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Rick and I chose
Journeys
of the Heart Adoption
Services because of their well-earned reputation for treating
birthparents (and adoptive families) with the upmost compassion,
caring, and respect. Because of this, more birthparents are
choosing to place their child through Journeys of the Heart’s
domestic program – and this is wonderful news for prospective
adoptive families!
The staff at Journeys goes above and beyond to help
birthparents get the help and support they need – everything from
basic necessities (food, rent) to counseling and other services to
help emotionally prepare them for the adoption and placement of
their child. The agency invests in these birthparents, whether
they chose to place their child through Journeys or not.
As Rick and I pursued our adoption through Journeys, it became
obvious that the agency and its staff are completely and
genuinely invested in adoption – not as a business, but to
build and enrich families through domestic and international
adoption. Many staff have adopted children domestically or
internationally or were adopted themselves, and all have a wealth
of experience.
Rick and I found the staff at the Illinois and Oregon offices to
be exceptionally helpful, professional, and caring throughout our
entire adoption journey. Journeys’ staff was very prompt in
scheduling and writing-up our home study; and they gently
encouraged us to keep progressing on our home study and study plan
paperwork while they secured the required DCFS approvals.
Now we understand why Journeys kept urging us to complete our
paperwork. Because of their incredible reputation among
birthparents (many choose to place more than one child with
Journeys or refer friends there) – and more recently due to the
economy – there are currently more babies in Journeys’ domestic
program than prospective adoptive families!
Rick and I entered the "waiting pool” at a time when there were a
record number of prospective adoptive families in the domestic
program. Even with that, it took less than 9 months to be chosen
by our birthparents. The waiting and uncertainty were hard, but
Journeys’ staff kept encouraging us. “Don’t worry. Your child is
out there,” they’d say – and they were right! At the time we
received that message, baby Jeremiah was conceived and well on his
way to being born.
Once you’re chosen by birthparents, things can move very
quickly. Journeys’ staff took time to answer all our
questions, allay any fears, and help coordinate our trips to
Oregon. But this was just a fraction of the time they spent with
our birthparents. While the birth and placement of your adopted
child is an incredibly joyful time – the transition can also be
stressful and very difficult. Rick and I are so grateful to
Journeys staff for being there for us 24/7 during this time, and
for all the support they gave our birthparents, in particular.
Even though our adoption is complete, Journeys staff continues to
help us with visits/communications with our birthparents and they
are working to help unite our son with his older brothers who were
placed in closed adoptions through the state. The agency has no
financial incentive to do this; they are helping us because
they care.
As first time parents, nothing could have prepared us for the
incredible love and joy we have for baby Jeremiah. When we met our
birthparents, the first question they asked was whether we could
love their baby “like he was our own.”
Before our experience with
Journeys, I used to wonder why God had not given us a child the
traditional way. But now, when we are greeted each morning by
Jeremiah smiling and bounding away in his crib, we realize He
heard our prayers and gave us something even better!” Thank you
for making our journey complete!
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