Bonus Episode: All About Adoption

In this special bonus episode of Upside Down, Kayla, Shannon and I (Lindsy) discuss adoption. In honor of National Adoption Month, we answer some pre-adoption FAQ's about foster care, domestic, special needs, and international adoption.

With over 100,000 children waiting to be adopted in the United States alone, the need is very real, and the scriptural command to care for vulnerable children is clear. But where to start? We hope this episode is the first few step in determining if adoption is right for your family, and if so, how to begin!

LINKS:

• The Adoption Tax Credit Information
• AdoptTogether, an adoption crowdfunding resource.
• Another great fundraising resource - Fund Your Adoption (Check out episode 4 of their podcast for a familiar voice;-)
• AdoptUSKids has a plethora of information about adoption from foster care.
• Loving Shepherd Ministries has an assessment form to help determine which countries you are eligible to adopt from. A wonderful tool if you are exploring international adoption!
• Empowered to Connect is an incredibly helpful resource for foster/adoptive parents.
• Tapestry Adoption and Foster Care Ministries in Texas has resources (including a podcast!) on their website.
• TCU Institute of Child Development is a wealth of knowledge on raising kids from hard places. (Their videos are perfect if you don't have time to read a book or to watch with your spouse!)
• Special Angels Adoption helps adoption agencies or families who wish to place a special needs baby or toddler and sometimes older children for adoption, find experienced and loving adoptive families. Their support services are completely free to everyone in the adoption triad. They are a licensed custodial adoption agency and an special needs advocacy group.
• Katelyn's Fund is a 501(c)3 that provides international and domestic adoption grants to families across the U.S. Kayla is a member of local Katelyn's Fund support team.
• Carry Camp is all about loving and empowering women who might feel broken, left out, and even useless in their struggle with infertility.

The topic of adoption ethics could be it's own episode; heck it could be it's own podcast. While we didn't explicitly address it in this episode, as a starting point, I want to send you over to read Jen Hatmaker's three part series on this issue on her blog: Part One, Part Two, Part Three.

BOOKS:

• Orphan Justice
• The New Jim Crow
• Tattoos on the Heart
• The Connected Child
• The Whole-Brain Child
• Attaching in Adoption
• In Their Own Voices
• Forever Mom: What to Expect When You're Adopting
• For children: Just Really Joseph (Inspired by her family, Kayla wrote this children's book about adoption, identity, and what just really makes a family.)
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There's just no way to fit everything there is to say about adoption into one hour! For more information, check out the adoption sections of our blogs:

• ​Kayla's blog, Many Sparrows
• Shannon's blog, We, A Great Parade
• Lindsy's blog, Light Breaks Forth

Do you have pre-adoption questions we didn't answer in this episode? Find us on Instagram or Facebook and join the conversation! (Don't worry, a post-adoption episode is in the future!)

As always, thanks for joining us and being part of our #upsidedowntribe!

With Love from Miami,
Lindsy

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