 Friends
in Adoption is a non-profit, non-traditional, licensed agency whose goal
is to help people make informed decisions concerning adoption. FIA works with
both those interested in adopting and with pregnant women/couples considering
placing their children with adoptive families.
Friends in Adoption
was "officially" created in 1982 by Dawn Smith-Pliner. During the 1970's,
shortly after they were married, Dawn Smith-Pliner and her husband found out they
couldn't conceive a child and decided to adopt. But they were turned down by every
agency they applied to. "We were told we weren't married long enough, we
were of different religions, or my husband's hair was too long. We weren't the
average middle-American couple," she said. But the more she got turned down,
the more Dawn became determined. She heard of a pregnant woman in Florida, but
interstate adoption was illegal at the time. "The only option," Dawn
said, "was an 'open adoption' under which the pregnant woman and her husband
and daughter would come to Vermont."
Joel and Dawn were present
at Aura's birth in Bennington. It was a wonderful experience and "Aura can
find all the answers to questions about why Joel and I are her parents,"
Dawn said. Twelve months later, Dawn's parents told her of another woman who wanted
to place her child. This was a "confidential" adoption through an attorney,
in which they didn't meet Isaac's birth mother. After the two experiences, Dawn
realized there was a need for information regarding adoption. She and a friend
started a non-profit information service to provide information on private adoptions.
In 1982, a year and a half later, the partnership dissolved and Dawn formed Friends
in Adoption, that changed its focus to "compassionate adoption" in which
everyone's needs are met.
FIA has been providing
these compassionate adoption services for over 25 years. Our mission
is to:
- Keep the central focus of the adoption plan
on the needs of the baby or child;
- Give attention to the unique
needs of each individual involved in the adoption plan;
- Recognize
that adoption is a life-long process based on trust, honesty and mutual responsibility.
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