I'm a Cradle baby, I was adopted in 1953. I see that their philosophy hasn't changed. They always choose parents for the baby, not a baby for the parents. My parents, now deceased, were amazing. The Cradle did a fantastic job with finding great parents for me. My adoption was closed. Back in 53, the cradle didn't tell the adopted parents anything about the birth parent which meant, they didn't have to lie to me when I'd ask questions about my birth mom. When my brother, (also a cradle baby from different biological parents than mine) and I were 14, we wanted to visit the Cradle. My social worker was still there. I got to see the nursery and the office where I waited in a cradle, for my new mom and dad.
When I was in the Army and about to be shipped to Saigon, I decided I wanted to get information about my biological mom. To be honest, I wanted to tell her "Thank you" for being so selfless. Unfortunately, the three page letter I got from the Cradle about my birth mom was completely false. When I was 45, I hired a searcher to find my birth mom. It was an amazing story... we both obviously, were born and raised in Illinois.. when I found her, she lived 2 hours from me, in Texas. My adopted parents always assumed I was probably Norwegian because of my complexion, hair color, eye color.. etc., yet all my life, I was drawn to anything having to do with Native American culture, spirituality, art.. When I met my birth mom, I found out that both her parents were 100% Iroquois Indian. Obviously genes do play a big part of who we are. I had another issue, the reason for searching for my birth mom. I'm gay. My adopted mom had issues with this... she loved me, don't get me wrong, but she didn't understand my life style. To be honest, I had issues accepting myself. I couldn't figure out how I could have chosen to be something that I never knew anything about. Homosexuality was never discussed, I never encountered it.. so how did I become gay. When I told my birth mom I was gay, she said it didn't surprise her..two of her sisters were also gay. It proved to me that homosexuality is indeed genetic, not a choice as so many people accused me of doing. I will always be indebted to the Cradle for finding the best parents for me. Before you judge my adopted mom for having issues with my sexual preference..remember, I was born in 1953, before being gay was "fashionable".
As a Cradle baby, I have always been very proud of my heritage. My birth mother was 18 years old when I was born in 1935 and i believe that she tried to keep me, but in late 1936 she had to give me up for adoption. My adoptive mother and father adopted me in January of 1937. I was very fortunite to have been a Cradle baby, because the Cradel was very advanced, and tried to match the bith mother with the adoptive parents, which unique for that time,
I've attempted over the years to support efforts of childless couples to adopt, as well as to help others to consider adoption.
We adopted twins through The Cradle 8 years ago. I have only good things to say about The Cradle; our experience was excellent. The classes were mostly very helpful, the counselors we dealt with were thoughtful and responsive, they stayed in touch in the months after the adoption to be sure we were adjusting well, and we felt adequately informed during the whole process. Post-adoption, the agency holds events like holiday parties and summer picnics so that adopted children from different families can mingle together, and even years after the adoption, I am entirely confident the staff there would help us out with counseling or other resources if we asked. We also still get invited to webinars and classes on various topics relevant to raising an adopted child, as sort of a continuing education option.
I believe The Cradle's fees are on the high end, but it offers many more remarkable services (including The Sayers Center and its nursery) than some other agencies, so we felt it was a justified inflation that we were happy to pay. We were also persuaded by our initial research that indicated it offers better counseling and services, both pre-adoption and ongoing, to birth parents than many other agencies do.
The only cautionary note I have for adoptive parents is that you can expect The Cradle to care more about the child than they do about you. They aren't focused on finding a good child for you, they are focused on finding a good family for every child. That means you can expect they will gently but thoroughly scrutinize you, that they will teach you what you need to know but not hold your hand every day, and that they will probably spend more of their energy working with the birth mother/parents than with you. Don't misunderstand. Our adoptive counselor was informative, but she didn't call us weekly unless there was news; she was kind, but didn't sugar coat things when she was setting expectations about The Wait; when our children needed hospitalization immediately after birth, another counselor made sure the medical prognosis still fit within the range of situations we had earlier said we were open to, to make sure we were still an appropriate family for the children. In short, we were the second-class clients, while the children (and their birth parents) were the first-class clients. This is as it should be.
We were very much looking forward to working with the cradle. Upon intial consultation we went to a meeting to give us more information about this agency. Unfortunately we were very much discouraged from adopting with them based on the fact that we had been married 5 yrs( too short in their mind) and that we were an interracial interfaith couple. They still took our money but we're so discouraging and negative about the whole adoption process claiming " adoption is the most painful process" that we chose not to work with this agency. I have done some research and talked with a few other couples who have similar backgrounds to ours and all were told the same exact thing. Shame on this organization for having preconceived notions about loving families who want to extend their homes to others. We were blessed with a natural baby of our own. I'm glad we stopped working with this organization. They are by no means professional
The Cradle is an adoption agency in Evanston, IL. It places babies, given up for adoption, housing them in their nursery and caring for them until a family is approved. They have "cuddlers" to help the nurses by holding and feeding the babies. I am one and adore the "job". It is a non-profit organization which only asks prospective parents to pay what they can afford and the balance comes from contributions.
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I am a cuddler in the nursery at the Cradle. I do it selfishly, because I love babies, but more than that, these babies need all the love and attention they can get before they have a family to go to. The nurses and nurse's aides are all great,, but most of the time there are too many babies that need to be cuddled. That's where I and the rest of the volunteers come in.
I found The Cradle through a local place called 1st Midwest Pregnancy. I was approximately 8 weeks pregnant. I worked with them through the next 7 or so months to work out an adoption plan that I was comfortable with. Since I knew who the birthfather was, they were obligated to contact him and let him know that I was in the process of making a plan and he could either fight it, or sign the papers agreeing to an adoption plan. The birthfather chose to fight it. The Cradle sent attorneys into court on my behalf and on the behalf of my unborn son. The court dates kept getting pushed out and pushed out until I was approximately 8 months pregnant. The courts decided against me and went in favor of the birthfather. By this point I had already pretty much chosen a family, all thanks to The Cradle for allowing me to continue looking into families looking to adopt, but I was notified by The Cradle giving me the news of the courts, and then saying that I could not continue in the process unless I could get the birthfather to agree to sign the papers. I immediately called the birthfather to talk with him and see his thought process. The call ended with him agreeing to sign the papers. I called The Cradle, told them the news, they then sent someone to get the papers signed by the birthfather, and I went forward with the family I had chosen earlier. I would do anything I could to help out The Cradle and get their name out there. They are a wonderful agency with many wonderful employees who are there for anything you may need.
11 years ago, I contacted The Cradle when I was barely 8 weeks pregnant and without much support. During the 7 months I worked with The Cradle to make an adoption plan and the months that followed my placement, the counselors and other employees of The Cradle made me feel so comfortable with my decision. When my open adoption had some communication issues, they were quick to help for the sake of our daughter. In the years since placement, I have cherished the relationships I have developed because of The Cradle. I am proud to be apart of the The Cradle family as birthmom to an amazing almost 11 year old girl. Without The Cradle's support and ongoing mentoring, I feel like I would still be as lost and scared as I was at 22.
The Cradle helped us form our family 40 and 37 years ago, and we served on the Board for many years. We are very proud of The Cradle for continuing to practice the highest ethical standards in very difficult times for agencies whose sole priority is the best interests of the child. The Cradle is unquestionably the best adoption agency in the United States.
We adopted two babies form the Cradle. One has sinced passed away. There were not very many "good" adoption agencies in the 1960's. The Cradle was everything we were looking for and was affordable for us. We now have grandchildren by our "Cradle babies". Life has been good to us and to a great extent that is because of the Cradle. They still keep in touch with me, and that is good. James DeLill
I thank God and the Cradle every day for our 2 wonderful children. They complete and fulfill our lives. And now we have grandchildren! What a blessing! The Cradle facilitated our dreams. May they prosper forever! We love you MORE! The McMahon Family:)
The Cradle is one of the most passionate and yet focused non-profit that I have been involved with. The board is professional and thinks about ways to expand the reach of their mission--creating families for children. The work they do to help each birth mom (and dad) make the right decisions for their child is inspiring. Knowing each situation is unique, they give women the resources to make the right choice for their child and themselves.
As part of a couple seeking to adopt, I've quite enjoyed the experience through The Cradle. It's a marathon, but like a great marathon preparation course, they have it very well plotted out and explained. The parent-to-be classes have been terribly informative, the recommended outside readings extreme value-adds, and all of the staff so positive and supportive. There are no guarantees, but we're so happy for how well The Cradle prepares its adoptive parent clients to provide the best possible environments for the children they place.
I have volunteered and my family and I have made donations to The Cradle. The best experience of all for me is that I have the privledge of being on the nursery staff. I look forward to each and everyday I am there. I love to attend the Christmas and Spring open house every year. Its hard to put into words the feeling you get when you see one of the infants that we cared for in the nursery. They are walking, talking going to school. They are angels from heaven. The wonderful staff in every dept. at The Cradle makes it the very special place that it is.
Our family adopted el;sewhere, but we sought out post-adoption therapy at the Cradle 9 years ago. The excellent therapist helped us with issues of attachment and identitiy building. I felt so welcmoe and at home at the Cradle that I began volunteering, first as a cuddler in the nursery and subseqquently as a committee member and find-raiser. I joined the board of directors more than 4 years ago and underwent a thorough orientation process. My experiences at the Cradle continue to teach me about the vast universe of adoption, especially about the needs and rights of birth parents. The Cradle staff and boards are highly ethical and always give priority to the needs of the child when making decisions and setting policies.
The Cradle made us a family. We are a two-generation Cradle family, as my husband and his sister were both adopted from there. The care and compassion they showed to my in-laws over 40 years ago is still very much in evidence now. We love that The Cradle is not about finding children for adoptive parents, but about finding parents for children. The fact that they go to great lengths to care for and support birth mothers/parents was a huge factor for us in choosing to use The Cradle. Their nursery provides wonderful care for children who are waiting for adoptive families. Our son spent nearly eight weeks there, and received top-notch care from the nurses and volunteers who staff the nursery.
Excellence, integrity, mission, standards, stewardship of financial resources, outcomes, lifetime commitment - just a few of the reasons I am involved. Over the years, The Cradle has made such a significant impact on the loves of so many. Lucky are those whose lives are touched by The Cradle.......
I've been privileged to be a Board Member of this fine organization for the past several years. I've worked with and around non-profits for most of my 30-year career and I'm struck by the professionalism of every member of the staff at The Cradle. Not only are they committed to the people they serve (the babies/children), but they do so using insightful strategies and the highest possible ethics.
The Cradle helped complete our family. We adopted our soon-to-be three-year-old son with The Cradle's help and are so appreciative of the caring, hands-on, and comprehensive services/support they provided throughout the process. Thank goodness we turned to them for assistance when we needed it!
I have been a Cuddler at the Cradle for 12 years. We hold ,feed, and love those babies , just until their mom and dad comes for them. The peace and joy those babies give you cannot fully explained. We are there for them, but they are there for us as well. The joy you see on the parents faces as they meet their new baby, is nothing like you have ever seen.The CRADLE is a truly beautiful place, in every sense of the word. The care they receive from the nurses, the love and respect given has no match. The provide a home for these babies, until they" go home."Everyone that works at the Cradle , in every aspect, is well trained , kind and respectful. That what makes the Cradle work so well, and you will not find place that compares to the cradle. I can't wait for the days I go to Cuddle..it is truly a special place to a part of. Diane
We are clients of the Cradle who utilized their services in the adoption of our son, who is now six years old. The staff at the Cradle were amazing through the process, offering technical know-how, walking us through the entire process smoothly, as well as incredibly caring emotional and counseling support throughout the process. Their caseworkers are constantly supportive, very sensitive to the needs of clients, both birthparents and prospective adoptive parents. The Cradle also offers impressive educational services for families in the form of workshops, support/discussion groups, and online webinars/workshops to address various issues and situations that arise in the adoption process. The Cradle is also with us still, six years after adopting our son, by offering ongoing community activities (picnics, family outings, annual holiday gathering) and educational activities, as well as an open resource to answer questions that continue to arise as a family built through adoption.
Over 12 years ago we reached out to The Cradle looking for information about adoption. They were compassionate, knowledgeable, understanding and helpful. They helped us navigate the hoops and red tape of international adoption. Without The Cradle our family wouldn't be complete. Because we believe so strongly in what The Cradle does and how they do it, we have stayed active with The Cradle ever since; Attending events, volunteering, serving on committees. The Cradle provides a very important service to families and does it well!
The Cradle has been a stellar member of the community for over 75 years. We reached out to the Cradle to start our family and they've been an integral part of our family ever since. The Cradle staff members are excellent and passionate in what they do. Their guidance in the adoption community continues to be extremely important to all of us.
The Cradle started as a way to build our family through adoption, but in the end they BECAME part our family through their actions, support, and unwavering kindness as we journeyed through adoption. The Cradle helped educate us on the concept and truths around open adoption—a situation that we were slightly resistant to initially. And as it has come to pass, it was simply because we were not educated on it; we had our own ideas and assumptions, but they were unfounded and driven from “fear”. The Cradle never judged us for our fears, questions or concerns, but rather their supportive staff LISTENED and provided information to help us make decisions on where we stood throughout the process ourselves. We also had a very tough situation in the middle of our journey in which we had to decide to walk away from a match and again, there were no judgments, they kept the baby first throughout the entire process and this helped us in our final decision to ensure the child went into a home better equipped to love, nurture and care for them. I’ll wrap up my comments with this: The Cradle is child-centered; the children come first. And with this one fundamental guiding principle they make all of their decisions, recommendations, and resource allocations. EVERYONE, executive leadership, social workers, nursery staff, etc. embodies this vision. THIS places them above all other organizations that help children and families in my book. If it’s in the best interest to keep a child with their birth family they support them to do just that. And if an adoption plan is best for the child they work hand in hand with the birth family and adoptive families to ensure a positive and healthy transition. The child is FIRST. I started out as an adoptive mother with The Cradle, but due to their example, I was compelled to volunteer for the organization. Through my time, effort, and dollars I know I can’t ever match what they have really done for me and meant to me and my family; but I will certainly try and help them continue on with their mission and vision because it is changing the lives of amazing little children, and that’s worth fighting for!
I adopted my daughter 15 years ago and the Cradle was great then (from helping us through the entire procedure to my daughter being in the nursery for 11 days) and they are great now. They continue to keep us connected by their newsletters and functions we can attend there at the facility in Evanston and other places in the area. I can never say enough about the Cradle!
Our experiences at the Cradle were fantastic! All of the people we met were extremely professional, caring and helpful. At our interviews at the Cradle and during the home visits, the caseworkers made us feel comfortable and fully described the Cradle organization and its procedures. They offer support and guidance both during and after adoption.
The Cradle changed our lives. Our two adopted children are now grown with children of their own, and everything we know about the word "family" stems from our good fortune to have found The Cradle. Looking back on our experience, we always thought we had some divine intervention that these two children came to be ours; now we know that it was the wisdom and judgment of those at The Cradle who created our family. We didn't have much money, we didn't have status or prestiege; but The Cradle gave us everything we hold dear. And we can never thank those wonderful, caring people enough.
The Cradle has touched our lives in the most meaningful and personal way. Through their services, we have been able to become parents to our 3 precious sons who are now 18, 16 and 13. Additionally, we have a niece and nephew who also are "Cradle Critters". We have been guided through our family story by an amazing staff who has been there for us whenever we had thoughts, questions or stories to share. Because of the outreach of the Cradle, we now have extended our family to include the birth families (and biological siblings) of our sons. Our family motto has always been "You can't have too many people who love you". We are living proof of that every day.
How do you express appreciation to an organization that helped create a family. NO words could ever be enough to explain what we feel and love about the Cradle. We went to the Cradle for help more than thirty years ago. No long after, I expect, a young expectant mother was also looking for help. That such happiness can come from such sadness is a miracle to me even today. We have the privilege of loving two wonderful people through the work of the Cradle and its outstanding staff. Watching them grow up, find their careers and move into the world is still a joy. BEW and DLP
We adopted two precious babies from The Cradle who are now 39 and 42! The Cradle gave us the gift that keeps on giving. We are constanly impressed with The Cradle's caring and ethical way of completing the adoptive circle; utmost care and respect is given to the birth parents, the adoptive parents and most of all,. the children. Our lives have been complete due to the children that came into our hearts and home. Thank you to The Cradle and the birth parents who entrusted us with our son and daughter.
I am the blessed mother of two adult Cradle babies. They have made my life complete. Raising these wonderful young adults has been the most rewarding life calling I will ever have. I am continuously filled with joy and awe because we came into each others lives quite by chance. The Cradle was the facilitator and I will forever be grateful to them for helping to lead us all down this path of love and family.
I started cuddling about 6 years ago. The Cradle Nursery staff is so respectful with the babies (and with each other and the volunteers). I was so impressed with everyone from Victoria, the nurses, the infant aides and the other cuddlers. Then we had a chance to get to know what else goes on in the building with cuddler meetings. They let us know how the Cradle functions on all the other levels. As an educator, my antenna is always up. I am so proud to be a part of this organization. It truly feels like family.
I started "cuddling" when my youngest twins started 1st grade and a neighbor had told me she heard this was the best volunteer job out there! And she sure was right! I sometimes run to get there on time after a hectic morning with teenagers, dogs, and general errands and then settle in with a baby and leave a calm, relaxed and fulfilled volunteer. I think it is the best kept secret that we have this tremendous resource right here in Evanston and I'm so proud whenever I see the Cradle in the press or hear someone talk about it and I say "I'm a part of that great organization!"
The Cradle is an amazing place filled with care and love! Everyone is warm, intelligent and organized. The Cradle has been placing children first since 1923 by making sure every little detail is taken care of. I consider it an honor to volunteer there. The Cradle rocks!
I have volunteered at the Cradle, as a "Cuddler" since the last of my four children started 1st grade... He is now 24. The Cradle is the most special place I know; special because it is welcoming and kind, encouraging and helpful without a trace of judgement. It promotes a culture of true respect and dignity for the people involved in an adoption. Every single person, on both sides of the adoption. Most importantly, it never forgets its mission: to do what is best for the baby.
I have been a 'cuddler' for over 5 years now and the Cradle, along with it's employee's and volunteers, are a dedicated people who really care about the children. It gives one perspective on what is really important in life. I am blessed to be part of this tremendous organization.
I am lucky enough to be a "cuddler" at the Cradle. I get to come in and cuddle the babies! That means feeding, burping and well...cuddling. I get to see first hand how well the babies are treated and how much care and love is provided for these babies. It is always a pleasure.
We adopted both of our boys through the Cradle, 16 and 14 years ago. Literally, every Cradle staff member we met through the process was absolutely wonderful. They guided us every step of the way, and we had a lot of questions back then. They were so supportive and knowledgable. When people we'd meet heard we adopted two children, they would feel sorry for us, because they heard adoption could be a negative experience, and emotionally and financially overwhelming. We told everyone who would listen to us how wonderful The Cradle was (and is)! We were SO blessed to have found The Cradle, and to have our two wonderful boys! We participated in an open adoption, which was a relatively new way of doing things back then. This was definitely the right plan for us. We had a good, ongoing relationship with the boys' birthmother until she lost interest a few years ago. The door is always open for us, and having our boys know their background story has been very helpful. We have referred various people to The Cradle over the years. My husband and I have volunteered as speakers for the agency, talking to high school students about adoption as an option, should they or someone they know have an unplanned pregnancy. We also volunteered at the Cradle Ball, which was a lot of fun. I love that they have ongoing education program for Cradle families, too. We feel that the staff really cares about every person connected with the agency, and we can't say enough about what an outstanding job Julie Tye has done as Director. We can't say enough positive things, in general!
The Cradle is thoughtful and responsive to everyone who comes to them for adoption or counseling. The staff is very knowledgeable and effective in dealing with people and their wants. We were thrilled from day 1 receiving our dear daughter . And, after 42 years we are enjoying our two grandchildren. Thank you , Cradle!
We are so happy that we were introduced to The Cradle. We adopted twins 2 1/2 years ago and can't imagine a life without them. The Cradle made the adoption process as smooth as it can be, even when we moved to different state. Every single person you encounter at The Cradle was supportive, helpful and kind. They are a top-notch organization that deserves recognition for the great work that they do.
We were blessed with our son and daughter through The Cradle many years ago. The Cradle has always been very professional and sincere in the help they give to children and families. They know how to deal with situations that are very personal and charged with emotion. We will always be very grateful.
The Cradle is an amazing organization, top to bottom. In the past decade we have worked with The Cradle as adoptive parents, donors and volunteers. When people ask us about our adoption experience we can't help but gush, but also educate. We tell them to look for a place like The Cradle that works to teach all the adults involved in the process, to know and understand what is happening and going to happen in the days, weeks, months and years ahead, so the right decision can be made. They don't just support one side, all the education and counseling is to support the growth of the child who doesn't get a choice in the process. Counseling doesn't end when the baby is born and people go home. They offer lifelong services as adoption is a lifelong process for all involved.
the loving care babies receive in the nursery and the counseling the birth mothers receive go beyond the standard of care. Every one is treated with love and respect.
I'm actually involved with the Cradle in a number of ways; certainly as an adoptive Cradle mom w/ 2 Cradle babies (adults now) and as a donor. I am so thrilled to donate to the annual Cradle Ball every single year because of how much I believe in this agency and their long time proven history. During our adoption processes, payment to them was never even mentioned; which was so drastically different than any other agency I interviewed. Instead, we focused on parenting, finding the right match for child, birth family and adoptive family and overall health and readiness of everyone involved. My children have a very special heritage they are connected to. I love supporting this agency for future families.
We adopted our daughter quite a few years ago and even then, as now, the help we received and the kindness and thoroughness that was included in the process was exemplary. No question went unanswered and it was clear that not only did they care about our baby daughter, but they wanted to be certain that her parents were up to the task of taking good care of her. I have stayed in touch with The Cradle over the years and am proud to watch how they have continued to offer the kind of services that are so important to both the babies and the hopeful parents..
The Cradle has served as before, during, and after our adoption experience, delivering quality services in each period.
When we adopted, we wanted to make sure that the birthparent was involved in choosing the family their child was placed with. It was important to us that the birthparent was treated with great care and respect and was allowed to be in control of the process from beginning to end. The Cradle was so attentive to the needs and desires of both sides. I can't imagine a more caring place to work with! Our birthparents, with whom we are still in contact 16 and 14 years after our adoptions, are a wonderful part of our girls' lives thanks to the preparation and care we all received from the Cradle! I can't thank the Cradle enough for helping all of us navigate the adoption process. I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone looking to form their families thru adoption.
Both our daughters are Cradle babies (well not so much babies anymore). The staff goes out of their way to make certain the child has the absolute best situation to be placed in, special needs and all, Their focus is on finding the right place for the child. They provided more support, education and expertise than we ever thought we would need and yet, they needed to make certain we would be able to properly handle adoption issues, situations and life in general. This is a top notch organization and deserves all the ac
My experience is one of adoptive parents. The Craddle personnel are outstanding in their concern for the adoptive family, their counselling to the birthparents and more important than anything their absolute dedication to the welfare of the children. Having lived in many countries, I have never experienced such passion for the cause of adopted children and a better set of people to accomplish their mission.
We adopted our oldest daughter through the Cradle and our younger daughter from a different agency ( because we had moved away from the area). The differences between the two agencies was astonishing! The Cradle had given us so much support, information, and training for our first adoption and we were well prepared. The second agency offered neither support, knowledge about adoptions, or training. As our two daughters grow, we still call upon the training and information we received from the Cradle. We also know we can always call them for support and information regarding adoption issues! They are the very best!
Our history with the Cradle goes back many years to 1979 when we adopted our beautiful daughter Megan. The Cradle always made us feel comfortable going through the adoption process. We keep in touch with the Cradle are are regilar contributors because we feel what they do is so important. They have grown and changed as the adoption process has changed and always treat the birth parents as well as the adoptive parents with love and respect. Our daughter recently had her first child. While she was pregnant she reached out to the Cradle for medical information on her birth parents. The Cradle again treated Megan with such respect and care. I cannot say enough about the Cradle. They are truly an agency that is not cookie cutter and treats each person with respect and dignity
Our 15 year old son was adopted in 1997 and the Cradle was an amazing organization to work with. We are still involved and attend many events. The staff are wonderful!
I must say that the Cradle was our number 1 pick when we were searching places to start our adoption journey. It was one of the best choices we have ever made. The staff was awesome they made us feel at ease and answered all of our questions. We are truly blessed to have our son Emmanuel through the Cradle in 2006. The Hopsons
The Cradle is a wonderful supportive organization who has adapted and assisted adoptive families every step of the way. Two of my three children are adopted from the Cradle. We have gove to the Cradle for outreach programs, birthmother assisstance programs and various other functions. The Cradle always is professional and caring
Like countless others, my husband and I were lucky to have adopted our sweet daughter Allegra from the Cradle in 2011. During every phase of our adoption journey we felt supported by the Cradle and confident that everyone in the "adoption triangle" was getting the support, education and resources that were needed. Our daughter spent three weeks at the Cradle nursery while we developed our relationship with her birth mother and while her birth mother received the counseling that was needed for her to feel even more confident in her adoption plan. People always ask me whether it was hard to have Allegra in the nursery while we were going through the process and the answer is, "of course! But I knew she was in the best possible hands!" The nurses still remember her whenever we visit and have even pointed out at Cradle events Allegra's "nursery buddies" who were with her in the nursery at the same time. I could not be more grateful for the love and care she received in the Cradle nursery. Additionally, we felt after all of the classes offered at the Cradle that we were true "Adoption Ambassadors" and I still feel that way to this day. The education we were given through the Cradle was absolutely priceless and it makes me a better mom and a better member of the adoption community to have the resources I need (and still need!) to educate others. I love that our daughter will have not only a "forever family" with us, but she'll also have a "forever family" with the Cradle because of all the continuing gatherings, events and get-togethers. The Cradle truly is a family and a community and we are so happy to be a part of it. We are currently a waiting family with the Cradle and we are excited about growing our family alongside the many other growing families that the Cradle helps create.
The Cradle distinguishes itself as an agency that finds parents for children in need (vs. finding children for parents in need). This difference in philosophy has a profound effect on how the Cradle conducts itself in many aspects. All the activities are centered around what is best for the child. Support extends to the birthparent(s) to facilitate a connection between the child and birthparent(s) if an adoption plan is created. Support extends to the adoptive parents to the rigorous home study and to help the child post-placement. And not least, the Cradle is there -forever- for the adopted person. As someone who spent their first weeks being cared for in their unique nursery and a recent adoptive parent, I can attest to the respect, interest and caring this nonprofit organization provides for all involved. The Staff remain competent, caring, interested, and available. There is a reason the Cradle has been around for nearly nine decades and why other agencies use the Cradle-founded Adoption Learning Partners.
The Cradle fulfills a vital role in society by creating nuturing families whose children, grounded in love and given opportunity, contribute to the benefit of society itself. The organization is driven by quality and pays attention to the full adoption triad of birth parents, adoptive parents and children. While not a part of the adoption triad, I feel the impact of the Cradle through the families created and the stories they tell of how their children have thrived and how the services of this organization have helped them each step of their way. In my experience with the Cradle, I have been touched by the caring, the talent and the professionalism of management and staff ... they live their mission every day!
No matter who you are, a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, family desiring to adopt a child, or an adoptee looking for support, The Cradle shows you respect and support. For 90 years The Cradle has built and supported families touched by adoption. Through a rich history and a relevant future The Cradle advocates ethical and professional adoption and family services.
We adopted internationally through The Cradle in 2004 and are in the process of adopting a 2nd international child now. The Cradle staff are professional and extremely knowledgable. They have always made sure that we understood each step of the process and been wonderful guides throughout. The best part of The Cradle is that your relationship with them BEGINS with your adoption and lasts a lifetime for your child/ren. We have attended many many Cradle events, since the adoption of our first child and will continue to do so as part of The Cradle family.
My gratitude to the Cradle starts with their facilitation of the adoptions of my nephew and niece. From there it extends to the care they gave those two babies, and so many more, in their nursery. Knowing the kids were loved right from the start is a real comfort to our family. Beyond that, I appreciate all that the Cradle people do to make sure that difficult situations have the best possible outcomes for birth families, adoptive families and of course the adoptees themselves.
My entire family is so grateful to the Cradle for bringing our daughter into our lives and providing our birthmother the support and counseling she needed to make her adoption plan. Our daughter was lovingly cared for by the nursery staff for 6 weeks prior to coming home - something that we took great comfort in throughout the process. Overall, it was a terrific experience and we know that in the future we can always count on the Cradle.
I'd like to say that working with the cradle to adopt our precious Sofia Francesca was the most amazing experience! Kathleen mcshane is the most amazing woman I know! Without her hard work, along with several other magnificent people from the cradle, we wouldn't have our little miracle... I can't even begin to say enough great stuff about the cradle! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for working so hard to get our little Sofia home!
I am a retired board member and former consultant to the Cradle. They were alway first and sometimes only agency to broaden ways to advance child welfare. This includes open adoption, same sex couples, African American Center, never refusing to take responsibility for severly handicapped infants, aiding Illinois in placing older children and operating the only nursery in the country. It was my great good fortune to have been a part of that effort.
My husband I came to The Cradle in 2010. We had prior experience with a different agency and from day one we were impressed with the professionalism of The Cradle. Everyone we worked with was very respectful of all people involved in the adoption process. Our counselor was wonderful and helped us navigate the international adoption process and all the paperwork that goes with it. The classes we took through The Cradle prepared us for both the process and placement of our child. All of The Cradle staff who worked on our daughter's adoption showed the highest level of sensitivity and respect. Our counselor provided the perfect level of support based on our needs as we settled into family life. We are beginning the adoption process again for our second child and we wouldn't have considered working with any other agency.
Thirty-six years ago this week our Cradle son was born. My husband and I have both been involved in various volunteer positions since as our way of saying thank you. The current Cradle management and philosophy and personnel are professional and caring - a real tribute to adoption in all respects. Birth mothers are treated with the respect that they should have, and educational endeavors for adoptive parents are excellent. the Presidents - of The Cradle and of its Foundation - are pretty neat folks as well. It is a wonderful organization.
I have worked with The Cradle for many years and am always impressed with the dedication, intelligence, and warmth of everyone on staff. They care deeply about what they do and strive to do it as well as humanly possible.
The adoption of my daughter has certainly been one of the most fulfilling events of my life. The Cradle's mantra that "the interests of the child must come first" has made me proud to be associated with this child welfare service and adoption agency. As an organization I am often awed by the depth of talent and care that the staff exhibits and the array of skills and knowledge that the volunteer board brings to the table. Being involved with the Cradle has been a series of amazing experiences. --Larry Macy
I am very proud to be associated with The Cradle. Their care and dedication to children is amazing - not just at the adoptive stage, but through all stages of life! They are truly the experts in their field.
The Cradle Adoption agency provides all involved in the adoption process with the highest quality service and support. I am proud to be associated with the Cradle.
My true role is volunteer/client served/donor/committee member. I am one of the approximately 15,000 adoptees whose lives would not be all that they have become were it not for The Cradle. The professional caring quality of this organization clearly sets the standard for adoption agencies nationally. The Cradle represents a significant interest for my entire family.
I am proud to be associated with the Cradle because of its commitment to children. The Cradle is focused on finding families for children and each staff member contributes to this mission every day of their lives. The Cradle provides counseling services to pregnant women with no agenda and at no charge to them. The Cradle nursery is able to care for infants, many with severe special needs, for an unlimited amount of time until they are placed into a loving home. I am very proud of all of the great services that the Cradle provides to children, birthparents and adoptive parents and I am committed to helping the Cradle continue to thrive and grow so that it can place another 14,000 babies into loving families over the next 90 years!
Kellogg School of Management, where I currently attend business school, has an experiential learning class on board governance, where students have the opportunity to work with a local non-profit. I was blessed to be placed with The Cradle. I have seen first-hand the impact The Cradle has had in the greater Chicago area and it has made a profound impact on my life.
I am proud to be associated with The Cradle because this organization has a laser-focus on excellence in serving children, expectant parents and prospective families. Our mission is to find families for children who need them regardless of their race, ethnic background or special needs. Just last week we found a home for a baby with Down Syndrome. Our one-of-a-kind 24/7 newborn nursery provides infants with professional and nurturing care while their needs are assessed and while their mothers consider their options. We are often asked, "What do you do if you can't find a family for a baby?" We are proud to answer, "We have always been able to find a family for each baby." Prospective adoptive parents receive the very best preparation for the experience of parenting through adoption. And, importantly, expectant parents receive help in making a decision that is best for them, whether that decision is to make an adoption plan or to parent their baby. And then we have www.AdoptionLearningPartners.org, an online adoption education community that is bringing help to adoptive families around the world!
We have adopted twice through the Cradle, the first time in 2008 and the second time in 2012. Both times were absolutely wonderful. People asked us if we would go back after the first time, and I always said that if I couldn't adopt with the Cradle, I wouldn't do it a second time. Knowing the experiences that friends have had with different agencies, I feel like our experiences were above and beyond. We learned so much in the classes and our counselors were available when we had questions. The Cradle creates a sense of community with the families they serve and we have a large group of families with similarly aged children with whom we get together on a regular basis.
My husband and I are in the process of adopting a second child through the Cradle. We had a very good experience with the adoption of our first child. The Cradle's classes were very professional and everything with the process has been focused on what is best for the child (something that seems to get lost in much of the present situation of domestic adoption). The Cradle was and is (if she wants it) a great support to our son's birth mother and to our family as we struggle through the complexities of our open adoption. I recommend the Cradle to all families in the area looking for an adoption agency.
I am an adoptee from The Cradle. My adoptive parents adopted me at The Cradle 41 years ago and The Cradle still feels like home to me. I spent my first 40 days there, but if it wasn't for The Cradle, I don't know where I would be, since The Cradle when it first opened (more than 40 years ago) it was then, I think it still is the only adoption agency with a nursery, doctors and nurses who are able to care of babies needing medical attenition before being adopted. I had some problems with my hip and had to wear double diapers and be cared for, before my parents were able to pick me up and take me to their home to be their daughter. I am so grateful for the care, love and support of The Cradle. They also have lifelong services; for the adoptee that desires to search, and find their biological parents; which have been very helpful to me as well, although I have not completely pursued a search, the counselors are always there to listen and guide.
After struggling with infertility issues, my husband and I decided to pursue adoption. We had heard of The Cradle by reputation and after the first Adoption 101 class we never considered any other agency. The Cradle's professionalism and attention to every detail made the process, the paperwork, all of the headaches - bearable for all parties. One of the major reasons we selected The Cradle was the counseling that all parties receive. We know the birth parents were advised of their rights and that counsel enabled them to make the best choice for themselves and their baby. We were recently placed with our beautiful baby girl and we are extremely confident that everyone involved is comfortable with the decision. The Cradle is the BEST!
My husband and I are perspective adoptive parents. We've registered wtih The Cradle for our homestudy and as our adoption agency. So far the training and preparation we have received is second to none -- and we looked at two other agencies before selecting the Cradle. The Cradle always emphasize that the children come first before all else. They train us to have compassion for the birthparents, and they stress the importance of open adoption, because it is best for the child. The Cradle doesn't simply just "pass us through" because we pay the required fees for service. They have a very deliberate and rigorous process for training us as parents. Plus, our counselor asked us to rewrite things if she didn't feel we provided enough information. I'm also pleased with the counseling that they offer to expectant mothers; the Cradle really wants to make sure that adoption is the best choice for everyone -- no regrets. The Cradle has been in operation since the late 1920s, and it's clear why they've lasted so long; they are truly a first-class operation.
We adopted our son through The Cradle in 2008. They helped us navigate the scary world that is open adoption for those unfamiliar with it. Thanks to ours, and our sons birth mothers experience and education about openness we have a very strong and loving open adoption with multiple visits a year, Skype, phone calls, FB contact, etc. Sarah has become like a little sister to me. Being that she also has 2 children she is parenting who are older than our son, I often ask her experiences with preschooler issues! Without the education, counseling and support received at The Cradle I don't know if our relationship would be as strong as it is now. We were inspired by our relationship and experiences to form our own NFP solely for the purpose of raising monies to support open adoption services at The Cradle.