November is National Adoption Month. We recently had the opportunity to talk with a family hoping to adopt about their adoption journey.
Noah and Carye Marach, their daughter Sylvia, and dog Harvey recently began their adoption journey. The Marach’s are working with a Catholic Adoption Agency and have created a Facebook Page to share their adoption journey.
How… does one adopt?
Like most things these days this was the question that we used in a google search to figure out who to talk to. States regulate the adoption process through two main ways 1. Agencies 2. Lawyers. Wisconsin is an agency state. In our area we looked at Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities. We eventually applied to Catholic Charities based in Eau Claire.
Who do you work with?
We’ve been working with Catholic Charities and a social worker there has been with us since the start. Speaking of our social worker – we were lucky to be matched with ours.
Why are you hoping to adopt?
There are so many “why” reasons – yes, we’ve wanted a bigger family but also we love our siblings and have always wanted that for our children and our hearts are ready…just to name a couple!
You can learn more about the Marach’s and their adoption journey by watching their Adoption Video!
Is there an expected timeline for being matched?
Well, it could be 2 weeks or 2 years…or anytime in between…or longer…
This is why it was suggested to us to create our own social media page to try and reach out into a network that and connect with someone who isn’t working with our agency. If we “self-match” ourselves, the timeframe could be less. Which is why there are posts where we ask you to comment and like in hopes to reach past our “normal network”. Thanks for your help with that!
How has technology changed adoption?
This was a surprise to us… There are open adoptions and closed adoptions. We learned that more adoptions recently are open. With the invention of social media, along with the creation of companies like 23andMe that do DNA tests adoptees are more able to learn more about their birth families and who they are before their adoption.
Tell us more about the role of social media.
When you interact with our Noah & Carye – Adoption Journey page through likes, comments, etc it helps more than you know! These simple interactions broaden our network by getting the information out to new eyes and to others who may not see our posts regularly. We appreciate you all.
Thank you all for your likes, comments, and shares already! Please consider sharing our page with your friends – you can even invite friends to like the page. Who knows, your share, could be the one that reaches an expectant mother that is out there and may be considering adoption.
What resources are out there to learn more about adoption?
Start with the state of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families!
How can we help you and other families hoping to adopt?
Great question! Sharing and learning. We ourselves have learned so much through our trainings and homestudy process. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. With our social media page, any interaction and shares are greatly appreciated!
You can follow Carye and Noah’s journey on Facebook. By liking, commenting, and sharing posts on pages like The Marach’s, you can expand their reach. You never know which like, comment, or share will be the one that leads to the right person!
November is National Adoption Month. This month we keep all families and individuals impacted by adoption in our thoughts and prayers. While we celebrate those families that have grown through adoption, we recognize that with every joyful adoption story, there is a side that may include loss and grief. The goal of National Adoption Month is to raise awareness of adoption issues and encourage all of us to learn more about adoption.
