Support for Birth Moms
Maybe you’ve made an adoption plan with Agape in the past. Maybe you’ve placed a child with another agency or independently. Either way, you’re welcome here.
Local Support for all Birth Moms
Self-Worth & Trauma Groups
An 8-week group with other birth moms to heal from past traumas, cope with difficult decisions, grow healthy relationships, and experience positive self-worth.
If you are parenting other children, you can choose to participate in an additional 8-week training on Parenting for Positive Self-Worth.
Birth mom dinners
Join other local birth moms at a free dinner and connect with others who have been in your shoes.
Birth mom support groups
Connect with birth moms in a monthly support group to build relationships and receive support
Read about Birth Parent Experiences
To Read More About Birth Parent Experiences, click here.
Interested?
Find out more by filling out this form
Reconnecting?
If you made your adoption plan with Agape in the past, here are some ways we will continue supporting you
Reunification Services
For moms that have lost contact or previously chose to have no contact, we offer reunification services to all parties within the adoption constellation. Agape will walk alongside you to help locate, establish and maintain contact with everyone’s desires in mind.
Mental health counseling
With a counselor who understands adoption and the experiences of birth parents at no cost to you.
Case management
We help you identify your needs in all areas of your life and set achievable goals together. Then, we will meet at least once per month to talk about progress and find ways to continue supporting you.
Post-Adoption Contact Support
If you're already navigating an open adoption, we are here to help with any challenges you may face in maintaining contact. If you chose no contact, we have saved all the updates on your child at our agency. Please reach out if you'd like to begin receiving updates.
Additional Resources
- Adoption by the Numbers
is a comprehensive report of U.S. adoption statistics by the National Council for Adoption (2017).
- Minnesota / Texas Adoption Research Project
(MTARP) is a longitudinal research study that focuses on the consequences of variations in openness in adoption arrangements for all members of the adoptive kinship network: birthmothers, adoptive parents, and adopted children, and for the relationships within these family systems.
- Is Anyone Out There?
by Nicole Strickland
- Birthparent Issues of Grief and Loss
by Kris Faasse
- A Phenomenological Study of Birth Mothers and Their Experiences with Open Adoption
by Ivy Byun. This phenomenological study explored the experiences of eight birth mothers who placed their infant for adoption 5 to 10 years ago and have open adoption relationships with their child (2018).
Rent a book from our library or receive it as a gift. Just let us know and we will ship it to you for free.
- Relinquished
- Grow, Flower, Flourish: A Birthparent Journal By Kristen Thomas
- It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand by Megan Devine
- Joy Will Come: Exchange Shame for Redemption by Lindsay Pepin Ophus
- Heart of a Birth Mom by Terri Gake
- Reframing Adoption by Sharon Fox
- Revealing You: A Journal for Birthmothers by Michelle Thorne
- Birthparent Guide to Grief (12 Step Guide to Grief) by Jessalyn Speights and Alyssia Foote
- Lifegivers: Framing the Birthparent Experience in Open Adoption by James L. Gritter
- Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
- Sam’s Sister (children’s book) by Juliette C. Bond
- Saying Goodbye to a Baby: The Birthparent’s Guide to Loss & Grief in Adoption (Saying Goodbye to a Baby Vol. 1) by Patricia Roles
There are several online communities which provide resources for birth parents and provide opportunities for birth parents to connect with each other. Active groups include:
- Birth Mothers Amplified on YouTube or iTunes
- BraveLove.org – Adoption is Beautiful
- Knee to Knee – Post Placement Care Support Groups
- MPower Allliance – Where Birthmothers Flourish
- On Your Feet Foundation – Birth Moms Connect
- On Your Feet Foundation – Empowering Birthparents After Adoption
- On Your Feet Foundation – Retreats
- Postpartum.net – Postpartum Support International
- Postpartum Support International – PSI Online Support Meetings
- National Rape and Incest National Network 1.800.656.HOPE
- National Domestic Violence Hotline 1.800.799.7233
- Postpartum Support International Depression hotline 1.800.944.4PPD
Dial 988