News & Announcements | Open Private Adoption Agency

Pennsylvania Adoption Laws and Regulations

When adopting a child, it’s important to become familiar with your state’s adoption laws and guidelines. Each state in the U.S. has its own variations of rules and regulations that must be followed throughout the adoption process. If you are adopting a child from a different state, it may be helpful to learn about both [...]

5 Adoption Misconceptions

Adoption is a subject that can be associated with negative stereotypes and misconceptions. Too often the public’s idea of adoption is linked to horror stories, uncertainty and inaccurate information, causing many families to stray away from building and growing their family through adoption. Below are five misconceptions/myths that we debunked for you: Adoption should [...]

HOME STUDY: DO’S and DON’TS

An essential step in the adoption process is completing a home study. A home study is an evaluation and overview of prospective adoptive parents’ personal life and background – which will allow the agency to determine if the adoptive parents are able to provide a stable and safe environment for the child. An adoption professional [...]

Thinking of Adoption? 5 Things To Do To Prepare For The Adoption Process

With a new year in full swing, maybe you are ready to finally make good on the goals you have set out to achieve in the past. If adopting a child is one of those goals, then there’s no better time to start the adoption process than right NOW. When choosing to adopt, there are [...]

Positive Adoption Terminology

When entering the adoption journey, it is important to familiarize yourself with adoption related terms. Often times, people unknowingly utilize negative or outdated adoption language that could be hurtful or offensive to those who are touched by adoption. Positive adoption vocabulary helps to ensure that adoption is viewed as a wonderful way to build [...]

Favorite Adoption Blogs of 2016

Everybody needs a support system, or at the very least someone who can relate to their circumstance or situation. However, often times – people may not have a safety net of family and/or friends they can rely on for judgment free advice. Which is why blogs have become a great resource for those looking for guidance. [...]

AFTH Staff Celebrates The Holidays

Season's Greetings! Last week Adoptions From The Heart hosted a holiday party for staff at Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant. We're so grateful for days, where we can all be together, rejoice in the holiday spirit and reflect on the past year, and what we are looking forward to in the year ahead! Below are a few photos [...]

Gifts For The Birth Mother in Your Life

In most open adoptions, adoptive families have a unique relationship with their child’s birth mother. In many cases, adoptive parents will schedule visits or phone calls, send photos or write letters to birth families, in an effort to create a healthy and happy family dynamic. Some adoptive parents occasionally send gifts – and with the [...]

Q&A with AFTH Newest Adoptive Parents

On Friday November 18, 2016; five AFTH adoptive parents finalized their adoptions, at the Camden County Court House in Camden, NJ. The day of the finalizations fell on National Adoption Day, which made the day all the more fitting and special. We spoke with two of the families, Jennifer and Joe , as well as Leanne and Ryan, [...]

N.J. adoptees get right to original birth certificate in 2017

In most states, when a child is adopted, his original birth certificate is filed and sealed by the court. For years, original birth certificates have not been available to the public, and an adoptee could only access it by a court order under good cause. According to the American Adoption Congress there are only 19 states throughout [...]