Services for:

• African American
• Multiracial
• Latino
• Asian
• and other children of color.

information    exploration    affirmation

Adoption is... a lifelong pact.

Pact helps infants who cannot be raised by their birth families grow up in permanent loving families. Birth parents of African American, Latino, Asian, and multiracial children born in the US deserve new access to families yearning to adopt. Pact crosses geographic and institutional barriers, connecting children and parents who, without Pact, could not be united as family.

What does Pact stand for?

Pact is a word on its own. It means "a solemn agreement; to be of one mind; a covenant." Your child will come to understand the ways adoptive parents and birth parents formed a pact to ensure his or her best interests.

Some birth parents contact us directly. Others come through referrals from agencies or private adoption professionals. We work with birth families from all states. Twenty percent of the birth parents we work for are teens; 80% are under the age of 30; 90% are experiencing economic stress. Many feel isolated and unsupported; for many, Pact is their sole source of emotional support. Pact embraces birth parents at a major turning point in their lives.

Pact believes that birth parents have the right to choose the family who will adopt their baby. Pact provides an opportunity to consider a range of families.

More healthy newborns of color need permanent families than there are prospective parents coming forward to adopt. Women of color deserve the same choices, control and respect as any others who choose adoption. Pact recruits families who want to adopt children of color as their first choice.

What to expect ...

From us: We will treat you as we would wish to be treated - with respect and honesty. You can count on individualized assistance in your process of determining what is best for you and your child.

From you: To prepare for the changes adoption will cause in your life and family, you will need to be genuinely honest with yourself. Unexpected feelings may arise as you explore your ideas.

The Next Step:

You have some big decisions to make.... You may feel as if you don't have any choices - but you do. At Pact, you make the choices; we offer you information about all your options. Whether you make an adoption plan or decide to parent your baby yourself, Pact will help you determine what's right for you. You will be in charge.

Who we are...

Pact, An Adoption Alliance, is a national non-profit organization. We are a coalition of individuals who represent all sectors with an interest in the future of children of color in need of permanent families, adoptive parents, birth parents, adoption professionals, adopted persons and concerned citizens.

Pact is committed to leadership growth that reflects its constituency. Our Board of Directors represents the racial demographics of the children we serve.

Beth Hall, Co-Director Gail Steinberg, Co-Director Marta Barton, Adoption Coordinator Tatia Saunders, Adoption Consultant Patricia Quintana, Adoption Consultant Marina Korman, BookSource Coordinator Michelle Carerra, Adoption Intern Pact Staff Profiles

Pact can help you ... to help yourself.

...make parenting choices.

First, we will help you consider ways of keeping your family intact. If you choose adoption, you need to understand why you will be facing a major emotional challenge. Adoption is a permanent choice.

...take care of yourself.

You may wonder whether you can get financial help with costs related to your pregnancy. We will help you secure appropriate medical care, counseling, emotional support, legal advice, housing and anything else necessary to help you meet your needs and relieve your stress.

...choose an adoptive family.

If you decide to place your baby for adoption, you will have further choices to make. What kind of family are you looking for? What kind of post-placement contact do you want? Introductions to adoptive parents are based on the similarities between their needs and expectations and yours.

We will remain in touch, no farther away than your phone.

...understand the situations you will face.

...find your own answers to common questions.

How will you respond to other people's opinions if you choose to place your baby for adoption? How will he or she feel about you later? What will happen if you change your mind?

...anticipate grief and loss.

How will you let go? Anticipating your grief in advance will help you prepare. Placing a child for adoption is difficult no matter how right it is for you and your child. There are no short cuts, but talking it out helps.

...move forward in your life.

What kind of ongoing contact do you want with your child? What are your goals and dreams?

Be kind to yourself. You may be the only person who will be. Only you understand everything about your own situation. Only you know what is best for your baby.

Common Questions ...

What are adoptive parents like?

The majority, though not all, of the adoptive parents contacting us are open-minded, with friends and family who support their decision to adopt. Typically they are in good health; college-educated; over 35; financially stable; infertile; and scared that you will change your mind.

15% are African American
20% are interracial couples
40% are Caucasian
15% are Latino
5% are Asian
70% are married couples
15% are single
15% are gay or lesbian

Will anyone want to adopt my baby?

Choosing the right family to adopt your baby will depend on your requirements. Many people want to adopt and no two are alike. There are couples-and singles. Some are the same race as your baby-others adopt across racial lines. Some wait for their first child-others have kids already. Some want to have a lot of contact with you-others won't. The more flexible you are, the more families you will have to choose from. If you have an extreme financial need, medical or legal problems, or if you have special requirements unique to your situation, it may take longer to find your right family.

"We're adopted and we're adaptive. We can get along anywhere!"       - Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ph.D., adopted person

How much does it cost?

All services are free to birth parents. Adoptive parents pay fees to professionals they choose to work with (whose fees vary widely) and in some circumstances they may also assist with specific expenses of the birth parents. Adoptive parents may pay for counseling, medical costs, legal costs, transportation, and living expenses related to your pregnancy. Pact charges adoptive parents a single fee for all services on a sliding scale ranging from nothing to $3,000.

Can I meet the family? Can I see the baby?

You are in charge of what happens. If you want to see the baby, you can but it is not required; however, we want you to consider the advantages. We will help you and the adoptive parents decide together on the kind of contact you will have after the placement. We believe that children do best when they are able to maintain connections with their birth family members.

Will my child hate me because I chose adoption?

Your child will want to understand why. He or she will want to know that you acted in his or her best interest. The most important information will be the knowledge that you worked very hard to make the right decision, that you considered his or her needs before your own.

It doesn't mean I loved you any less but that I loved you so much - to let you go. Someday again, I hope to hold you in my arms when you are gown up. I love you....       - Sharon Kelly, birth mother

How do I know who will be good parents?

Adoptive parents must be approved by a state-required home study and must undergo a criminal record search. Some do this before you choose them and others afterwards. In a Pact adoption, you will have full disclosure of all information you may want or need. You will also be able to meet them, usually at the time of the birth, and decide for yourself.

What if I change my mind?

This may be the hardest decision you will ever make. Since you will be deciding not only for yourself but for your baby and the adoptive parents, we will ask you to be as sure as you can possibly be that adoption is the right plan before you select an adoptive family. Nevertheless, you will retain the legal right to change your mind and reclaim custody without explanation until you sign your consent to the adoption. If this happens after the baby is in the adoptive parent's home, you can go to get the baby back. Once you sign the relinquishment or consent forms, you have some period of time (depending on which state you live in) before your signature will be considered irrevocable. You will continue to have the right to a legal hearing of the matter even after this period has passed. We will always help you get the specific information you need if you want to explore these options.

"Why do adoptees want to know? Wouldn't you?"       - Pam Hasagawa, adopted person

What kinds of papers do I have to sign?

There are 5 papers in total: (1) a contract to work with Pact on your adoption plan. (2) a form reflecting your intent to place your child for adoption with a particular adoptive family; this form is not legally binding. (3) at the hospital, you will sign a form to give the adoptive parents the right to make medical decisions for the child while he or she is in their custody. (4) your consent or relinquishment forms. (5) memo of understanding form regarding agreements about ongoing contact (this form is not legally binding).

We believe...

The child is our client. Every child has a right to a family. Preserving families comes first. Adoption is a positive solution. Not everyone should adopt. Openness serves the child best. Racism affects all of us. Many things can wait; a child cannot. Same-race placements are desirable. Transracial families can work beautifully. Love is not enough.

"Always, always leave the door open. Get an option in writing, to be able to choose to see or contact your child. I didn't and now I live every day in regret."       - anonymous birth mother

What is Pact?

Pact, An Adoption Alliance, provides the highest quality adoption services to children of color. Our primary client is the child. In order to serve the child, we address the needs of all of the child's parents, by advising families facing a crisis pregnancy and by offering lifelong education to adoptive families and birth families on matters of race and adoption. Our goal is for every child to feel wanted, honored and loved, a cherished member of a strong family with proud connections to the rich cultural heritage that is his or her birthright. Pact was incorporated in 1991 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Pact, An Adoption Alliance
a non-profit serving children of color
information exploration affirmation

3220 Blume Drive Suite 289
Richmond, CA 94806

(510) 243-9460 (voice)
(510) 243-9970 (fax)
(800) 750-7590 (Birth Parent Line)
(888) 448-8277 ( Adoptive Parent Peer Support Line)
(866) 722-8257 (Books & Educational Resources)
www.pactadopt.org (website)
info@pactadopt.org (email)

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Copyright ©1998-2008 by Pact, An Adoption Alliance
http://www.pactadopt.org
info@pactadopt.org