Welcome to Barker's Blog Corner

Are you interested in becoming a guest blogger for Barker's Blog corner? Your voice and story make a tremendous impact on all those who are part of the adoption constellation and support the work we are doing within the adoption community. Please share your story with us today!

If you are new to writing or need a place to start, we have provided some tips and information to help you through your writing process. Please review our submission guidelines here and email your draft to info [at] barkerfoundation.org today.

September 30, 2015

Reflecting Upon the News: Navigating the Evolving Complexities of Adoptee Connection with Birth Family

Sunday’s Washington Post Outlook section featured two different stories about evolving adoptee connection with birth family: Read More

September 22, 2015

A Mission-Critical Website Update for Barker

A deliberate fundraising effort to obtain oft-elusive money for communications and marketing projects ultimately led to the successful launch of a brand new, mission-critical website at The Barker Adoption Foundation in September 2015 -- Read More

September 4, 2015

10 Things Birth Parents Want You to Know

When making an adoption plan, birth parents have many thoughts running through their minds. They wonder what others will think of them and their decision to place. All birth parents think of the following at some point and want everyone to know: Read More

August 31, 2015

Five Factors to Consider When Selecting an Adoption Agency

Whether you have worked through grief associated infertility, or you are now able to legally marry your partner (about time!), your decision to build your family through adoption has already been a journey. Read More

August 31, 2015

PRIDE Training for Older Child Adoption

Are you considering adopting an older child from the foster care system? Training is a requirement for all families pursuing adoption through the foster care system but it is also a learning experience so you can have a better understanding of what your new child has been through and how to best meet their needs. Register now for the September/October PRIDE Training Session! Read More

August 31, 2015

Telling Others When You Have Decided to Make an Adoption Plan

You have decided to make an adoption plan. Your roommate(s), family, friends or coworkers may be aware of your pregnancy or that you had a baby. Naturally, they will inquire about your future plans for yourself and baby. Read More

August 27, 2015

Summer 2015: It Was Enough

On the last night of my eight-year-old son's summer vacation, I scan my memory - and my Instagram feed - to see if it was enough. Read More

August 27, 2015

8 Tips to Support Your Child's Homework Experience

Children who have a history of trauma often struggle academically and the start of a new school year can trigger anxiety.  One of the ways that you can support them is by making their after-school time as positive and stress free as possible. Read More

July 27, 2015

Family From the Start

Even when things don’t go exactly as planned, a Barker family shows the power of a forever family “We are her family.” Read More

July 16, 2015

Our Journey to Jianfeng

Our journey to Jianfeng would never have been possible without the efforts of so many people and organizations. He has been loved, prayed for, and cared about by everyone who has heard his name. Jianfeng’s adoption is not our story alone. Read More

June 30, 2015

Infertility and Adoption

Little girls often engage in the common childhood pastime of pretending to be pregnant, but it would be a rare individual indeed who would ever dress-rehearse infertility as a future problem. Unless individuals have pre-existing medical problems, they assume they will easily conceive a child. Read More

June 30, 2015

Speaking Positively: Using Respectful Adoption Language

Respectful Adoption Language (RAL) is vocabulary about adoption that has been chosen to reflect maximum respect, responsibility and objectivity about the decisions made by birth parents and adoptive parents in discussing the family planning decisions they have made for children who have been adopted. Read More

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