The reform movement: yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Founding Year of Current OA&FS: 1985 Milestones

The Future We Work Towards

• With single parenting and abortion now viable options, only 3% • There’s a paradigm shift in adoption practices towards more openness. • Closed are a thing of the distant past. Adoption of pregnant women choose adoption. • The internet creates a “wild, wild west” environment with • There is no longer shame and secrecy associated with being a • practices are prevalent. unregulated adoption practices and for-profit agendas. birthparent, adoptive parent or adoptee. • Shame and secrecy cloaks adoption; the stigma adversely impacts • Reality TV shows such as “Teen Mom” and “I’m Having Their Baby” • Due to the open adoption reform movement, openness is regarded everyone involved. influence cultural assumptions about adoption. as the healthiest form of adoption for all participants, and is • Adoption climate and practices are influenced by the lingering • Birthparents have a stronger voice in shaping their adoption. universally extended to international, state and domestic adoptions. distrust of adoption caused by the unethical orphan train and • Access to legally enforceable agreements for ongoing visits and • Gay marriage and adoption are not only legal Baby Scoop era practices. adoption records is only available in select states. worldwide, but widely accepted.

• A small group of social workers question the ethics of closed adoption • 95% of adoption agencies offer some form of open adoption. • All adoptions are open and include a genuine and creates a national open adoption movement. Their goal is to create • OA&FS has completed 1,350 adoptions, is regarded as the expert extended family relationship. a new form of adoption that better meets the needs of all participants. on open adoption in the Northwest, and launches a • The OA&FS collaborative model with Oregon’s DHS is practiced • Open adoption is a fledgling concept that is initally regarded with national expansion. nationwide, freeing children from a life in . Open Adoption suspicion and disdain. • OA&FS creates a collaborative relationship with • The lessons learned in open adoption regarding the importance of • OA&FS overcomes these barriers and becomes the first agency to offer Oregon Department of Human Services in which healthy relationships and identity building are brought to families open adoption in the Northwest. high-risk moms can proactively plan an open created by surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology. adoption before their parental rights are terminated.

• International adoptions steadily increase • The Hague Treaty uncovers corruption • Domestic adoption established in other countries so children among American couples. and unethical practices in international adoptions worldwide. can be raised within their own culture. International Adoption • Evangelical movement through the churches • International adoptions plummet. • Open adoption reform advocates bring openness to encourages international adoption. • “Re-homing” of older adopted children makes the news. international adoption.

• Closed adoption is widespread, giving • OA&FS is one of the only agencies in the country to provide • Pregnant women and couples have access to birthparents no voice in their adoption plan. expectant parents with; all-options pregnancy counseling; complete all-options pregnancy counseling no matter • Coercion, secrecy, and regret are information on a diverse pool of families (including same sex where they live. commonly experienced. couples); fully open adoptions with legally enforceable • Expectant parents can create adoptions in which Birthparent Rights • OA&FS opens its doors, providing expectant contracts for ongoing visits and lifelong services. they feel heard, valued and respected. parents with high-integrity and empowering • Expectant parents use the internet as an adoption • Birthparents have a voice in shaping the future practices in an atmosphere of dignity assessment and research tool. of adoption. and respect. OA&FS adoptee Carolyn with Birthmom Danessa.

• Adult adoptees and birthparents involved in closed adoptions begin • The first open adoptees are now young adults. • Open adoptees, like Nathan, determine the new to speak out, protesting the secrecy and lack of information. • Adoptees share their experiences, connect and join forces using face of adoption. • The first open adoptees are born. online tools. • Open adoptees ensure that every state in the • Social media allows adoptees and birthparents to find one another. nation has legally enforceable agreements for Adoptees • Adoptees are able to articulate their experience and shape the field of ongoing visits, fully open adoptions and access open adoption. to adoption records.

OA&FS adoptees Stacey, Isaac, Kaya and Clark (l-r). OA&FS adoptee Nathan.