Tag: life

  • Adoption over Time: Change, Policy, and the Complex History

    Adoption over Time: Change, Policy, and the Complex History

    By Teesta Bhola-Shah For much of the twentieth century, adoption in America followed a familiar pattern. Agencies facilitated placements, birth records were kept private, and contact between biological and adoptive families was rare. Today, that system looks very different. Through decades of firsthand experience, Richard Pearlman has watched adoption evolve from a largely closed process…

  • The Adoption Chronicles: Preserving the Stories

    The Adoption Chronicles: Preserving the Stories

    In a world where so many stories disappear with time, the Adoption Chronicles Project exists to make sure adoption stories are not forgotten. Founded by Richard Pearlman, the project is built on one central idea: to chronicle the modern era of adoption before its voices fade away. When explaining the project, Pearlman starts with the…

  • Adoption With Special Needs – What You Should Know

    Adoption With Special Needs – What You Should Know

    Adopting a child is a complicated experience for everyone who goes through the process. Let’s discuss special needs adoption.

  • A Cradle in Delhi: How One Mother Found Her Daughter at Palna

    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…

  • Two Countries, One Goal: How Adoption Differs in India and America

    Two Countries, One Goal: How Adoption Differs in India and America

    When it comes to adoption, every family’s story starts from the same place: love. But the way that story unfolds can look very different depending on where you live. We interviewed mother Ria Patel, who adopted her daughter Zahra through the Indian adoption system, about her experiences.