We believe openness can be imagined as a lifestyle that may have its ups and downs as all family relationships will. Amara provides adoptive and birth families with support, guidance and resources to navigate the complex relationships and general post-adoption adjustment needs.
This animated short provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the Inclusive Family Support Model (IFSM), the country’s first practice model specifically designed to support adoptive families in creating more open relationships with their children’s biological families. Learn more by watching this short video.
Find Family Stories
Every adoptive family falls within one of the openness assessment areas: Inclusive, Spirit of Openness, Mediated or Closed. Find out where you fall and gain resources to support you along your journey by completing the Adoption Openness Assessment. To discuss your results and receive one-on-one support from an Amara Family Support Specialist, email us at postadopt@amarafamily.org.
Post-adoption contact is often legally established through a written agreement often called an Open Adoption Agreement. If you need support, please reach out to us.
This journey can feel difficult and isolating at times. Join the STAR Adoptive Parent Group to expand your understanding of the connection between openness and adoptee well-being.
We received a $250,000 grant from King County Best Starts for Kids to test and evaluate our Inclusive Family Support Model (IFSM), the country’s first practice model specifically designed to support adoptive families in creating more open relationships with their children’s biological families.
Three theoretical perspectives guide the development and implementation of the Inclusive Family Support Model. Family Systems Theory and the Ambiguous Loss framework provide the foundation, and the Transtheoretical Model of Change frames our approach to guiding discussions around openness.
