simply do not accept them. That’s why it is the ultimate act of selflessness when the rejected become the adoptive. “Adoption cannot help but bring all people together,” said Carol Shepherd,
F
founder and director of Everlasting Adoptions in Santa Monica. “It is a win-win situation for everyone involved.” And when she sayseveryone, she means it. “A same-sex couple can expect to get a warm welcome,” Shepherd said. “We
have a strong desire to increase the number of LGBTQ prospective parents into our pool of waiting families. Our goal is to always have a well-balanced mix of all different types of waiting parents, and we are finding that more and more birth mothers have a desire to have their child parented by a same-sex couple.” Gay adoption has hit several roadblocks across the United States, but Califor-
nia is paving the way to a more inclusive tomorrow. “Everlasting Adoptions has not experienced any problems at all in California specific to LGBTQ couples. We find California to be an adoption-friendly state in all aspects.” Although love knows no boundaries, the government is considerably more
rigid. To prepare her clients for the worst, Shepherd collaborates with the best. “Most of the states that we work with are open to work with LGBTQ couples,”
she said. “We refer them to home-study agencies in their state to complete their home study and would know well in advance if there were going to be any specific laws with regard to the LGBTQ community.” Further defining her terms, Shepherd explained: “Every parent in the U.S.,
regardless if they are a traditional, single or same-sex couple, must have a home study done, which means they have to meet the requirements of adoptive parents that are particular to their home state. All states vary slightly with their requirements, but for most, you will have to: prove financial stability, complete a physical exam by a licensed physician, and have an FBI-level criminal background check including fingerprints. You cannot adopt in the United States without having an approved home study.” Shepherd is a fierce advocate for kids, and even fiercer when it comes to equality. Heraw-shucks demeanor evokes the best of Midwestern hospitality,
amilies come in every stripe of the rainbow. We are born into some, we choose others, and still others choose us. Over the millennia, millions of parents have misunderstood or mistreated their LGBTQ offspring. Many queer kids endure the heartbreak of homelessness because their birth families
happily transplanted to our sunny SoCal landscape. But Shepherd isn’t merely a champion for adoption; she is a beneficiary of its benevolence. “When I was personally traveling down the road of adoption with my husband, I was so afraid of the ‘fear of the unknown’ throughout our entire adoption journey. Every fear that you can think of was a part of my everyday thoughts,” she said. The trepidation melted, along with her heart, when adoption finally made Shepherd a proud parent. “When the day came that our son was born, and the nurses at the hospital
placed him in my arms, there are no words that can describe the feeling I had,” she said. “It was euphoric, and something I will never forget for the rest of my life. All of my fears were completely vanished and replaced with overflowing joy and peace; at that moment, nothing else mattered.” Growing elated, Shepherd explained: “Adoption changes the way you see
life! It completely changes you in so many wonderful ways. That was my own personal experience, and now I get to witness this feeling over and over again with the adoptive parents that join Everlasting Adoptions. I have so much gratitude and passion for my job. I would have never imagined that my life would have turned out this way.” Punctuation her passionate mission statement, Shepherd concluded:
“Adoption changed my life, and Everlasting Adoptions is my purpose in life!” It is a purpose that draws prospective queer parents into Shepherd’s motherly
magnetic field. Her metaphorical family grows with every grateful client she helps. “Any member of the LGBTQ community is welcome,” she said. “They can now
fulfill their strong desire to be parents, and experience all the trials, tribulations and joys that come with it. The child is provided a life where two parents can give them a life full of opportunities that they may not have had otherwise.” Love is the main ingredient in Shepherd’s nourishing/nurturing philosophy.
She greets openhearted, open-minded clients with open arms. “Our waiting families can be defined as any person(s) that wants to adopt a newborn baby,” she said. “Whether you became a parent through adoption as a single, traditional or same-sex parent, the feelings of love, joy and bonding together are undeniably wonderful.” We are family. We are fabulous. Get used to it.
Everlasting Adoptions is located at 420 Wilshire Boulevard, Floor 12, Santa Monica. 630.364.8361 or
everlastingadoptions.com
March 2020 | @theragemonthly 11
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