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Richard Pearlman: A Life in Adoption and Storytelling
By Teesta Bhola-Shah Richard Pearlman does not describe his career as something he carefully mapped out from the beginning. Instead, his path into adoption work began almost by accident. “I inadvertently became involved in the field of adoption in the early 1980s,” he explains, reflecting on a professional journey that spans more than four decades…
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Indian Child Welfare Act – A Deep Dive into one of the US’s Most Interesting Pieces of Adoption Legislation
A while back, I started MyAdoptionStories to talk about adoption from a personal perspective, especially because of my adopted brother. Early on, my research included learning about the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978, which is a policy that sets standards for Native American adoption. When I started researching this act, I realized there…
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2025 Adoption Wrapped
What a year 2025 has been! In 2025, while adoption wasn’t a topic that many people had on the forefront of their minds, some real changes occurred behind the scenes. Whether you’re adoptee, adoptive family, birth parent, or just curious about adoption, there’s so much to look back on and be proud of. Let’s dive…
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A Cradle in Delhi: How One Mother Found Her Daughter at Palna
By Teesta Bhola-Shah Before adoptive parent Ria Patel ever became a mother, she was already working to help children. Her first job after earning her Master’s degree was with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, a philanthropic organization in India that funds community and social projects. One of their most meaningful missions, she said, was building a…
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Two Countries, One Goal: How Adoption Differs in India and America
