After we surrendered our children to adoption, many of us were silent about
our loss, having been removed from the birth certificate and told to “go on
with our lives”…. We were not speaking out about our loss.

Eventually, we realized that silence was the great harm.

We knew that many mothers, like us, had lost their children to adoption
because of being young, single, poor, uninformed, or lacking support.

We no longer wished to be silent….

Even though we knew that many people were uncomfortable hearing our
stories, we knew we needed to provide a fuller, more honest perspective
about the long-term consequences of surrender for parents and families. We
needed to challenge the perception that “everybody wins” in adoption, in
order to stand up for our rights, the rights of our sons and daughters, and the
well-being of parents and children of the future.

In 2007, a small group incorporated Origins-USA, to join together others who
share our mission.

Whenever at all possible, we want families to stay together.

Educate the public about natural family preservation.

Provide search help and emotional support help for people separated by
adoption.

Engage in limited activity to promote legislative changes to support natural
family preservation; acknowledge and provide redress for improper, illegal,
and unethical adoption practices; and promote humane alternatives to
adoption.