Rick and I chose Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services because of their well-earned reputation for treating birthparents (and adoptive families) with the upmost compassion, caring, and respect. Because of this, more birthparents are choosing to place their child through Journeys of the Heart’s domestic program – and this is wonderful news for prospective adoptive families!

The staff at Journeys goes above and beyond to help birthparents get the help and support they need – everything from basic necessities (food, rent) to counseling and other services to help emotionally prepare them for the adoption and placement of their child. The agency invests in these birthparents, whether they chose to place their child through Journeys or not.

As Rick and I pursued our adoption through Journeys, it became obvious that the agency and its staff are completely and genuinely invested in adoption – not as a business, but to build and enrich families through domestic and international adoption. Many staff have adopted children domestically or internationally or were adopted themselves, and all have a wealth of experience.

Rick and I found the staff at the Illinois and Oregon offices to be exceptionally helpful, professional, and caring throughout our entire adoption journey. Journeys’ staff was very prompt in scheduling and writing-up our home study; and they gently encouraged us to keep progressing on our home study and study plan paperwork while they secured the required DCFS approvals.

Now we understand why Journeys kept urging us to complete our paperwork. Because of their incredible reputation among birthparents (many choose to place more than one child with Journeys or refer friends there) – and more recently due to the economy – there are currently more babies in Journeys’ domestic program than prospective adoptive families!

Rick and I entered the "waiting pool” at a time when there were a record number of prospective adoptive families in the domestic program. Even with that, it took less than 9 months to be chosen by our birthparents. The waiting and uncertainty were hard, but Journeys’ staff kept encouraging us. “Don’t worry. Your child is out there,” they’d say – and they were right! At the time we received that message, baby Jeremiah was conceived and well on his way to being born.

Once you’re chosen by birthparents, things can move very quickly. Journeys’ staff took time to answer all our questions, allay any fears, and help coordinate our trips to Oregon. But this was just a fraction of the time they spent with our birthparents. While the birth and placement of your adopted child is an incredibly joyful time – the transition can also be stressful and very difficult. Rick and I are so grateful to Journeys staff for being there for us 24/7 during this time, and for all the support they gave our birthparents, in particular.

Even though our adoption is complete, Journeys staff continues to help us with visits/communications with our birthparents and they are working to help unite our son with his older brothers who were placed in closed adoptions through the state. The agency has no financial incentive to do this; they are helping us because they care.

As first time parents, nothing could have prepared us for the incredible love and joy we have for baby Jeremiah. When we met our birthparents, the first question they asked was whether we could love their baby “like he was our own.”  Before our experience with Journeys, I used to wonder why God had not given us a child the traditional way. But now, when we are greeted each morning by Jeremiah smiling and bounding away in his crib, we realize He heard our prayers and gave us something even better!” Thank you for making our journey complete!