“5 Ways Leaders Can Support Adoptive Parents,”

 Thu 16 March 2023

How to Support Adoptive Parents ! 

Working parents building their families by adopting a child face many challenges, including financial (adoptions in the U.S. can cost up to $58,000), logistical (the paperwork can feel endless), and emotional. Here are a few ways to offer support:

(1) Provide financial reimbursement.

 Providing financial reimbursement will not only help with the financial burden of adopting, reducing stress for those employees, but it could also motivate more employees to adopt.

(2) Give employees the flexibility to work outside of normal hours or remotely. 

This will help them better balance their work and family demands throughout the adoption process.

(3) Offer paid leave. 

Many adoption-friendly organizations will offer the same leave benefits to adoptive parents as they offer for maternity and/or paternity leave.

(4) Connect employees with adoption networks or support groups. 

They’ll benefit from the community outside of the office—and feel even more supported inside it.

(5) Celebrate! 

The adoption of a child is a monumental event for your employee and should be treated as such./li>

This tip is adapted from “5 Ways Leaders Can Support Adoptive Parents,” by Kaylee J. Hackney et al.