Lutheran Family and Children’s Services Promotes Benefits of Open Adoption
Focus comes during National Adoption Month
Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS) is dedicating November’s National Adoption Month to raising awareness of the free, confidential counseling and lifelong support it provides those who place their child for adoption.
“For birth parents, the adoption journey is an act of incredible courage and love,” said Melani Engel, director of adoption services for LFCS. “It’s a decision rooted in deep care for their child’s future, and our mission is to support them before, during, and long after placement. This perspective reframes the adoption experience. It turns a narrative of loss into one of empowerment and strength.”
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Today, most adoptions include ongoing relationships between birth and adoptive families, reflecting a more compassionate and connected approach. Approximately 95 percent of domestic infant adoptions now include some degree of openness, allowing for continued communication and mutual respect between families. LFCS’s commitment is strengthened through its partnership with BraveLove, a national nonprofit dedicated to equipping professionals and agencies with resources to better support birth parents.
“Every woman deserves access to the resources and support she needs to make a well-informed decision about her pregnancy and continued care after placement,” said Janelle Basham, executive director of BraveLove. “We’re proud to partner with Lutheran Family and Children’s Services in honoring the courage and love shown through adoption, this month and every month.”
The commitment extends far beyond the moment of placement. LFCS provides comprehensive, nonjudgmental services for birth parents at every step of their journey:
- Free, confidential counseling: A safe, supportive space for women and men considering adoption to explore their options and emotions.
- Guidance and education: Clear, step-by-step guidance through the adoption process so parents feel informed and supported.
- Post-placement counseling and support: Ongoing counseling and support groups promote healing and long-term emotional well-being.
LFCS has released “Ivy: An Adoption Story,” a short new video in which two Missouri families share their open adoption journeys.
“We want every birth parent in Missouri to know that they are not alone,” Engel said. “There are compassionate professionals ready to listen, to help them heal and to support their future with dignity and care.”
For more information about Lutheran Family and Children’s Services, including adoption services and support for birth parents, visit https://lfcsmo.org/, call 866-326-LFCS or email help@lfcs.org.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
