Category: Family Stories

Meet Isabella: From Unexpected Labor to Placement Day

Isabella, a 19-year-old college student on Long Island, awoke one morning in excruciating pain. She was shocked to discover she was not only pregnant, but in labor.

REFLECTIONS FROM A SPENCE-CHAPIN INTERIM CARE PROVIDER

Written by Ann Lapin I’m trying desperately to be respectful of the person speaking to me, but my husband keeps texting me. First he sends me a selfie of him with Rafi*, then it’s an account of who stopped him on his way into the NICU. Then he suggests I take a selfie with Jillian […]

REFLECTIONS ON SPENCE-CHAPIN HISTORY DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Written by Antoinette Cockerham (COO) This month as we celebrate Black History Month, I have found myself taking time to reflect on the history of African American adoption, the role that Spence-Chapin has played in that history, and the many encouraging changes I have witnessed in my 25+ career working in adoption. A little over […]

ADOPTION IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR

In November of 2005, Ed Gordon of National Public Radio (NPR) sat down with Spence-Chapin’s then-Assistant Director of Domestic Adoption Antoinette “Toni” Cockerham and Spence-Chapin adoptive parent Lisha Epperson about African American adoption. Their conversation highlights the history of African American Adoption at Spence-Chapin, some of its challenges at the time, as well as its […]

6 MYTHS ABOUT OPEN ADOPTION

For expectant and birth parents, the term “open adoption” may sound intimidating or confusing. What does an open adoption look like? How does it work? Is it really in the best interest of the child? To make open adoption more understood, we’ve compiled this list of Myths and Facts to help guide you through your […]

A DAY IN THE LIFE: INTERIM CARE PROVIDER

From the moment she gets a call from Spence-Chapin about a newborn coming into care, Carmela Grabowski goes into mommy mode. “I put fresh linens on the bassinet, clean the car seat, make formula, sterilize the pacifiers, change out all the diapers from size 2 to 1, and sort the clothes depending on the season […]

REFLECTING ON BIRTH PARENTS AND PLACING A CHILD IN ADOPTION

As a social worker in the International Department at Spence-Chapin, I’ve been enlightened by so many aspects of adoption: the way hearts of adoptive parents can break, heal, stretch, and grow; the tenacious resiliency of children; and the conflicted governments who don’t always recognize the fate they hold in their hands. But, I had not, […]