Published: November 12, 2008 02:36 pm         

Planned Parenthood marks National Adoption Awareness Month

Planned Parenthood of Indiana wants to ensure its patients and supporters understand the organization’s dedication to promoting freedom of choice across the board — including the freedom to choose adoption.

PPIN is marking National Adoption Awareness Month this November by highlighting the free, on-site adoption services offered at three of its health centers. Women at the centers in Bloomington, Indianapolis and Merrillville can meet with adoption counselors to discuss the option and what is involved. These services have led to two successful placements with Indiana families. “The key goal of our organization has always been to offer women every reproductive choice available. By facilitating adoption services, we are affirming our dedication to that goal,” said Planned Parenthood of Indiana President and CEO Betty Cockrum. The adoption services are provided by individual adoption agencies, chosen to best suit the needs of patients in their areas of the state. In Bloomington and Indianapolis, services are provided by Independent Adoption Center. Merrillville services are provided by Adoption Center for Family Building Inc.

“We want people to know it’s a viable option and there are many choices … that adoption is not typically secretive and closed,” said Adoption Center for Family Building founder Tobi Ehrenpreis. “There are opportunities for openness if that’s what the birth mother wants. She can make decisions such as choosing the family and determining how much contact she would like to have with that family.” “Having the option of adoption at our centers allows women to be more empowered in the decisions they must make when facing an unintended pregnancy,” Cockrum said. “A woman who chooses adoption will be responsible for providing a lifetime of happiness to a family.”