News & Announcements | Open Private Adoption Agency

Adult Adoptees Will Have Access To OBC in November 2017

HB 162 Last November, Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 162 into law. Which means, beginning this November adult adoptees born in Pennsylvania can file for a non-certified copy of their original birth certificates. Current law states that an adoptee is able to petition the courts for a copy of their original birth certificates for a [...]

A Celebration For Birth Mothers

A day at the Mermaid Factory Birth Mother’s Day is a celebration for mothers who placed their child for adoption. Creating an adoption plan is a selfless, yet difficult decision to ensure a child is with a wonderful family. Birth mothers are celebrated on the Saturday before Mother’s Day every year. Last month, AFTH's Virginia [...]

Single Parent Adoption

Single Parent Adoption Single adults who are considering parenthood, often wonder whether adoption is an option for their situation. However, more agencies and birth parents are considering an individual's character, stability, and parenting capabilities, as oppose to their marital status when deciding what families will be a good fit for an adoptive baby. Per ChildWelfare.gov, [...]

Celebrating Birth Fathers

Father’s Day is right around the corner – the one day out of every year, where we celebrate paternal bonds and recognize a father’s contributions to his family. Yet for some Father’s Day takes on a different tone. Birth fathers are often forgotten during the celebration of fatherhood – and some do not get the [...]

2017 Adoptions From The Heart Family Picnic Recap

29 years... Last Sunday, Adoptions From The Heart hosted their 29th Annual Family Picnic, hosted at Fort Washington State Park in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. Hundreds of people joined us for a day of celebration and to honor families built through adoption. Our picnic allows adoptive parents and birth parents to reunite and recognize all members of [...]

Adoptions From The Heart’s 29th Annual Family Picnic

Celebrating Adoption As part of their lifelong commitment to building beautiful families through adoption, Adoptions From The Heart (AFTH) is proud to announce that they are hosting their 29th Annual Family Picnic on Sunday June 4th, 2017 at Fort Washington State Park. This joyous event will host over 1,500 adoptive parents, birth parents, and children [...]

The Benefits of Open Adoption

In 1985, Executive Director Maxine Chalker, established Adoptions From The Heart – the first open adoption agency in the Tri-State area. AFTH recognizes the importance in allowing birth parents and adoptive parents the opportunity to collaborate with one another throughout their adoption journey. Although open adoption isn't for everyone, it's estimated that 95% of U.S. infant adoptions have [...]

Tips to Kick-start your Attorney-Client Relationship

The adoption journey is a wonderful and exciting time for those looking to expand their family. However, the process can also be distressing – especially if there are legal complications. Finding a family attorney who is familiar or specializes in adoption is a great way to make sure you are receiving accurate legal guidance. The [...]

Infertility Awareness: Facts & Statistics

The National Infertility Association, defines infertility as the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after 1 year. If over the age of 35, the time of trying to conceive is reduced to 6 months. Over 7 million women of child bearing age suffer from infertility issues, as reported by the U.S. Centers of Disease [...]

Things to Consider Before You Pursue a Transracial Adoption

Before deciding to adopt outside of your race, there are a few things you should consider. Here are some things to think about: Analyze your community It is crucial that your child forms meaningful relationships with others of the same race. Ask yourself the following questions. How diverse is your neighborhood? Are the schools in [...]