Category Archives: Adoptive Families

How to Pick an Adoption Agency

By Hailey Andrews | Published 04/17/2013

When you begin to look for adoption agencies, how do you know which agency is right for you? There is a great deal of variation between agencies: their services, their costs, and their philosophies about adoption. Here are a few things that you should consider when making your decision. 1. Know the differences in the [...]

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Ready, Set, Wait

By Ryan Schwab | Published 04/02/2013

Editor: This is a post from Tennessee IAC clients Matthew and Trey, originally published on The Next Family, a website that promotes and advocates for non-traditional families. Hurry up and wait. I am not sure there is a better phrase to describe the adoption process. There is no known equation to determine how long the [...]

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Los Angeles Support Group for Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Dads

By Ryan Schwab | Published 01/22/2013

We recently learned about a new support group for LGBTQ fathers that is taking place weekly in Los Angeles. The information below comes from the sponsoring group (note: IAC is not affiliated with this program, we’re just passing the info along). Project Fatherhood of Children’s Institute, Inc., in conjunction with the L.A. Gay & Lesbian [...]

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Celebrating the Holidays After Adopting

By hcuillier | Published 12/19/2012

An IAC alumni, Heather Cuillier, talks about what the holidays mean to her and how it’s meaning and traditions have changed since adopting: How have holidays changed since adopting your daughter Kendall? Our families have always gotten into the holiday spirit – decorations, trees, parties, food, eating, baking, big family gatherings; so I think having [...]

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IAC Alumni on The Long Road to Family

By Ryan Schwab | Published 12/10/2012

IAC Alumni Joe Pinchot and Judi Swogger recently wrote about their journey through the Foster care system to complete their family. Their article appeared in The Sharon Herald and is reproduced in part here: When we started our second adoption journey, we thought a lot about the result of our first one – our son, [...]

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Daddy’s Arms

By Amalia Gratteri | Published 10/22/2012

In this excerpt from a blog post by Jim Thomas, a prospective adoptive father, he warmly reflects on the love he felt from his own father as a child and the love he longs to give to the child he is waiting to hold. While reminiscing about the relationship he once had with his father [...]

Also posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adoptive families, open adoption, the wait | Leave a comment

Halloween Costume Photo Contest

By Ann Wrixon | Published 10/12/2012

Calling all Frankenstein Monsters, Princesses, Cats and Cowboys: The Independent Adoption Center is excited to announce our first annual Halloween Costume Photo Contest! The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate at Toys’R’Us. Here are the details: Photo must be of your child in his or her Halloween costume (Please note: By submitting any photos, [...]

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Just Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming…

By Amalia Gratteri | Published 09/19/2012

In this excerpt from a blog post by Amy Thomas, a prospective adoptive mother, she beautifully describes the analogy of waiting in relation to the movie “Finding Nemo.” She finds a lesson in the mantra repeatedly spoken by the character Dora, and sees that the path of waiting not only requires trust and faith, but [...]

Also posted in Adoption Stories | Tagged adoption fears, open adoption, the wait | 1 Comment

Adoption in the Media: ‘Modern Family’ Season Finale

By Ian Stewart | Published 06/12/2012

It’s not uncommon for TV shows to throw in a surprise twist for their season finale. The same could be said of the ABC hit comedy Modern Family a couple weeks ago. The episode brought the adoption storyline of Cam and Mitchell back to life as the two received notice from their adoption agency that [...]

Also posted in birthparents | Tagged adoption in the media, gay adoption, Independent Adoption Center, modern family | Leave a comment

Extended Birth Family Matters

By Kathleen Silber | Published 05/10/2012

Question: We are hoping to not only build a wonderful relationship with our birthparents but also extended members of the birth family. What are some ideas adoptive parents have used to include the extended family into their lives? Answer: It’s great that you want to include other members of the birth family in your life. [...]