offices in:

Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384   
 

8 Steps To Adopting A Special Needs Child

If you can't have a child, adopting a special needs child can be a good way to go. The procedure can be long, but once the adoption is final, you'll have a unique new addition to your family.

8 Important Adoption Steps

1. Look for a legitimate special needs adoption agency

Most orphanages and adoption centers only allow applications from adoption agencies they recognize.

2. Find out what you need to do

Once you've found a legitimate adoption agency, find out more about the adoption process, such as how much time and money is involved.

3. Get your application folder together

You'll need to submit the following documents:

• criminal background check
• certified copies of health documents
• a cover letter
• tax documents that show your yearly income
• the number of people in your family
• pictures of your family and home

A certified notary will also need to authenticate them.

4. Fill out the application

You'll also need to complete an application where you state the age of the child you want to adopt, as well as their health status and gender.

5. Wait for a referral

After the adoption agency approves your application, they may send you a referral that includes the child's picture and a brief introduction letter. If you want more information, you can contact the adoption agency. Once you've found out what you need to know, you can give them your answer.

6. Travel to the location to finish the adoption

If you're adopting a child that lives in another state or country, you may have to travel to the location to finish the process.

7. Get an exit permit

Once you've met the child and have gotten to know them, you'll have to get an exit permit for them.

8. Complete more paperwork

Once the adoption is final, there may be more paperwork. If you're adopting internationally, you may have to get them a passport and immigrant visa.

The procedure is long but worth it.

To learn more about adoptions, contact our Adoptions From The Heart offices in:

Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384   

Unplanned Pregnancy And Adoption As An Option

Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy can be scary and you may feel like you are alone. Maybe you don't have the financial resources to care for a baby at this point in your life. You may not be emotionally mature enough to be a parent right now. But, you still want to have the baby and do what is best for the baby. One option you should consider is adoption.

Why Adoption Is A Good Option

You no doubt want to do what is right for your baby. You want him or her to have a good life and to be happy. Perhaps, you are not at a point in your life right now where you can provide a loving, nurturing home for your child that would allow him or her to thrive.

One of the greatest acts of love that a mother in your position can do is to give her baby up for adoption to a loving and financially secure family that will provide a stable home for the child. There are so many wonderful couples who want nothing more than to have children but are unable to do so. But, when you choose adoption, your baby receives a good home and a loving couple gets to experience the joy of having a child. With some agencies like AdoptionsFromTheHeart, you can select the family you want for your baby, which brings up the next point.

You Are Involved In The Adoption Process

Maybe you're thinking about adoption, but you are afraid of what type of family your child will go to. This is why it is essential that you understand the adoption process and your part in it. You can be relieved to know that you do not have to blindly place your baby with a family of which you have no knowledge. Once you start the adoption process, you can review prospective adoptive families and possibly meet and interview them. You can then select the family that you feel most comfortable with.

To learn more about adoptions, contact our Adoptions From The Heart offices in:

Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384