All month long we have been posting positive or inspirational adoption stories provided by our AAAA attorneys. As the Executive Director of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, I do not have the privilege of dealing day-to-day with biological parents or prospective adoptive parents or even handling any part of an adoption at all. I still have a positive adoption story to share though. My story is that I have the wonderful privilege of working daily with attorneys and agencies whose main focus is to improve the adoption process for everyone involved. I have the opportunity to collaborate with a wonderful Board who work tirelessly to find ways to expand our organization’s reach and educate the public on adoption issues. I have appreciated the times I have been able to speak with Members of Congress to advocate for biological parents and adoptive parents to ensure that the best interests of their children are always served. I am thankful to also be involved in the Family Formation Charitable Trust, created by AAAA, to further educate the public and to provide financial assistance to those forming their families through adoption or assisted reproduction. I am most thankful that through my job I am able to speak daily with individuals or families who call for assistance with their adoptions and to know that by referring them to one of our wonderful adoption attorneys they will be receiving, what I believe, is the finest, most compassionate representation available – no matter their situation. So, to sum it up, I am living my inspirational adoption story daily through the work I am privileged and thankful to be able to do with the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.
— Jennie Sullivan is the Executive Director of AAAA. She has been involved in the adoption realm for over 28 years.
