As an Adoptive Parent Coordinator, I am often asked “what should I expect during the home study process.” The phrase “home study” is an intimidating one to some families, especially after experiencing years of infertility treatments, disappointments, and losses. Although the home study experience entails gathering a lot of information, conducting interviews, and a home visit, it does not have…
As I look around my office, I notice all of the baby photos displayed on my wall from my past clients. I am reminded of the memories attached to each one, and I can’t help but feel a little heavy hearted today. In the recent weeks, I have done a lot of transitioning here at Gift of Life Adoptions from…
Gift of Life Adoptions has provided complete adoption services throughout the state of Florida for over 20 years. We have been able to help our clients change the direction of their lives because of our unique social work model. Our goal is to assist birth parents in creating the adoption plan that works for them, and also to give them…
Gift of Life received this thank you letter the other day. It’s a great birth mom story, and a wonderful example of the importance of pictures and letters in our birth mother’s lives. Here is Kelly’s Story: I just got the pictures of Cooper in the mail. Most of the day, I’ve been in tears, but they have been happy…
Discharge day! There are many unique experiences that come with being an adoption caseworker. Although some things can feel routine, bringing joy to parents who have waited months and sometimes years to start a family, that experience never gets old. As I arrive at Leesburg Regional Medical Center, I remember a Christmas Eve many years ago. I remember the birth…
One of the many perks of my job is that I get to go out into the community and attend special events presented by hospitals, pregnancy centers, medical clinics, and other facilities we often come in contact with. The most recent event I and another staff member had the pleasure of attending was the grand opening of Florida Hospital for…
A few weeks ago I was able to complete a home study update for a family living in the Naples, Florida. It was a great time to catch up with the family and continue in their adoption education. Homestudy is a term we throw around all the time as it is a part of our daily activities. But it occurs…
At Gift of Life Adoptions, one of our favorite things to do is the post placement visit. It takes us out of the office, on the road and we get to check-in with “our” babies after placement. It is such a special time for us. As we watch the adoptive parents lovingly dote over their new baby, we get to…
Gift of Life Adoptions has a few different ways of celebrating the Holidays. First, we covered the state. Our staff doubled as elves and brought Christmas cheer to the nurse’s stations and hospital social workers all over the area we serve. We have a great support system of social service professionals in our community. They have helped us advocate and…
The link between locations and memories is a fairly universal concept. We put monuments in spots where important things took place. Growing up in Virginia, I remember the chill I felt when I saw a play at the Ford Theater or when I visited the battlefields. In biblical times, the children of Israel would place a pile of stones as…