At Adoption Resource and Counseling Services (ARCS), we are committed to serving birthparents with compassion and respect. Our goal is to educate each birthparent about adoption procedures and options so they can make informed, well-thought out decisions regarding their child's future. We help birthparents assess their situation and determine which form of adoption best suits them. The variations of open adoption (acquaintance, friendship, kinship) adoption are reviewed. All of our services are free of charge to birthparents.

Birthparents may receive the following services from us:

Ongoing counseling
Birthparents receive ongoing counseling and support from a professional counselor. Helping you formulate an adoption plan as well as work through grief and loss issues is a priority with ARCS.

Select Adoptive Parents
Birthparents have the opportunity to choose adoptive parents from a carefully screened pool of 30 to 40 prospective adoptive parents on ARCS waiting list. If they prefer, they can bring an adoptive family they already know to ARCS. Birthparents receive a great deal of background information on the adoptive parents, including birthparent letters, profiles, and homestudies.

Buddy System
Birthparents who have previously placed a child for adoption volunteer to honestly share their adoption experiences with those considering adoption for their child. In addition, they provide the kind of support that often only someone who has undergone such an experience can truly understand.

Community Resources
Referrals to community resources regarding housing, income, medical care

Mediation Services
Our counselors focus on relationship building between the birth and adoptive parents. If difficulties arise, mediation assistance is available.