Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) is a pregnancy complication that impacts an estimated 1 out of every 5 women (or more than 750,000 women) who give birth annually in the United States, with estimates indicating that PMAD is a $14 billion problem. PMAD is typically diagnosed by a pediatrician, which means that birthing women who place their child for adoption, referred to as birthparents within the adoption industry, while at higher risk for developing PMAD due to the trauma of a crisis pregnancy and placing their child for adoption, are not assessed since they do not see a pediatrician following the birth of their child. This white paper discusses the scope of the problem, and offers a solution that On Your Feet has been exploring, that will allow birthparents to be assessed for PMAD and find treatment for it, with our help and support.

We were honored to host the authors of Adoption Unfiltered to the Chicagoland area in February, as part of their book tour. The recording of that panel session is now available on the Activism in Adoption website, and today we sit down with one of the authors, Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard, to do a deep-dive into the incredible advocacy work she does in adoption spaces, to help foster better outcomes for everyone in the adoption constellation.

Today is Juneteenth, and while many celebrate this day with cookouts, cultural events, and family traditions, the holiday also serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles for freedom, justice, and equality faced by Black Americans in the United States. Today, Torie Dimartile unpacks why it is critically important that everyone who works in adoption - including social workers, agency employees, and post-placement services - understand the historical injustices and present-day biases within the medical system that can significantly impact Black women’s reproductive choices and maternal health.