ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA

Adoptions of Indiana (AOI) exists to meet the unique needs of expectant parents experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. Unfortunately statistics show that unintended pregnancies result in abridged education, employment struggles, mental health challenges, abortion, increased household stress, crime, and poverty. It’s very difficult for a young woman when she learns she is pregnant and unprepared. She needs unbiased information and support without judgment. AOI offers free, unbiased options counseling to help women understand more about the option of adoption when they are experiencing an unintended pregnancy. We also provide training to all of the Planned Parenthood staff in Indiana and Kentucky so they are more prepared to discuss the option of adoption with their patients. We offer this same training to women’s clinics and hospital social workers throughout the State of Indiana. All of our services are free to expectant women and birth mothers. For those women who believe that adoption is the best option for themselves and their child, we provide pre- and post-placement counseling services to them for as long as they wish to receive our services. Without AOI, expectant women, with unintended pregnancies, would not have easy access to unbiased and non-judgmental adoption information and support. They would not have an agency who is committed to women after placement to help them work through issues of grief and loss. AOI is also one of the only private licensed child-placing agencies in Indiana who serves same-sex families. Our services to women is not to attempt to persuade them toward adoption. There are many women we work with yearly who choose to parent and we attempt to assist them to put things in place to achieve that goal. Here are a few testimonials of women who have worked with AOI: “They are truly in the business of contributing to healthy women, healthy babies, and healthy families. I am so proud to be under their wing, and I know they will continue to be a lifelong support.” –Amanda, birthmother to Henry “The birthday of our 4th child was not what we had anticipated. Unequipped to deal with this life changing event, sacrificing parenting for the wellbeing of our daughter was a traumatic event for my husband and I. Adoptions of Indiana (AOI), and Meg in particular was the first person in this situation to show understanding and reassurance. From the moment Meg was placed on our lives, things just seemed to fall into place. She knew what to expect and how to handle each step in this process for both us and the adoptive parents. Without her, we wouldn’t have found the most beautiful and perfect family to raise and care for our daughter. I am now at peace with our decision for adoption because AOI has made sure our child is cared for in ways we could not provide. I value the relationships that have been made throughout this journey, and I will look back at this process with joy verses regret or sadness. Thank you Meg and AOI, I am forever grateful.--JRG “I had my son when I was 21, five days before my last semester of college was to begin. Since I had no contact with his birth father, I knew it was in the best interest of my son to have him placed for adoption. Once my son was born, I was convinced I wanted to have a completely closed adoption. However, after meeting with Amy from AOI, I knew that having an open adoption with him and his adoptive family was the most important thing for him, his family, and for me as well. Adoptions of Indiana has helped me guide my way through this adoption in ways that I didn't even know that I needed. All the social workers are there to offer support and guide birth mothers and adoptive families throughout the whole adoption process. Meeting with AOI has further enhanced the relationship I have with my birth son and his adoptive family.”—Paige AOI is different in that we support a woman’s choice, we provide education to Planned Parenthood and we are welcoming to people of all races, faiths, cultures, and the LGBTQ community. We also offer long-term counseling, education and support to birth and adoptive families. AOI is a 501c3 corporation and is a private licensed child-placing agency by the Indiana Department of Child Services. We have an active Board of Directors and continue to show fiscal responsibility. In 2013 our Executive Director was honored as an Angel in Adoption by the US Congressional Coalition on Adoption. Donor’s gifts allow free, unbiased adoption options counseling to women in their communities throughout the State of Indiana. Our staff travels throughout the state to provide these services in the client’s community. Gifts provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, cell phones to coordinate pre-natal care, emergency housing, and food. Donor gifts reduce fees for families adopting children with significant special needs. Many families who adopt children with special needs have additional costs to prepare their homes or purchase equipment and we attempt to reduce our fees to allow the families to focus on their child’s needs. Donor gifts keep costs down so that adoption remains reachable for middle-class families.