The Barker Foundation is committed to providing lifelong services to all members of the adoption triad – including birth parents.

Barker has worked extensively with thousands of birth parents since 1945, and strives to ensure that assistance and counseling extends far beyond actual placement of a child for adoption.

During the first year(s) after placement it is normal for birth parents to experience grief and loss; Barker’s birth parent counselors continue to provide assistance and counseling during this adjustment period.

In later years birth parents may request assistance in processing their feelings about the adoption, navigating their relationships (in open or semi-open adoption) with the adoptive parents, dealing with their own families who may have feelings about the adoption, explaining the adoption to any other children, and reconnecting with their birth children.

Barker’s Post-Adoption Department has experienced counselors who provide individual counseling, and also has a monthly discussion group available at no charge to any woman who has ever placed a child for adoption.