Thanks in part to the success of Holt International adoption agency, Eugene, Oregon has a strong adoption-friendly culture and several agencies available within and around Eugene to assist parents in building their families through adoption.
The largest and most well-known adoption agency in Eugene is Holt International. Founded by Harry and Bertha Holt in the mid-1950’s this agency has grown to be one of the leaders and strongest advocates for humanitarian aid and the international adoption of orphans. Although Holt International is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, the agency works with families all over the United States. Adoption programs are available for the following countries: China, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Korea, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Holt International also has a special “Waiting Child” program. For more information, call 541-687-2202 or toll free 1-888-355-4658 or program and contact information is also available online at www.holtinternational.org.
Open Adoption and Family Services is a private, nonprofit adoption agency specializing in promoting open infant adoptions. This agency welcomes and works with a variety of adoptive families, including single parents, gay and lesbian parents and married, heterosexual parents. Open Adoption and Family Services encourages open communication and facilitates training and counseling for birth parents and adoptive parenting involved in the open adoption process. The agency is located at 315 West 10th Avenue, in Eugene. Call 541-343-4825 or the website is www.openadopt.org.
While not located in Eugene, Journeys of the Heart adoption agency is headquartered in nearby Hillsboro, Oregon. Journeys of the Heart offers international adoption programs and domestic infant adoption programs in China, Ukraine, Guatemala, Samoa, Republic of Marshall Islands, Haiti and India, as well as Caucasian and African-American/Bi-racial infant adoptions from within the United States. Criteria for each program vary depending on qualifications of each country. The web address for this agency is www.journeysoftheheart.net or you can email at http://[email protected] or you can call 503-681-3075 for more information.
PLAN Loving Adoptions Now is also not in Eugene proper, but located in nearby McMinnville, Oregon. PLAN is a Christian-based nonprofit agency with domestic and international programs. The domestic programs include Caucasian and Minority infants, as well as help facilitating adoptions from the Oregon State foster care system. International adoptions include: China, China Special Needs, Columbia, Guatemala, Haiti, Liberia, Russia and Ukraine. For more information, call 503-472-8452 or email at http://[email protected] or website: www.planlovingadoptions.org.
The state of Oregon also facilitates adoptions from the State foster care system. The Eugene offices of the Department ofHuman Services offer orientation, training and casework for parents who would like to adopt from the state system. For more information, go to www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/adoption to find out about how to adopt children who are currently in foster care.
Most of these agencies offer periodic classes to introduce those considering adoption to the process, answer questions and explain current realities in adoption. Workers are also normally available via email and phone to answer questions and provide information on adoption.
