In this episode of This Week in Adoption, host Rebecca Gruenspan provides a personal example of the beauty of open adoption by sharing her excitement for her son’s upcoming Bar Mitzvah, which will include his birth family. This episode also offers practical advice for adoptive parents on preparing for newborn withdrawal symptoms in cases of substance exposure and stresses the importance of seeing the baby and consulting a doctor before finalizing an adoption in baby-born situations. Rebecca stresses the need to be aware of the signs and offers comfort strategies, like skin-to-skin contact, for parents. Rebecca wraps up with tips for the first call with a birth mother and highlights RG Adoption’s "Honor the Triad" t-shirts, with proceeds supporting the Gift of Adoption Fund.

Important Links

Gift of Adoption Fund

Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys

⁠RG Adoption Consulting⁠⁠

⁠⁠The Adoption Roadmap

Chapters

02:58 Personal Reflections on Adoption

06:10 Understanding Withdrawal in Newborns

10:40 Preparing for the Adoption Process

14:41 Navigating the First Call with Birth Parents

Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday and Friday mornings. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow and 5-star rating & review!

THANK YOU!

For questions about adoption, episode suggestions or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email

⁠⁠⁠⁠support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Adoption Roadmap Podcast, host Rebecca Gruenspan continues a deep conversation with guest Damon Davis about mental health, adoption, and the complex emotions surrounding the journey to find biological family members. Damon shares his personal story about growing up with an adoptive mother who struggled with paranoid schizophrenia and dementia, and how her mental illness affected their relationship. He discusses the emotional challenges of searching for his biological mother while grappling with his adoptive mother’s deteriorating health. The episode explores themes of self-reflection, balancing expectations, and the importance of preparing mentally for potential outcomes in reunions. Damon also touches on his experiences as an adoptee, an adoptive parent, and a podcast host, emphasizing the need for open communication, empathy, and self-healing in the adoption process.

Important Links mentioned in Today's Episode

Who Am I Really: An Adoptee Memoir

Who Am I…Really? Podcast

Damon Davis - Linkedin

Gift of Adoption Fund

23andme

AncestryDNA

⁠RG Adoption Consulting⁠⁠

⁠⁠The Adoption Roadmap

Chapters

02:48 Mental Health and Adoption

10:02 Searching for Biological Family

20:39 Parenting Challenges in Adoption

39:51 Open vs Closed Adoption

51:18 The Power of Storytelling in Adoption

Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday and Friday mornings. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow and 5-star rating & review!

THANK YOU!

For questions about adoption, episode suggestions or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email

⁠⁠⁠⁠support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of This Week in Adoption, host Rebecca Greenspan broadcasts live from the Florida Adoption Council Conference, where she discusses key adoption topics with adoption professionals and attendees. Rebecca emphasizes the importance of early education for hopeful adoptive parents and highlights the value of having a trusted support team, including consultants and adoption-competent therapists. Guests, including attorney Ellen Kaplan and others from the adoption field, discuss topics such as the rising costs of adoption, the power dynamics between adoptive parents and agencies, and the need for authenticity in adoption profiles. Rebecca encourages hopeful adoptive parents to approach the process with hope and excitement rather than fear, reinforcing the importance of being prepared and real throughout the journey.

Important Links mentioned in Today's Episode

Florida Adoption Council

Ellen Kaplan Adoptions

Destiny Adoption Services

Lisa Cuffaro

Rob Harrell - Adoption Attorney & Founder of the Florida Adoption Council

Your Adoption Finance Coach

Surrounded by Love by Allison Olson

Learning About my Friend's Adoption by Allison Olson
Brianna's Brave Day at School by Francine Apy

RG Adoption Finance Coaching

⁠RG Adoption Consulting⁠⁠

⁠⁠The Adoption Roadmap

Chapters

03:00 Insights from the Florida Adoption Council Conference

06:09 The Importance of Education in Adoption

08:57 Understanding Power Dynamics in Adoption

12:12 Navigating the Adoption Process

15:05 Creating Authentic Adoption Profiles

18:07 Embracing Hope in the Adoption Journey

Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday and Friday mornings. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow and 5-star rating & review!

THANK YOU!

For questions about adoption, episode suggestions or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email

⁠⁠⁠⁠support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠