Eye on Adoption Agency Programs-June 2017

It has been nearly two years since we had an Eye on Adoption Agencies entry. We only have two entries at this time.

A New Beginning Pregnancy Services and Adoption Agency Opens in Eastern Oregon

” A New Beginning Pregnancy Services and Adoption Agency, based in Boise, is now licensed to provide services in Oregon and counselors are willing to travel as far east as Umatilla County to meet with women facing unplanned pregnancies and families looking to adopt.

“We are working on a plan to open some office space in Eastern Oregon, probably in the next 12-18 months,” marketing director Tina Kierce said.

She said the organization works with women experiencing “crisis pregnancies” to provide support and educate them on their options.

“Counselors will help those in a crisis pregnancy review their options and make a plan in a comfortable, non-judgmental and caring environment,” according to a news release.

Those services are “always free and confidential and available 24/7.” The agency can be reached via crisis hotline at 208-985-5617 and counselors will travel to follow up with the callers in person.

A New Beginning also provides adoption services to help women place their baby for adoption, help families adopt children from the United States, help facilitate international adoptions and help find permanent adoptive homes for foster children who will not return to their biological parents.

Kierce said the agency has already received two referrals for women in Oregon who were considering adoption.

“We already did travel (to Oregon) multiple times to make sure mom and baby were safe,” she said.

Women in Umatilla County who have struggled with an unplanned pregnancy have been served by Pregnancy Care Services, with offices in Hermiston and Pendleton, to discuss their options.

Hermiston director Debbie Cissna said Pregnancy Care Services has worked with Bethany Christian, an international adoption agency, in the past when women decide to choose adoption over abortion or raising the child.

She said the nonprofit would welcome an opportunity to work with A New Beginning and it “would be great to have a local option for our clients who choose adoption.”

Kierce said forming partnerships with already-established local nonprofits like Pregnancy Care Services will be “absolutely key” in working with local women and girls.”

Idaho adoption agency expanding into Eastern Oregon

[Eastern Oregonian  4/21/17 by Jade McDowell]

Bethany Buys Land For Future Expansion in Michigan and Expands Adoption Services in Greater Boston

“Bethany Christian Services has bought more than seven acres of land along 52nd Street SE, east of Eastern Avenue, for future expansion.

The land was assembled from five parcels by NAI Wisinski of West Michigan, according to an April 19 news release by NAI Wisinski and Bethany, a social service agency which specializes in adoption and other family support services.

“Bethany plans to renovate three existing buildings totaling 25,242 square feet on the 7.24 acre parcel, which runs from 930 to 948 52nd Street, as well as build new facilities in an effort to expand current services for the Grand Rapids community,” the news release said.

George Tyndall, regional director for Bethany, said the agency will continue to operate from its headquarters at 901 Eastern Avenue NE. The new location will be used as a service center for Bethany clients on the Southeast Side, he said.

“God uniquely equipped Bethany to serve vulnerable children and families in West Michigan,” said Tyndall. “We’re excited to increase our capacity to support even more children and families in the Grand Rapids area.”

Bethany offers a variety of family-oriented support services, including family preservation, family counseling, foster care, infant and foster care adoption, post-adoption services, youth services, refugee and immigrant services, and pregnancy support.

The new site was assembled from five parcels that included three office buildings, two of which were vacant, Tyndall said. One of the buildings leased to a call center will continue to be leased, he said.

“This was truly a team effort and long-term strategic plan for Bethany’s future expansion in their services to the community,” said Hillary Taatjes Woznick of NAI Wisinski.”

Bethany Christian Services buys land for future expansion

[M Live 4/20/16 by Mike Harger]

“Julie C. Paine, branch director for the Southern New England office (serving both Massachusetts and Rhode Island) of Bethany Christian Services speaks with an earnest, full-hearted passion.

Paine’s efforts are part of a broad initiative by Bethany in the Hub. The largest adoptive service in the world, Bethany has its local offices in Franklin, Massachusetts, but Paine is quick to point out that they just hired a pregnancy counselor for Boston, Katie Quinn, and, thanks to recent fundraising successes, plans to expand even further.

Bethany has its national headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its first agency opened there in 1944, and over the past seven decades it has spread to multiple countries. The group just celebrated 30 years of providing pregnancy counseling and infant adoption services in Worcester.

In addition to infant adoption, Bethany is known as an advocate for special needs and hard-to-adopt children. The organization also facilitates inter-country adoptions, foster adoption and refugee child placements involving children from families – typically Central America – fleeing significant trauma.”

Bethany expands adoption services in Greater Boston

[New Boston Post 1/29/16 by Laura Brannigan Kelly]