ST. LOUIS, Mo. – As families nationwide celebrate National Adoption Month, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS) is focusing on a crucial, often overlooked part of the journey: birth parents. Throughout November, LFCS is raising awareness of its free, confidential counseling and lifelong support services designed to honor and care for those who make the decision to 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.”
Reflecting the modern reality of adoption, approximately 95 percent of domestic infant adoptions today include some degree of openness, allowing for continued communication between birth and adoptive families, according to the National Council For Adoption (NCFA).
The LFCS message is strengthened through its partnership with BraveLove, a national nonprofit that equips professionals and agencies with tools 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.”
LFCS provides comprehensive services for birth parents, including:
- Free, confidential counseling for women and men considering adoption, providing a safe space to explore options and emotions.
- Guidance and education through each step of the adoption process, ensuring parents considering adoption feel informed and supported.
- Post-placement counseling and support groups for considering parents to promote healing and long-term emotional well-being.
To extend its reach, LFCS is expanding its video library for social media outreach and client education. These resources complement BraveLove’s powerful videos, such as Noelle: “How can I do this?” “It was one of the best decisions I had ever made. And the hardest,” and Kelsey’s Story.
“We want every birth parent in Missouri to know that they are not alone,” said Engel. “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.
Lutheran Family and Children Services (LFCS) is a statewide agency headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with regional offices in Columbia, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Joplin, and Kansas City, as well as numerous satellite counseling sites. LFCS serves Missouri families from all walks of life in their greatest times of need. The nonprofit social services organization provides support in six critical areas to help children and families: adoption, behavioral health, parenting education, pregnancy support, foster care, and childcare at the Hilltop Child and Family Development Center