Adoption in Uncertain Times

There’s no avoiding we’re living in uncertain times. With the outbreak of COVID-19, our daily lives have all been personally impacted in a way I don’t think any of us were anticipating just two weeks ago. Our metropolitan area is currently under stay at home orders for thirty days and our schools have switched to e-learning for the rest of the school year. And very slowly, I’m learning of people I know personally who have the virus. Although I’m used to working remotely, my husband is currently working out of our master suite and we’re preparing our breakfast nook for home schooling activities starting Monday. The news changes daily with new precautions, broader restrictions, and rising numbers of people infected.

As an adoption consultant, I’m fielding a lot of questions about the impact of the coronavirus on the adoption process. Are adoptions still happening? Are adoption agencies still running? We’ve always thought about adoption but is now the time to dive in?

Here are a few things we know for sure:

There is still a need

Unlike some things in our economy that grind to a halt with social distancing and stay at home orders, there are still mamas having babies. There are still birth families making adoption plans for their children. There are still expectant moms in need of support and counsel and care as they decide what is best moving forward. No matter what’s happening with a pandemic or our economy, there are still women (and men) who need people walking closely with them. The agencies and attorneys we work with across the country are still just as committed today as they were last month to ensuring they provide this kind of care to birth and expectant families. We know, just like every other area of our lives, logistics will look different when it comes to the details of adoption. But just this month at CAC our clients have had multiple matches and eighteen babies have been born and placed into their adoptive parents’ arms.

There is still life to be lived

We’re all getting used to living a “new normal.” In our home we’re setting up new rhythms and routines to get through this season. There are some things we’re pressing pause on which has freed up time we’ve literally never had before. The time this space has opened up can be used to move forward on an adoption plan in ways you haven’t had time for before. Completing home study paperwork, filling out adoption grant applications, creating a beautiful profile for expectant parents to read, and praying for the baby that might be placed with you and their birth family. How can you dream with your spouse about growing your family? Or prepare your children for another sibling? Are there ways you’re preparing (connecting with others, trainings, books) to be an adoptive family? There is still so much that can be accomplished in the adoption process in the midst of life right now!

There is still a God in control 

God’s plans for the world and for your family can’t be thwarted. His perfect plans for building families can’t be delayed or canceled. We can move forward with confidence in His constant care and provision for us. Jesus reminds us that today has enough worry of its own (Matthew 6:34) and has promised us grace for the day. We can rest in his faithfulness and goodness that remains unchanged in these constantly changing times. He is our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). God is still caring for people; including hopeful adoptive families and expectant and birth families in the midst of all of this.

So how to we move forward with all of the uncertainty? Although the stability of things around us seem to be changing at a frenetic pace, we know we can rest in the truth of Lamentations 21:22-24:

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;