What makes Cindy Sarai and Ginger DeReus with Adoption Dreams Come True good neighbors?

Building Families with Heart: The Inspiring Story of Adoption Dreams Come True

In a recent episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast, host Nick George sat down with Cindy Sarai and Ginger DeRues from Adoption Dreams Come True, a small, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) adoption agency focused on domestic infant adoptions. Their conversation revealed not just the mechanics of adoption, but the deeply human approach that sets this organization apart in its field. Operating with a philosophy that prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity, Adoption Dreams Come True has become a beacon for prospective parents and birth parents navigating difficult decisions.

What makes Adoption Dreams Come True unique is their three-pronged approach to serving the community. First, they license people to become adoptive parents through a comprehensive home study process, which includes background checks, interviews, and psychological evaluations. Unlike many agencies, they operate on a sliding fee scale based on income because, as Cindy explained, "we never wanted to really price good parents out of the market." This commitment to affordability ensures that financial barriers don't prevent qualified individuals from providing loving homes. Additionally, they limit themselves to about 30 families at a time, ensuring personalized attention and quality service while focusing exclusively on domestic infant adoptions.

Their second program offers free counseling to birth parents facing unplanned pregnancies. This judgment-free zone allows individuals to explore all their options, from parenting resources to adoption planning. When birth parents choose adoption, they maintain agency throughout the process – selecting the adoptive family, establishing relationships before delivery if desired, and sometimes even inviting adoptive parents into the birthing room. This approach honors the birth parents' role while creating meaningful connections between all parties involved. After placement, Adoption Dreams Come True monitors the new family for six months before the adoption is finalized, ensuring a successful transition for everyone involved.

Perhaps one of the most community-minded aspects of their organization is their third program: a resource room providing free diapers, clothing, and baby accessories for children from birth to age two. Open three days a week, this service extends beyond adoption clients to anyone in the community with needs. This tangible expression of care demonstrates the organization's holistic understanding of what it takes to support families and children. The resource room, like their other programs, embodies their commitment to being a "safe haven" for all populations, regardless of background or circumstance.

The personal journeys that led Cindy and Ginger to this work are as compelling as the organization itself. Cindy, who began her career in child protection and sex abuse investigations, found her way to adoption work through a mentor and a transformative experience counseling a birth mother from Morocco. Despite living with dyslexia and scotopic syndrome (which went undiagnosed until graduate school), she persevered through educational challenges to eventually found Adoption Dreams Come True in 2005. Her academic triumph – going from struggling student to graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA in graduate school – mirrors the determination she brings to her professional mission.

Ginger's path came from a completely different direction – the corporate world. After rising from clerk to Vice President of Human Resources over a 25-year career in telecommunications, she retired and connected with Cindy through mutual friends. What began as volunteering evolved into her role as Director of Development, a position she's held for 12 years. Her transition from corporate America to nonprofit work exemplifies how diverse skills and life experiences enrich the adoption field. Together, these two women have facilitated over 500 adoptions while maintaining their commitment to operating without bias and with deep integrity.

To learn more about Adoption Dreams Come True go to:

https://www.adoptiondreams.org/

Adoption Dreams Come True

970-493-2557