PLAN Loving Adoptions Now, Inc.

There are many reasons for adopting, but the best reason is that it works. Research has shown that even though adoption may not always be the first choice, it is not second best! Parents and their adopted children are able to love each other as much as they would if they were biologically related. Adoptees are as successful in life as the rest of the population. Adoption is society’s way of providing vulnerable babies and children with the guidance and nurturing they need in order to thrive.

PLAN has a number of programs to suit different families. Many potential parents yearn for a child to love, but they have no idea whether they should adopt a newborn, a toddler, or an older child. Should they adopt domestically or internationally? What will it cost? How long will it take? Are there restrictions that would keep them from adopting?

Answers to many of these questions and more are included on this website. You can obtain answers to other questions by contacting PLAN by phone or via email or by making an appointment to visit our PLAN offices. PLAN is dedicated to serving families who are interested in learning more about adoption. The group of adoptive parents who founded PLAN understand what adoptive parents need. They were pioneers in offering classes to potential adoptive families to help them decide if adoption was the right choice for them, and if so, which adoption program best suited them. Click Here to read more about our education programs.

PLAN welcomes single parents and offers the following international and domestic programs for their consideration.

INTERNATIONAL

Judy Elkins, International Program Director, states, “We’ve had wonderful experiences in placing children with single parents. Many go on to adopt more than once.” Immigration law requires that singles be 25 years or older to adopt.

DOMESTIC

Laura Lockhart, African-American Infant Program Director, states, “We’ve placed many babies with single parents through the African-American Infant program. These parents have been wonderfully committed to learning about transracial adoption and very resourceful in networking with friends, family and other adoptive families to find the support needed to be successful.”

African-American Infant: Open to singles on a case-by-case basis. Suggested minimum age is 25.

Beth Edens, U.S. Program Director, states, “Over the years, I have developed a deep respect and admiration for the single parents who have adopted children through my program. Indeed, some of my best placements have been with devoted single dads or moms. A message to all singles considering adoption: Don’t delay! Children need good, stable, loving families—married couples and singles!”

State Children: Open to both single men and women who are Oregon residents. Oregon requires that singles be 21 years or older to adopt.

Single parents may wonder if it’s possible to give a child everything he or she needs without a spouse to share the burdens and the joys. Many single parents have proven it’s possible to do so successfully!

“When I decided to adopt as a single mom at age 40, I wondered how arrogant I must be to think I could parent a child alone. My daughter, Emmie, came to me at 7 weeks old and only 8 pounds from Houston, Texas. What an incredible journey it has been! Easy, no. Meant to be…oh, yes! And the most “heart” decision I have ever made! I celebrate all that she has taught me. When people hear that I adopted her, they often say, “Oh, what a lucky baby.” My response is always the same: “oh no, I am the lucky one!”

The resources below discuss strategies to help single parents maximize their family’s experience, including building a support system, joining a group of adoptive parents, seeking role models of the opposite sex, preparing extended family and friends, and providing time for yourself.

Varon, Lee. Adopting on Your Own: The Complete Guide to Adopting as a Single Parent. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2000.

Alexander, Shoshana. In Praise of Single Parents: Mothers and Fathers Embracing the Challenge. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin. 1994.

Mattes, Jane. Single Mothers by Choice: A Guidebook for Single Women Who Are Considering Motherhood. New York: Times Books, Random House. 1994.

(Please note: If a book is not available in your local bookstore, check www.amazon.com and www.abebooks.com. In addition to new books, they also have copies of used books for reasonable prices.)

INFERTILE COUPLES

If you are one of the many couples who come to PLAN to fulfill your dream of raising children after the oftentimes painful and heartbreaking experience of infertility, be assured that we understand that you may be feeling fearful about the adoption process. We can help you by connecting you to other couples who have known the heartache of infertility and then the joy of creating their families through adoption. Following are a few comments from couples who have adopted infants:

“Although our infertility caused us heartache, we are now thankful for it. Any experience that was a part of bringing our beautiful and loving daughter into our lives was certainly worth it. When I watch my husband cuddle with our daughter, I see a depth of love that is immense—and completely unrelated to whether they share DNA or not. They share their hearts, which is what matters.

When we first considered adoption, I was scared by the cost, the travel, the paperwork, and the potential for things to go wrong. But when Lucy was finally placed in our arms, I felt a peace that only God could grant. Instantly I knew, ‘This is our daughter.’ To have missed finding her simply because I was afraid of the adoption process would have been tragic.”

"I wanted off the rollercoaster ride of infertility that had no end in sight, and on to the road of adoption that I knew would end in a family for us...and it did! Infertility is discouragement and sorrow and closed doors. Adoption is filled with hope, promise and lifetimes of laughter."

PLAN has both domestic and international programs that provide families many choices in building loving homes through adoption. Loving Options is an open adoption program that matches Oregon birthmothers with Oregon, Idaho, and Washington families. African-American Infant matches families from all fifty states with African American and biracial infants. PLAN’s Oregon State Children program and international programs are also good options for babies, toddlers, and older children in need of forever families.

We recommend a book titled Adopting After Infertility by Patricia Irwin Johnston. (Indianapolis: Perspectives Press. 1992.) for couples wishing to research whether or not adoption is a good option for them. (Please note: If this book is not available in your local bookstore, check www.amazon.com and www.abebooks.com. In addition to new books, they also have copies of used books for reasonable prices.)

Why Adoption?

For Singles For Infertile Couples

SINGLES

INTERNATIONAL

DOMESTIC

INFERTILE COUPLES

Last Revised - 1/15/2008