 |
Support to meet your needs Our goal is to provide you with accurate information, excellent service and support throughout the process. Whether you are calling for the first time, waiting for your closed file information, or searching for a birth relative, or have been contacted by us on behalf of a relative who wants a connection, we want you to know that we strive to help you feel understood and supported. The following profiles illustrate the caring approach Midwest Adoption Center strives to achieve in every one of our contacts with you. LaKisha, our intake worker, is available 5 days a week to answer any and all of your questions. She understands that the process may seem daunting and it is her job to give you initial information, offer support until your case is assigned, or assist you if your worker is unavailable. . Whether you need help understanding the process, the paper work, or completing the registry forms, she is here to help. Sue F is our file retrieval expert, and while you probably won’t ever speak with her, she is an essential player on the MAC team. One of Sue’s most important tasks is to take the information you know and use her years of experience as a genealogist to find the files required to provide service. Paula is the direct service supervisor in the DCFS Post-Adoption and Guardianship program. She also carries a caseload. Paula wants you to know that all MAC workers are trained professionals experienced in issues of foster care and adoption and therefore can understand what you may be going through in a different way than family or friends. Paula notes that our clients report how helpful it is to hear that they are not alone and that others have been in similar situations and have expressed similar thoughts and emotions. Sue W is a caseworker who has been with the Agency for over 9 years. In Sue’s experience, clients are often quite concerned about the first conversation they might have with their birth relative. Wondering about what to say and whether or not expectations will be met are typical concerns that can be acknowledged and validated by talking with their worker. Sue remembered a birth mother who shared with her that she was extremely worried that her birth daughter would not understand that she tried her best to be a good parent and would think she was a bad mother. Not surprisingly, the birth mother did not know anyone else who had a similar life experience. After a lengthy conversation with Sue, the birth mother learned of others in her situation who had shared her feelings. This information and supportive counseling offered by Sue was reassuring for the birth mother and allowed her more easily to move forward in her outreach. Linda has worked at MAC for over 5 years and is the Program Coordinator of the Confidential Intermediary Program. Linda wants you to know the story of a birth mother whose birth daughter searched for her through our program. The birth mother told Linda that she had never spoken to anyone in 49 years about the child she placed for adoption. Birth mother and Linda had many important conversations and over time the birth mother became less afraid that ‘people would find out’. After receiving support over time, she agreed to participate in anonymous correspondence with her birth daughter. Linda noted that this is just one example of the many clients she has worked with who express relief to be able to share their stories and their feelings without being judged. Dawn is an experienced worker who has been with MAC since 2004. Dawn believes that supportive counseling is important for all of her clients. For clients that use this component of the program, their feelings are validated and normalized. For those clients who chose not to use the supportive counseling, Dawn thinks that it is still helpful for them to know that supportive counseling is available even if they don’t feel as though they need it at this time. Dawn shared one story of an adult adoptee searching for her birth father. The client calls monthly for updates and ‘to know that I haven’t stopped looking’. Each conversation begins with the client quite anxious but after the conversation is completed, Dawn believes that she is calmed by the talk and is able to ‘continue with her week, knowing that we are still working on her behalf’. Deanna joined the MAC staff as a caseworker in 2006. Deanna recognizes that clients who may initially be apprehensive feel more at ease after talking with her. Being listened to helps Deanna’s clients feel a greater sense of comfort and therefore it is easier for them to more forward in the process. Deanna told the story of a birth parent searching for her birth daughter. The birth mother expressed a variety of mixed feelings including; nervousness, gladness, anger and helplessness. Deanna had many conversations with the birth mother, provided support and validated her feelings. The birth mother was also conflicted about search, as she did not want to ‘mess up’ her daughter’s life. When Deanna let her know that her daughter would receive the same support she had, the birth mother was reassured and was able to more easily continue her search. Mary Pat joined the MAC staff as a caseworker in 2006. Mary Pat mentioned that her clients feel supported in knowing that any questions or concerns they may have will be patiently addressed by their caseworker. Whether it is to offer validation for the feelings surrounding a connection or helping them fill out an authorization form, Mary Pat believes that her clients take comfort in knowing that she is there to help. Mary Pat shared a story of a woman who was searching for her daughter. The client expressed a great deal of anger about having lost her child and stated that she had never recovered from the pain of the loss. The woman spent a long time explaining to Mary Pat how and why the child had been removed. Mary Pat listened and as she listened, the birth mother began to cry. Mary Pat listened to her pain and stayed with her as she cried. The birth mother was able to experience her worker as the first person who ‘listened to her side of the story’. When the birth mother apologized for taking up so much of her time, Mary Pat shared that supporting her through listening and empathic understanding is an essential component of the work. |