Allentown, PA Adoption Agency

August 17, 2017- Black Children Harder To Place For Adoption But Less Expensive

As the tensions around race have recently escalated in the country, another issue has resurfaced around black children and adoption. A news article highlighted the plight of adopting black children in the American adoption system. Black children are less expensive to adopt and their cost is stated to be directly correlated to desirability, supply, and demand. It is estimated that there are 430,000 children in foster care and a quarter of those children are black. The cost of adopting these children is commonly adjusted as an incentive for families. Read more about the costs and debates around adopting black children here.

July 19, 2017- Pennsylvania Parents Share Adoption News With Foster Kids At Disney World

A couple from Pennsylvania finally got the exact date they could adopt their foster children. The couple decided to share the news with the children on a trip to Disney World. They had fostered the two siblings for three years. They planned a trip to Orlando in April so that the children could attend the Star Wars Convention and go to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Just before leaving for their trip the couple was told that they finally have an exact adoption date for their two foster kids. Mickey Mouse helped reveal the wonderful news to the children.

June 20, 2017- Dad Enjoys First Father’s Day After Adopting

Following a two-year wait to adopt, a dad from Raleigh celebrated his first Father’s Day as a dad. With the help of their local group connecting families in North Carolina, the dad and his wife were able to finally adopt their son. The new father wanted to adopt as well because he himself was adopted, but both and he his wife were not prepared for how long the process ended up taking.  However, the couple has stated how grateful they are for the help they received from their family, friends and adoption agency.

May 26, 2017- Organization Uses A Web Platform To Connect Adoptees and Adoptive Parents

An organization has been announced by the Humanitarian Social Innovations of Bethlehem called Overcoming Odds. The organization’s main aim is to make the adoption adjustment easier for both parents and child. Using a software program and web platform, the organization will connect adoptees and adoptive parents with others like them, including cultural and professional resources. Another major important part of this platform is that it will collect and archive people’s stories of adoption in order to make a lasting impact on adoption.

April 20, 2017- Couple Hopes To Adopt Special Needs Children From Chinese Orphanage

A couple is excited to be bringing home two special needs children they are adopting from the same Chinese orphanage. The couple states that they looked through hundreds of photos of orphaned children before they laid eyes on a 7-year-old Chinese girl with Down syndrome as well as a 3-year-old boy with Down syndrome as well.  They are gearing up to travel to the orphanage where the children currently live in China. The couple already has two children, a 13-year-old and 7-year-old but they both wanted to adopt children someday. The wife always gravitated toward children with special needs as she studied education with a focus on special education. She wants to be able to provide better opportunities for children with special needs. Read more about their journey here.

March 16, 2017- Social Media Being Used To Make Adoptions Easier, Quicker, And Affordable

In Greenville, SC adoptions are now available using social media. The purpose of using social media for families looking to adopt is to make adoptions easier, quicker, and affordable. Using social media is believed to connect adoptive parents with expectant moms much quicker. However, before working with an agency, adoptive parents have to complete a home study before proceeding with the adoption process and expectant mothers should also be working with an agency.

February 3, 2017- There’s App For That: New App Connects Children With Adoptive Parents

A pilot program called Family-Match.org has been launched in Virginia that will help put children in families looking to adopt. The founder of the program stated that she sees state adoption systems as ponderous and tend to result in failed placements. She believes that technology is the solution to solving this problem just like it is for people trying to find love on sites like eHarmony or Match.com. Read more about how the app came together here.

December 22, 2016- Adoption Photo Goes Viral

A three-year-old boy’s adoption photo went viral after he had just been adopted. The three-year-old had been in foster care for 832 days. The family he was adopted into was his third foster family. Read more about this Christmas adoption story here.

November 30, 2016- Allentown Child Advocates Highlight Older Kids Adoptions

A ceremony recently held in Allentown celebrating National Adoption Month highlighted the need for adoptive families to consider adopting older children. The Lehigh County Officer of Children and Youth Services stated that they would like to see the youth awaiting adoption, remaining in the Lehigh Valley so that they can stay close to their schools and friends. In Lehigh and Northampton counties, there is a total of 34 families waiting to adopt foster children.

October 28, 2016- Pennsylvania Courts Increase Kinship Arrangements

An Allentown school bus driver adopted her grandchildren when her daughter could not take care of them. Her adoption story is what is called kinship arrangements which are growing in number since they have been formalized by Pennsylvania’s courts. Kinship care is the practice where family members take in a relatives’ child or children when their parents are not able to take care of them. Pennsylvania courts are making a push for child welfare agencies to make finding relatives a priority.

September 8th, 2016 – PA Court Will Not Allow Grandfather And Mother To Adopt Jointly

A woman and her father have attempted to jointly adopt her biological children in an attempt to terminate the absentees father’s partental rights. For more information on this check out Courthouose News.