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Looking for Adoptions Together or FamilyWorks Together? New name, same us. Here’s why!

Advocacy for Systems Change

Join us as we advocate for the improvement of systems intended to benefit children and families locally, regionally, and nationally.

Pam Hoehler, Director of Placement Services, and Lisa Dominguez, Chief Program Officer, in DC speaking with congressional staff about the ADOPT Act in November 2023.

Join Us in Advocacy

Advocating for continuous improvement of systems that strengthen family well-being is core to our mission. While these systems are immensely valuable, they are also flawed. With our expertise in the field, it’s ethically imperative that we vocally support specific legislation impacting our community. Paths for Families is actively involved in legislative processes, including participation in councils and panels that directly advocate to congressional leaders and other legislators on the local and national levels.

You can join us and make your voice heard!

We are currently advocating for multiple pieces of legislation. By following the steps below, you can easily contact your representative to show your support and participate in the improvement of family-serving systems.

How to support:

Each act is linked to a page on which you can easily input your contact information and send a personalized and pre-populated message to your representative. The process takes less than a minute (we mean it!) and you do not have to write anything yourself. We hope that you will take a few minutes to read about these laws, consider them, and take action accordingly.

 


Current Legislations:

The ADOPT Act (Adoption Deserves Oversight, Protection, and Transparency) H.R. 6220

  • What is it?
    • If it passes, this will enact a federal law that prohibits unlicensed adoption agencies (facilitators) to advertise or operate their services, ensuring only licensed agencies and attorneys can facilitate adoptions.
  • Why do we support it?
    • As a licensed agency that has prioritized ethical adoption practices since 1990, we are disturbed by the continual growth of unlicensed “adoption facilitators”. These facilitators are not regulated, meaning that they are not held accountable by any external measure. They have massive advertising and marketing budgets intended to target desperate expectant parents and adoptive families. We have firsthand experience with the harm these entities have on both expectant/birth parents and adoptive families, causing trauma without negative repercussions. Expectant parents have been pressured or coerced into making an adoption plan when they are simply seeking compassionate counseling. These practices which put profit over everything else are unacceptable and have no place in our field.

Take Action

Adoption Counts Act (H.R. 6700)

  • What is it?
    • This bill will require states to report adoption statistic data to the government so we can start tracking how many domestic infant adoptions happen per state in this country.
  • Why do we support it?
    • The lack of comprehensive data on private domestic adoptions leads to a lack of accountability and transparency. This act will allow agencies, advocates, and third parties to follow trends and identify prevalent issues that may be obscured without data.

Take Action

In Good Standing Adoption Agencies Act (H.R. 5540)

  • What is it?
    • This bill will provide a federal list of safe and licensed adoption agencies per state so expectant parents can more easily avoid facilitators.
  • Why do we support it?
    • Right now, hospitals may have unethical unlicensed facilitator agencies on the list of resources for pregnant people considering their options. This legislation will require all agencies on this list to be licensed, significantly decreasing the likelihood of a pregnant person or person who has just given birth encountering these harmful and exploitative entities.

Take Action

The Hospital Adoption Education Act (H.R. 1475)

  • What is it?
    • This bill will fund adoption education for hospitals so their nursing staff can become adoption competent.
  • Why do we support it?
    • Training nurses and social workers to best give ethical and compassionate care to pregnant people or people who gave birth is a critically important measure. We have heard many stories of the incomplete, biased, or even harmful information that this vulnerable population encounters in the hospital. Ensuring that nurses and social workers are empowered to provide informed knowledge and guidance is crucial in the health of both parents and babies.

Take Action

What else can you do? 

  • Share this page with your friends and family.
  • Choose a licensed agency that support ethical adoption practices if you are considering adoption. AdoptMatch is a phenomenal resource for vetting adoption agencies.
  • Make a donation that supports free all-options, no pressure counseling from our specialists (you can leave a note that will guarantee the donation goes only to the intended purpose).
  • Join our newsletter below and learn about future advocacy opportunities.