Important update from Madison Adoption Associates!


Dear Friends of Madison,

 

I am excited to share that as of January 1, 2024, our agency will begin the official integration process of combining our programs and staff into The Gladney Center for Adoption. 

 

Over the last several months, Madison has been working closely with our friends at Gladney, collaborating on ways to improve international adoption, and partnering to bring more services to families. As both agencies share a similar mission and passion for adoption, we have decided, as stated perfectly by Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.”  The current Madison staff will ultimately join and lead the international division of The Gladney Center for Adoption. 

 

The Gladney Center for Adoption has been helping children, birth parents, and adoptive families since 1887. They are a pillar in the adoption community and have an outstanding legacy for humanitarian work as well as in advocacy for adoption supportive legislation. Gladney is based in Fort Worth, Texas, but is also licensed in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Although they have both international and foster care programs, Gladney is best known for their specialization in domestic infant adoption as well as their post adoption support programs. In response to the increasing need for adoption-informed counseling and support for families, Gladney recently launched a counseling center in Texas, and has plans to expand these services in their licensed states.

 

While we will be working diligently over the next year to bring the new programs and staff into Gladney, I want to also assure you that families are the first priority for both Madison and Gladney, and our shared priority will result in a better process for our families and in the ability to help more children. With a collaboration of this magnitude, all involved understand the importance of taking our time to ensure the transition is done seamlessly, with no interruptions to any family’s adoption case, Madison’s or Gladney’s. We have already initiated getting Gladney accredited in each MAA country program, as well as getting licensed in each additional state where MAA resides. Our goal is to have the full integration complete by January 2025. 


This assumption marks a significant step forward in our collective mission to build and support loving families through adoption. 

As we embark on this new chapter, we are eager to highlight the incredible benefits that this alliance brings to our prospective adoptive families: 

  • Growth and diversification of adoption services, including domestic and adoption from foster care;
  • Expanded post-adoption support for our families;
  • Greater and more diverse opportunities for staff development and career growth, leading to greater employee retention and recruitment

 

For Gladney, bringing in Madison’s staff and programs offers:

  • Additional stability and growth of International programs;
  • Expansion of their post-adoption support, including the addition of SWAN services in Pennsylvania;
  • Addition of a dedicated, passionate staff and foreign providers with stellar reputations

 

Together, our long-term goals will include the following:

  • Getting more children into loving, qualified, well-equipped homes;
  • Providing high quality, clinical adoption services to a larger population of clients;
  • Implementation of a wider network of specialized, therapeutic counseling;
  • Increased focus on clinical services and educational programs to all members of the adoption community;
  • Establishing a stronger voice in the adoption community and a greater influence on ethical adoption practice;
  • Providing additional support for humanitarian efforts with international partners;
  • Utilization of philanthropic support for high-quality research to increase knowledge and identify the most effective approaches in recruiting, educating, and supporting families adopting children from hard places


We want to assure our community that this transition is rooted in our shared commitment to providing exceptional adoption services. The addition of Madison into Gladney signifies a strengthened foundation built on compassion, integrity, and a shared vision for creating bright futures through adoption. Additional updates will be shared along the way as milestones are met.  


Thank you for your continued support and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!


Sincerely yours,

Diana DeGroot, MBA, LMSW

Executive Director

A bittersweet farewell to our lovely Bev Guinto!


As of the new year, Bev Guinto will be leaving MAA. Her decision to leave was difficult; those of you that know her, know how much she LOVES her MAA family and the work we do. However, over the past few years her family’s needs have changed, and she must shift 100% of her focus and energy there. 


We will miss her award winning Halloween costumes, pranks around the office, spot on impressions, love of good food, and sound advice on all things life. Though we will miss her dearly, we understand that family comes first, and we wish the Guinto family ALL the best in this season.


They will be big shoes to fill, but we know Patti Small is up for the job!


Welcome Patti!

Patti has an Accounting Degree from The Ohio State University and has many years of financial experience.  She moved to the Delaware area from Ohio twelve years ago. She was blessed to be able to stay home with her children most of that time. Patti is excited to get back to working in an industry she feels passionate about.  Patti and her husband have three adopted children: Elisa, Aidan and Evan; and used Madison for their Home Study when adopting their youngest son. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family hiking.

Let us know if we need to update your contact information!


Did you move this past year? Get a new cell phone number? Finally update that Hotmail account to Gmail? If so, please let us know so we can update our records to better contact you with important announcements and updates. Email Erica Conte and she would be happy to handle that for you.

The MAA Missouri office is up and growing!


We are located in Neosho and are licensed as a child welfare agency. We are looking for a caseworker and social workers throughout the state to work with adoptive families. If you have a bachelor or masters degree in a social service field and a passion for adoptions, please send your resume to Misty Lucas. 

You might have $1,000 waiting for you in 2024!


If you are overdue on your final China Post Adoption Report, your $1,000 bond will be in your mailbox once you fulfill that commitment. It's not too late!

 

We know life is busy and the days are long. We would never want to give you one more thing to do… However, we have seen a significant decline in compliance and communication with the post adoption reports for our China program. We are asking for your immediate attention to turn this trend around!

 

While we deeply empathize with the concern and frustration surrounding the program status, the post adoption reporting in China is still required! As your placing agency, we have an obligation to provide these reports. We still need to show China that the children we have placed, your children, are safe, loved, and thriving!

 

Maybe frustration is not a reason... Maybe your child is doing great, and life has gotten in the way. Or maybe you are struggling, and you don’t want to type the actual words that you ‘need help’… either way, we need to hear from you! We have greatly expanded our post adoption services and our staff is here to help and support you. And if you are thriving, let us know so we can cheer you on!

 

Please keep in mind that you paid a bond, and that $1000 check is still yours to be returned, when you honor your commitment. We want nothing more than to return it so you can pour it back into your family, especially recovering from holiday spending when we all could greatly use it.

 

And aside from the bond money, remember that post adoption reports are critical to keep adoption programs open. Yes, China is not currently completing adoptions, but it is our hope and prayer that this shutdown doesn't last. We need these reports. We need China and all countries to see how adoption changes lives! Please remember that you gave us your word. In a world with so much upheaval, please remember how important this is.


Email Erica Conte or call (302) 475-8977 to find out how you can get caught up to receive your money!

Families home in December!