Attitudes about adoption have changed significantly even within many of our lifetimes. It was often shrouded in secrecy and gossiped about. People were often afraid to tell their adoptive parents that they wanted to know who their birth parents were – or even to meet...
Marrying someone who already has children is a big commitment. Even if you are not the biological or legal parent of those kids, they will affect every aspect of your life. From your budget to your daily schedule, your family will revolve around what those children...
You may have taken care of your stepchild their entire life at this point, but you still aren’t technically in possession of all the same rights as their biological parent. After discussing the situation with your spouse, you may have decided together that adopting...
Adoptions create numerous beneficial changes for non-traditional families. Whether there is a stepparent adopting a stepchild or a grandparent adopting a grandchild, adoption proceedings can benefit the adults and the children involved. They can give a child a sense...
The Oregon Indian Child Welfare Act (ORICWA) represents the culmination of a lengthy cooperative effort between the Oregon state government and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). Originally passed in 2020, the law has already been...
If you are in a relationship and are interested in adopting your partner’s child, then you may be ready to complete a step-parent or second-parent adoption. While these are similar kinds of adoptions, they are not quite the same. In either case, the adoption can help...
If you have married someone and they have adult children, you may never really have thought about adopting them as adults. However, if those children need support as adults or you just want to officially bring them into your family, then an adult adoption could be an...
When people think of adoption, they often think of unrelated adults assuming parental authority over children. While those adoptions are relatively common, familial adoptions are also commonplace in Oregon. Family members like grandparents sometimes need to step up...
If you are looking into adoption, one of the things you need to do is to think about your home study. Unless you’re adopting privately, you will have a home study performed by the Department of Human Services. Home studies may seem invasive or frustrating to you, but...
Many adoptions in Oregon involve private or state agencies. These organizations help prospective parents connect with children who need loving and supportive families. Those hoping to adopt have to meet certain standards and even endure having people examine their...