Adoptions From The Heart will be the first to admit 2021 has been a heck of a year. Nonetheless, with our podcast ‘Heart-To-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart’, we’ve had the opportunity to accomplish some pretty great things, covering topics throughout the adoption spectrum. With illuminating episodes such as Reflecting on the Field of Social Work During COVID, In-Depth
Support & Wrap Around Services for Expecting and Birth Parents, and The Importance Of Maintaining Openness And Honesty In Open Adoption, we were able to deliver unforgettable information to you all through the voices of adoptees, adoptive parents, birth parents and professionals. In case you weren’t able to catch each episode, here’s the 2021 podcast recap, filled with cultivating conversations and guests of honor we’ve welcomed on this year.
January
In January of 2021, we kicked off the year with an episode discussing In-Depth Support & Wrap Around Services that we offer our Expecting and Birth Parents at Adoptions From The Heart. We were joined by our wonderful social workers Amanda Aliberti and Kristen Kachmar, who went in-depth about why, as an agency, we deemed it necessary to make birth parent support a priority.
February
In February, we were joined once again by Amanda Aliberti, along with outreach worker, Alicia, and Birth mothers, Kristen and Allison, who both placed children through AFTH while battling addiction. In this episode, the guests openly discuss the obstacles of carrying and placing their children while battling substance abuse. Social worker, Amanda Aliberti also discusses the misconception of the challenges of substance abuse in adoption.
Episode Link: https://anchor.fm/a-heart-to-heart-afth/episodes/Ep–9—Addiction–Pregnancy-and-Adoption-eqh6h0
March
In March, AFTH celebrated National Social work month with an episode Reflecting on the Field of Social Work During the COVID-19 pandemic. We were joined by Dr. Chelsea Toth, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Cedar Crest College, as well as three AFTH interns Nikki, Chevonne, and Jackie. The conversation dives further into what it’s like being an essential worker and how the field of social work has been diverted since the start of the pandemic. Challenges, balance, and self-care are also topics of conversation in this episode.
Episode Link: https://anchor.fm/a-heart-to-heart-afth/episodes/Ep–10—Reflecting-on-the-Field-of-Social-Work-During-COVID-essf2s
April
April’s episode was dedicated to infertility awareness, grief, and dealing with diagnosis, treatments, and/or loss. During infertility awareness, AFTH wanted to discuss healthy processing methods of transitioning into considering adoption. Special guests Tracy Whitney and our very own, Michaelina Bendig, discuss their personal experiences with infertility, adoption, and the processes of coming to terms with such loss.
May
Our fifth episode of the year went live in May, with special guest Ashley Kodet. Ashley is a orphans’ court administrator located in the Philadelphia area, with lots of background knowledge in domestic adoption and the foster care system. In this episode, she and Jenna focus on changes in court-related processes during the COVID-19 Pandemic such as court hearings, adoption finalizations, and life post-placement.
July
July of 2021, AFTH was joined by our very own Marilyn Rich, Adoptions From The Heart’s Search Coordinator and District Supervisor. We also were joined by Helen Blair Schuler, former Orphan’s Court Administrator in Montgomery County and continuous provider of adoption search services. In this episode, we discuss everything related to the searching process; laws and regulations, ethical and moral communication, and how to go about reaching out for search services if you are an adoptee, birth parent, or adoptive parent of an adoptee. Reaching out and requesting searches can be a difficult and emotional process, and Marilyn and Helen come together to share their expertise in the matter.
Episode Link: https://anchor.fm/a-heart-to-heart-afth/episodes/Ep–13—Adoptee-and-Birth-Parent-Adoption-Searches-e14onnb
August
For August, our podcast welcomed Keri Friedman and Jennifer Conn for an episode on international adoption. Keri is a Chinese adoptee and Jennifer is a Korean adoptee, both having grown up with parents of different races. In this episode, Keri and Jennifer touch on self-reflection and highlight the many aspects of their experiences that are similar including challenges relating to transracial adoption, confronting the globalization of Western beauty standards, and shaping their identity over time.
Episode Link: https://anchor.fm/a-heart-to-heart-afth/episodes/Ep–14—Asian-Adoptee-Stories-from-Different-Generations-e164j5e
September
In September, we covered DNA testing and birth family searches. We welcomed Brianne Kirkpatrick, a genetic counselor and co-author of ‘The DNA Guide for Adoptees’; a book that discusses how to uncover who you are and connect with your biological families through genealogy and genetics. In this info-packed episode, we discuss why DNA kits are often used, why adoptees are encouraged to seek counseling along with birth parent searches, the different types of DNA kits, testing on minors and so much more.
Episode Link: https://anchor.fm/a-heart-to-heart-afth/episodes/Ep–15—DNA-Testing-and-Birth-Family-Searches-e17mh1s
November
In November, During National Adoption Month, Adoptions From The Heart deemed it necessary to highlight all of the voices of the adoption triad. The first episode of the month featured adoptees, Issac Etter and Eliza Stone, who discussed what it was like growing up as transracial adoptees. The pair tackled the struggles they fought then and still struggle with, changing the stigma of agency and adoptee partnerships, and creating longevity in future successes within the adoption community.
Episode Link: https://anchor.fm/a-heart-to-heart-afth/episodes/Ep–16—NAM-SPECIAL–Discovering-Your-Identity-As-An-Adoptee-e19v1er
The second national Adoption Month special featured four birth mothers, Seyara, Samantha, birth mom and educator, Courtney Tierra, and birth mother and blogger, Hope Baker. This episode was a montage of past episodes, highlighting these brave women and their individual, unique, experiences. These four birth mothers touch on placing their child for adoption, the pressure they felt from those around them and the support Birth Mothers need throughout the process as a whole.
Episode Link: https://anchor.fm/a-heart-to-heart-afth/episodes/Ep–17—NAM-SPECIAL–Highlighting-Birth-Mother-Stories-e1af418
In the last episode for National Adoption Month, we were joined by Liz and Sarah, also known as, 2AdoptiveMamas for some insight on Adoptive moms who are taking steps to be the change they want to see in the adoption community! These 2 mamas have very different adoption stories but are connected by similar experiences of which brought them together to be of great resources to listeners like yourself. Liz and Sarah shared great tips and information about Adoptive parenthood, the importance of community, and the impact of foundational communication and trust!
Episode Link: https://anchor.fm/a-heart-to-heart-afth/episodes/Ep–18—NAM-SPECIAL–Parenthood–Community-and-Foundational-Trust-e1ap34b
December
And lastly, In December, Adoptions From The Heart wanted to end the year with a bang. We were joined by author, speaker, open adoption advocate, and host of the podcast ‘Adoption: The Long View’, Lori Holden, discussing what open adoption should be and ways of ensuring adoptive parents are doing what’s needed in the best interest of the child. She and Jenna also dive into the effects and impacts of maintaining openness in the household and with birth parents, the importance of honoring Post-adoption contact agreements and doing so authentically, as well as, diving into the importance of extended birth families and educating everyone involved.
For more information on something, you may have heard in one of these episodes, visit afth.org to find out more information!
