Happy Friday! This is the last Friday in February which means that Adoption ARC is almost at another anniversary. On March 7, 2026, we will be celebrating 32 years of services to the adoption triad! Anniversary time always fills me with gratitude.
When we founded the agency back in 1994, it was with the desire to provide permanency for children and to give birth parents autonomy into this crucial decision. I am so happy to report that I do believe that we continue to work in this framework always with keeping the best interests of children paramount in making all of our decisions.
We could never have accomplished this goal without all of our Adoption ARC colleagues, Board Members, families and friends. Our Board of Directors ensures that the agency always stays on point with its mission and lends support whenever it is needed. The Board Member’s donation of time and love is one great reason as to why we have this longevity of service in the adoption arena.
Our fearless leader, Merle Gutterman,M.Ed pours her heart and soul into ensuring that the agency is operated with the highest ethical and legal standards. She is also available to always lend her hand in casework when needed. Her compassion for birth families and adoptive parents, as well as our children is unmatched. Merle has been Executive Director of Adoption ARC since 2009.
Our Social Work Supervisor, Ashley Garrison, LSW has been leading our team for almost two years and is responsible for supervising our social work team. She oversees all of the birth parent casework in addition to at times working with birth families. She also performs and reviews home studies, post placement visits and provides adoption education. Ashley has a special heart and love for working with underserved communities and treats all of our families with the utmost respect and care.
Adoption ARC practices a foundational social work practice of meeting a client “where they are”. This principle means to focus on accepting a client’s current physical, emotional and mental state without judgment. It is this practice which allows the agency social work team to build trusting relationships with our families.
We want to extend a thank you to all of the professionals in our area with whom we have worked over the past 32 years. The dedication and professionalism that they exhibit has assisted us in providing the best services and support to our families. The social work field is one which is not for the faint of heart. There are many days with extended hours and duties. We see professionals who routinely provide these duties without complaint and with great compassion.
Our birth parents are the greatest gift to us all. They have taught us strength, love and extreme selflessness. I was a young woman when I founded the agency and I had the unusual and beautiful experience of growing up with the example of the special women and men who are our birth mothers and birth fathers. These experiences have shaped who I am today and I am so grateful.
Our adoptive families have also taught us a great deal about love and acceptance. You do not have to give birth to be a parent. Parenting is defined by love, commitment and nurturing, not only by biology. There are so many types of adoptive families and they all are identified in the same way- finding the best home for a child. Our adoptive families are open to keeping connected with the entire adoption triad which ensures the best parenting outcome for our children.
At times, while a family is being identified for a child, or a birth family needs more time to make a permanent placement decision, our babies are very temporarily in the care our amazing, licensed cradle care providers. Our amazing providers, Dawn Foerst, Stacey Reed, Dawn Cooper and Katie DiMarcangelo. We are so grateful for these lovely families.
I leave you with this final interesting fact. The number 32 in the Hebrew language is the most passionate of all numbers, because in Hebrew it is written lamed bet, meaning “heart”. 32 is represented by the Hebrew letters “ל” (lamed) and “ב” (bet), which have numerical values of 30 and 2, respectively. So, heart is connected to love and 32 years at Adoption ARC represents 32 years of love!
We wish you all a lovely, loving weekend (with warmer, sunnier weather) and look forward to another 32 years with you! If you need us, we are available 24/7 at 1-800-884-4004 or www.adoptionarc.com
With love,
Adoption ARC
