Open Adoption (Learn) Archives

PACA – What is a Post-Adoption Contact Agreement?

Katie Zimmerman2024-03-05T18:00:05-07:00March 5, 2024|Adoption Education, Adoption Process, Domestic infant adoption, Hoping to Adopt, Learn, Open Adoption (Learn)|

This post discusses the post-adoption contact agreement ("PACA") and its use in domestic adoption. A PACA is an agreement between the parties to the adoption and sets forth the minimum contact agreed upon by the parties and how that contact will take place. This post discusses how and when these agreements are enforceable, as well as the parties to these agreements. We also share our advice to include a written PACA in every adoption, even if it may not be enforceable in the respective state, as it can still be helpful in setting expectations amongst the parties as to the type of openness in the adoption going forward. To read more about a post adoption contact agreement or PACA, click here.

Two Open Adoptions: My Personal Experiences

Aubrey Cortez2024-01-18T13:26:29-07:00January 18, 2024|Adoption Advisor, Adoption Education, Adoption is Hard, Adoption Perspectives, Domestic infant adoption, Hoping to Adopt, Learn, Open Adoption (Learn)|

In today’s blog post, Purl advisor Aubrey Cortez delves into the realm of open adoption, sharing her heartfelt personal experiences with two different open adoptions. This post is specially for prospective adoptive families, who may be contemplating their second adoption or embarking on the journey of pursuing multiple adoptions. Read more by clicking here.

Resources for Talking To Your Child About Adoption

Katie Zimmerman2023-11-15T12:39:04-07:00November 14, 2023|Adoption Advisor, Adoption Education, Adoption is Hard, Adoption Perspectives, Domestic infant adoption, Learn, Open Adoption (Learn)|

As we have talked about more this National Adoption Awareness Month, we are trying to focus more on adoptees and how THEY feel about adoption, rather than continue to push the rosy narrative common of the adoptive parent and adoption professional. One thing I've (Katie: CEO/Found of Purl) found is ...

Navigating Transracial Adoption

Kelcie Grace Germano2023-08-19T11:48:16-07:00August 18, 2023|Adoption Education, Adoption Perspectives, Domestic infant adoption, Hoping to Adopt, Learn, Open Adoption (Learn), Transracial Adoption (Learn)|

Explore the complexities of transracial adoption in today's blog post, "Navigating Transracial Adoption," authored by Ramya Gruneisen. Drawing from her personal experience as a transracial adoptee, Ramya delves into the vital aspects of this journey, offering guidance to adoptive parents and families. With a background in Public Health and a commitment to educating adoption agencies, Ramya provides unique insights on creating a supportive environment and initiating crucial conversations. Join her as she shares valuable practices, emphasizing the significance of representation, community, and empathy in this sensitive process. Click here to read more.

Problems in Domestic Adoption and Purl Filling a HUGE Gap

Katie Zimmerman2024-09-05T18:02:45-07:00July 8, 2023|Adoption Advisor, Adoption Education, Adoption is Hard, Adoption Outreach, Adoption Perspectives, Adoption Process, Domestic infant adoption, Hoping to Adopt, Learn, Open Adoption (Learn)|

What a week it has been! Please excuse the rant that follows as I (Katie - CEO/Founder) share some of my frustrations about the current state of the world of domestic infant adoption. Whether it be recently explaining to an agency director why I won't recommend their licensed adoption agency that routinely ships the expectant mothers they work with across lines to their "adoption friendly" state, or having to justify the work that Purl is doing as an adoption advisor in a sea of unethical adoption professionals, I'm frankly exhausted and questioning why I make the huge effort to do the work I do. Today I candidly some of my thoughts on the problems with the current state of domestic adoption and explain again what Purl is doing to fill the HUGE gaps caused by other adoption professionals. Click here to read more.

Dear Birth Father of My Child

Katie Zimmerman2023-06-18T15:37:13-07:00June 18, 2023|Adoption Education, Adoption is Hard, Adoption Perspectives, Domestic infant adoption, Learn, Open Adoption (Learn)|

This is a letter by an adoptive father to his daughter's birth father, who was not involved in the adoption plan and is still unknown to her adoptive family. I am a dad through adoption and the only person my daughter has known as a father. I wanted to write to you on Father’s Day to share some thoughts I have and to introduce you to the daughter you may not even know is out there. I think of you often but felt compelled this year to share with you my thoughts and feelings about our adoption and about your beautiful daughter. Click here to read more.

Celebrating Adoption Finalization Day

Katie Zimmerman2023-05-21T16:01:22-07:00May 18, 2023|Adoption Advisor, Adoption Education, Adoption is Hard, Adoption Perspectives, Adoption Process, Domestic infant adoption, Learn, Open Adoption (Learn)|

We are continuing our series on "What I Did Wrong as a Prospective Adoptive Parent" with a discussion about celebrating adoption finalization day. I know this one in particular may be hard to hear for some prospective adoptive parents or adoptive parents, and you may not agree with me on it, but please hear me out. I recognize that I too celebrated my child's own adoption finalization day for years, and still acknowledge it even now due to the mistakes I made early in my own adoption journey. But I wanted to at least post about this so people consider whether it makes sense to regularly celebrate this day, particularly once your child has a better understanding of its actual meaning? Click here to read more.

Insecurity About “Mom” and Fears About Open Adoption

Katie Zimmerman2023-05-21T16:02:22-07:00May 17, 2023|Adoption Advisor, Adoption Education, Adoption is Hard, Adoption Perspectives, Adoption Process, Domestic infant adoption, Open Adoption (Learn), Uncategorized|

As Mother's Day approached, I (Katie - CEO/Founder of Purl) tried unsuccessfully to get this blog post up. Because Mother's Day is complicated for so many people, including those touched by adoption. I struggled to organize my thoughts about my own insecurity with my own motherhood through adoption and how that related to my fears of open adoption. While it has been relatively easy for me to share my other mistakes in my adoption journey, this was one area that was especially hard for me. Maybe it was due to embarrassment, but after the 10th draft, here are my still scrambled thoughts... The mistake I'm discussing today centered around my own insecurity about the role of "Mother", and how that impacted my adoption journey and even the early years of my child's open adoption. Click here to read more.

Sharing the Adoption Story: Navigating Sensitivity and Consent

Kelcie Grace Germano2023-04-11T17:32:01-07:00January 24, 2023|Adoption Education, Adoption is Hard, Drug/Alcohol Exposure, Hoping to Adopt, Learn, Open Adoption (Learn)|

In today’s blog post, Adoption Advisor, Kelcie Grace, talks about the importance of NOT sharing your child’s adoption story. She urges adoptive parents to recognize that the entire adoption triad is involved in the adoption story and adoptive parents do not have the right, the permission, nor the experience to ...

Dear Mom of a Child Through Adoption (Author Unknown)

Katie Zimmerman2023-01-22T11:21:10-07:00December 20, 2022|Adoption is Hard, Adoption Perspectives, Adoption Process, Domestic infant adoption, Infertility, Learn, Open Adoption (Learn)|

I (Katie - Founder/CEO) have seen this circulate a hundred times since adopting, but for some reason it hit me harder today so I thought I would memorialize here on our page. For anyone who needs to hear this and feel the community today.... ---- Dear Mom of a Child ...

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