Let us tell you a bit- About our agency

(L to R) Susan, Alexis, Lillianna, David, Tino Journeys' home office in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Journeys of the Heart is a non-profit, licensed and accredited agency based in Hillsboro, Oregon, that completes domestic and international adoptions. Journeys also has offices in Seattle, Washington, and just outside of Chicago in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. We are a mid-sized agency which places approximately 150 to 170 children per year. We have international programs in- About a dozen countries, in addition to a very active domestic program, placing children born in Oregon, Washington and Illinois with families throughout the country.

Journeys offers a personal and unique adoption experience. Here's why: Our commitment to adoption comes from our concern for all children, and a personal passion for adoption. We, Susan and David, started the agency in 1993 with a goal of getting as many of the world's children out of harm's way as possible, and into homes where they can grow and thrive in a safe, loving environment. Susan Tompkins, Journeys' executive director, is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 25 years of adoption experience. David Slansky, Journeys' director of international programs, is an attorney with more than 20 years of experience in child welfare issues and domestic and international adoption.

Three of our four children have come to us through international adoption, from India, Romania and China. We have been so profoundly touched by adoption, personally and professionally, that we only wish others to share in this joy. We can only describe it as life's greatest adventure - a journey of the heart.

Journeys has relatively flexible guidelines for adoption. We will work with single and married people who are deeply committed to being loving parents and can provide a safe, permanent and loving home. We strive to keep our fees as competitive and affordable as possible, while providing highly professional adoption services.

The staff at Journeys is understanding and compassionate, and will guide you through every step of your adoption process. We return phone calls, know our clients by name, and understand that adoption can, at times, be an emotionally-trying ordeal. We don't sugarcoat anything- About adoption. We will tell you what other families' experiences are with each of our programs, and provide references. We will discuss the medical and emotional issues of each population of children we work with so that you can make well-informed decisions.

If adoption is in your heart and your future please contact us.  We will answer all of your questions.  Email us today.

JOURNEYS BECOMES ACCREDITED

In July 2003, Journeys became fully accredited as an international and domestic adoption agency through the Council on Accreditation. All U.S. international adoption agencies are now required to be accredited due to the passage of the Hague Convention on International Adoption. The Hague attempts to standardize international adoptions and ensure ethical and standardized practice throughout the United States and other countries which have signed the treaty. Accreditation is the process by which agencies study, improve and ultimately are judged to be up to the professional standards of the adoption community in the areas of ethical practice, finances, board of directors, international and domestic adoption, foster care, physical environment, personnel, continuous quality improvement, risk management and training.

In March, 2008, Journeys COA Accreditation was renewed, and Journeys also became certified by The Hague.

Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services is committed to helping families have as much information- About adoption as possible. Our staff regularly attends adoption seminars and conferences provided by the many organizations that we belong to, which include:

• North American Council on Adoptable Children
• Joint Council on International Children's Services
• Northwest Adoptive Families of America
• Adoptive Families of America
• Coalition of Oregon Adoption Agencies
• Chicago Area Adoptive Families of America
• Families With Children From China

We try to understand and foster respect for every adoptive child's native culture and heritage. For example, Journeys offers weekly Mandarin language classes, taught by native-speaking staff, and an annual Chinese Heritage Camp to promote cultural pride among our Chinese adoptees. We also try to give something back to each internationally-adopted child's native land by supporting women's and children's programs in the countries in which we have programs, including local programs in the United States. Journeys relief programs also help ease poverty in the lives of children who will never be adopted. Direct assistance is provided or delivered by Journeys staff or our representatives.

Please look through our web site and contact our staff to learn more- About Journeys' programs. We offer adoption seminars, education classes and personal consultations. In all interactions we promise to be honest and open. We understand that adoption can be a confusing and difficult process, but one that ultimately brings great joy and fulfillment. We believe that there is no better way to build a family than through adoption.

Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services - Home office Oregon
P.O. Box 39
(1005 NE Cornell Rd.)
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503) 681-3075
fax (503) 640-5834
info@journeysoftheheart.net

Journeys of the Heart - Illinois
P.O. Box 28
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(630) 469-4367
fax (630) 469-4382
chicago@journeysoftheheart.net

Journeys of the Heart - Washington
332 NW Richmond Beach Road

Shoreline, Washington 98177

(206) 652-2401

(206) 542-4932

fax (206) 546-4440

info@journeysoftheheart.net

For Directions And Maps To Our Offices Click Here

MISSION:

The mission of Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services is to provide, through adoption, loving and permanent homes to the children of the world who are in need. Journeys uses the best-available support and social work practices in assisting families through the life-long journey of adoption, and through its relief programs, helps improve the lives of children not adopted.

SERVICE POPULATION:

Journeys of the Heart serves the following populations:
* Children, domestic and international, in need of loving and permanent homes.
* Children, domestic and international, who we are able to assist through relief programs.
* Domestic birth parents who are considering completing an adoption plan for their children)
* Adoptive parent's) who meet all the necessary requirements of the adoption program they are enrolled in and who wish to provide a permanent, safe and loving home for a child born domestically or internationally..

Journeys of the Heart has established the following priorities for our services: children are the first priority; domestic birth parents are the second priority because they are responsible for making the decisions that affect the lives of their child or children; adoptive parents, who make up an important part of Journeys' service population, are the third priority since the best interest of the child comes first.

In a typical year, the children placed by JOH are 80 % minority and 20% Caucasian. Currently, the birth mothers that Journeys works with are 90% Caucasian and 10% minority (African American and Hispanic). Journeys' adoptive families are 95% Caucasian and 5% minority (Chinese, East Indian, Hispanic, and African American).

Being a private agency, JOH is not mandated by law or government mandate to work with any particular population of children, birth parents or adopting parent's).

JOH promotes our mission by providing information on our programs to anyone in the service population. JOH shares program information with stakeholders, through this web site, our newsletter (Heartstrings) education programs, and through brochures, annual report and other informational packets and mailings.

POLICY ON NON-DISCRIMINATION: Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services (JOH) will not discriminate against persons in any of the services it provided, as mandated by state and federal laws. JOH will not discriminate against any persons based on race, color, creed, religion, age, handicap, sexual orientation, or any of the other categories prohibited by any laws. However, some countries may discriminate based on one or another of these categories. JOH works respectfully and within the laws of all the countries where we have programs. None of the countries where we have adoption programs allow gay or lesbian couples to adopt. Some may have age or religion restrictions. JOH has no authority or ability to correct exclusions created by the laws or judges of other countries. Within these limitations JOH will not exclude anyone who is eligible from receiving services.

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Remember: we can work with people from any state in the United States.  If you are looking for an adoption agency then please look into our philosophy and our dedication.  If domestic adoption, international adoption, or open adoption is in your future then let your journey begin here.