by Iris Waichler, L.C.S.W. I recently listened to an incredible episode of the radio show This American Life.  It was the story of 2 baby girls that were switched at birth.  One mother knew nothing about it and the other mother knew but said nothing for 43 ...

By Carolyn Berger, LCSW  When my biological son, Zach, was born I remember looking at him and thinking how he didn’t look anything like I’d imagined.  With his dark wavy hair and olive skin he looked very different from the pink baby with just a touch of blond hair that I ...

by Dawn Smith-Pliner Awestruck by the birth of her first grandbaby, one grandmother was shocked when she realized her tears were not those of joy, but of sadness.  Realizing her grandbaby looked nothing like her brought back all of the struggles of her own infertility. Like lightening ...

 By Joni S. Mantell, L.C.S.W.  For many, the decision to pursue adoption comes after years of struggling with infertility. Letting go of the dream for a biological child and embracing your deepest wish - to become a parent - usually involves some emotional work, your own and also ...

by Rita Soronen, President & CEO, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Unadoptable. This is a word that I have heard attributed to some children in the foster care system, but this way of thinking is unacceptable. No child is too old, too much trouble or too sick to be denied what we believe ...

by Andrea Braverman, Ph.D. When is enough, enough?  This question creeps in at different moments as you pursue infertility treatment.  Enough is a judgment that is weighed individually but has common thoughts and feelings.  For many, the point of Enough is reached when treatment ...

Yesterday, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption announced the fifth annual 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list recognizing organizations nationwide for their adoption benefits. The Wendy's Company is No. 1 on this year's list, with a combination of up to $24,300 in adoption assistance ...

By Carolyn Berger, LCSW, with Lisa Schuman, LCSW The blended family, one that’s created through birth and adoption, has been a part of the adoption landscape for a long time.  There are different types of blended families—those where an adopted child is the first child and those ...

by Corey Whelan The decision to move on from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to a donor egg IVF cycle is a very personal one.  You may see your funds running out, with no clear understanding of why IVF is not working for you.  Some women in this situation may have gone through three cycles ...

By Carolyn N. Berger, LCSW The first thing you notice when looking through the literature on birthfathers is how little there actually is.  When we think about the “adoption triangle,” those people who play pivotal roles in an adoption, we are generally talking about the child, ...