Adoption & Beyond Podcast

Welcome to the third episode of the Marketing TakeOver of a Heart-to-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart podcast. In this episode we were joined by two amazing, adoptive parents, Sheila Kowit and Joan Smith, who also happen to be Adoptions From The Heart social workers, as well! In this episode, we dive into a deep discussion about openness, tough conversations to have with your adoptee as an adop...

Welcome to the second episode of the Marketing TakeOver of a Heart-to-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart podcast. In this episode we were joined by three amazing adoptees: Roslyn, Jackie and Colleen. In this episode we dived into what it was like growing up as an adoptee and the different challenges they faced. We talked about identity, relationships with birth families, struggles, biggest accomp...

Happy National Adoption Month! This month, we will be bringing you a new episode every week. The marketing team has given our host Jenna Stocks a break to bring you stories from every member of the adoption triad. This first episode, we focused on the Social Work Experience. Often times, we do not think about the behind the scenes of the adoption world. Many people forget that there are people who...

In this episode of A Heart-to-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart Podcast we are joined by two special guests joining us. Katie Young-Wildes and Amanda Aliberti. Katie is the  Senior Communications Specialist at Women Against Abuse. Amanda is the Birthparent Post-Placement Support Manager and Adoption Counselor at Adoptions From The Heart. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we...

In this episode of a Heart-to-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart Podcast with invited Chris Peszka, Chris is the District Supervisor of New Jersey and the Regional Supervisor of Wynnewood, PA office at Adoptions From The Heart. He has over 30 years of experience in the adoption field and will be joined us to talk about foster care, kindship care and private agency adoption. If you need resources...

In this episode of a Heart-To-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart, we are joined by Amanda Aliberti, AFTH Adoption Counselor and Birthparent Post-Placement Support Manager to discuss the importance of choice for pregnant people and options counseling. We are also joined by Adoptee Colleen, Birth Mother Whitney and Prospective Adoptive Parent, Kristy to discuss why choice is important for them and...

In this episode of a Heart-To-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart, we are joined by TikTok Influencer Taylor Shennett and foster mother, Nicole Fowler. Tune in as we dive into an open discussion about Social Media Impact, Transracial adoption, and Letting go of the "ColorBlind" method. Follow Taylor on Social Media Instagram – @taylorshennett TikTok – @taylorruipingshen Follow AFTH on Social Media...

In this episode of a Heart-To-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart, we are joined by Rebecca Vahle and our very own, Stephanie Capriotti to discuss Unique Family Care, Language, and the Importance of training in the hospital setting. Rebecca is the founder of Family-to-Family Support Network® (FFSN), the first hospital-based adoption support program in the nation. Stephanie Capriotti, Program Coord...

In this episode of A Heart to Heart with Adoptions From The Heart, we are joined by Kristen young, Event Planning and Fundraising Coordinator of the Cade Foundation. Tune in as we discuss the importance of infertility awareness and education, as well as, financial resources and services that are available. Cade Foundation Website: https://cadefoundation.org/ CADE Foundation Events Calendar: https:...

In this episode of Heart- To- Heart with Adoptions From The Heart Podcast, we are joined by BIPOC social workers of PACT Katie Wynen and Jaciara Bayer; along with AFTH’s very own Mykhia Odom. PACT is an organization that serves children and families of color by providing more than just adoption placement, but also education and community support. Like AFTH, PACT’s goal is to ensure families are eq...

In this episode of A Heart to Heart with Adoptions From The Heart, we are joined by Rebekah McGee, a licensed social worker from NYC and mom of 3, as well as Brittany, stay-at-home mom of 6. We discuss character and self-identity while battling disability, support and coping with disappointment, and expectation management. Tune into this episode to learn more about parenting special needs children...

In this episode of Heart-To-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart, we are joined by Deborah Spivak, a private attorney whose practice is limited to adoptions, and Ashley Kodet, a county administrator for infants court, to discuss post-adoption contact agreements (PACA) in private infant adoption and foster care. 

In this episode of A Heart-To-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart, we are joined by the author, speaker, open adoption advocate, and host of the podcast ‘ Adoption: The Long View ’ , Lori Holden. Although Lori is an Adoptive mother, she and Jenna take a step back in this episode, to view adoption through a lens people often are blind to. They discuss the effects and impacts of maintaining openness...

In this episode of Heart-To-Heart with Adoptions From The Heart, we are joined by Liz and Sarah, also known as, 2AdoptiveMamas for some insight on Adoptive moms who are taking steps to be the change they want to see in the adoption community! These 2 mamas have very different adoption stories but are connected by similar experiences of which they have no problem sharing with you! Click play to lea...

This episode of A Heart- to- Heart podcast with Adoptions From The Heart features four birth mothers. SeAyra and Samantha; two AFTH Birth Mothers. Birth Mom and Educator, Courtney Tierra and Blogger and Birth mother, Hope O. Baker. This episode highlights already published interviews from these birth moms. These women touch on placing their child for adoption, the pressure the felt from those arou...

This episode of A Heart- to- Heart podcast with Adoptions From The Heart, features activist and social entrepreneur, Isaac Etter and creator of the “I’m adopted, now what?” podcast and adoptee advocate Liza Stone. Join the conversation as Isaac and Liza tackle discovering your identity as a transracial adoptee, changing the stigma of agency and adoptee partnerships, and creating longevity in futur...

In this episode, we welcome Brianne Kirkpatrick, a genetic counselor and DNA consultant and Co-author of The DNA Guide for Adoptees: How to use genealogy and genetics to uncover your roots, connect with your biological family and better understand your medical history” and author of the e-book Could the DNA Test Be Wrong? Sparked by curiosity surrounding the gaps in her own family history from her...

In this episode, we welcome Keri Friedman and Jennifer Conn. Keri is a Chinese adoptee who will soon be graduating college with a degree in Psychology and is currently interning at Adoptions From The Heart. Jennifer is a Korean adoptee who works with adoptees and families as a licensed social worker and child and family therapist. She also serves on the AFTH Board of Directors. Our discussion rang...

Search and reunions are important topics to cover when discussing adoption. On today’s podcast, we welcome two women who have made a significant impact helping adoptees and birth parents in their search process. Helen Blair Schuler is a former Orphan’s Court Administrator in Montgomery County and continues to provide adoption search services. Marilyn Rich is Adoptions From The Heart’s Search Coord...

On today’s podcast we welcome Ashley Kodet. Ashley began her social work career in foster care and then moved into private domestic adoption for many years. She is now using her background knowledge in her role as an Orphan’s Court Administrator in the Philadelphia area. Our discussion will focus on the adoption related court process and what it looks like after an adoption placement occurs. Episo...

This week is Infertility Awareness week, so we wanted to begin our discussion about the grief and loss surrounding infertility and moving through a diagnosis and treatment options and then possibly making a transition into considering adoption. Our guests today include Tracy Whitney who is a Content Manager at Creating a Family, the national non-profit whose mission is to strengthen and inspire ad...

In honor of March being National Social Work Month, we wanted to dive further into what it’s like being an essential worker and how the field of social work has been affected by the pandemic. Our guests today include Dr. Chelsea Toth, Director of Field Education & Assistant Professor of Social Work at Cedar Crest College as well as three Adoptions From The Heart’s interns Nikki, Chevonne and J...

Battling addiction can feel like a lonely road , it’s especially hard when facing that challenge while pregnant. “When you are pregnant and in addiction, it’s like no one looks at you below your shoulders. There is so much shame and judgment when all I really needed was help.” Our guests today openly speak about their journey with addition, pregnancy and adoption. The discussion also sheds light o...

Welcome to our first podcast in 2021. Today we are joined by Jenna Smith (Domestic Program Manager) , Kristin Kachmar (Expecting Parent Services Manager) and Amanda Aliberti (Post Placement Services Manager ). In seeing the growing and ever-changing needs of expecting parents reaching out for help, Adoptions From The Heart responded by creating two new roles in the agency to further specialize and...

Ashley Mitchell, owner of Big Tough Girl and Founder + Executive Director of Lifetime Healing Foundation sits down for a virtual chat with AFTH's own Adoption Counselor & AFTHtv host Amanda Aliberti. These ladies dive into the nitty-gritty of the common holiday triggered anxiety and depression that expecting, and birth parents face each year.