DNA Testing is Revolutionizing the Process of Adoption Search

There is a new method in which adoptees are finding birth family, and all you need to do is spit! I just heard that My Heritage is giving away 15,000 free DNA test kits to adoptees and birth family members who are searching. To qualify for a chance at a free test, you have to apply before April 30^th, 2018 at https://www.dnaquest.org, otherwise, the cost of these mail-order DNA tests ranges from $69 – $200.

Pregnancy Counseling – Why choose LSS?

You just found out you’re pregnant, and it wasn’t something you were planning – so many thoughts, emotions, and decisions to make. Who do you turn to? And where do you start? You’ve heard that LSS does adoptions (and has for nearly a century in South Dakota), but you’re not sure adoption is what you want to do. So why should you contact LSS anyway?  1. LSS pregnancy counseling is FREE, 2. You don’t have to choose adoption, and 3. Outreach is available throughout South Dakota. Free sounds like a good place to start!

Thankfulness and Adoption Awareness Month

As I pondered writing a blog that could address both Adoption Awareness Month AND Thanksgiving, I wasn’t sure where to start, until I was talking to a friend about the latest episode of the TV series, This is Us, and she asked me, “How old were you when you were first told you were adopted?” Wow! First, the answer is that I don’t remember, I just always knew. Second, I am so very thankful that I don’t remember!

Why Not You?

Are you interested in adoption or foster care? November is recognized as National Adoption Month, and local agencies are sponsoring an Adoption and Foster Care Awareness event on November 2, 2017, at the Rapid City Dahl Arts Center, located at 713 7th Street, Rapid City, South Dakota.

THANKS for Doing Good on the Green

The 7^th annual LSS Golf Tournament at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown was another success! All funds raised go toward client services in the Watertown area – strengthening individuals and families. Services include adoption services, mental health counseling, and financial counseling and education.

We would like to say a special thank you to Reliabank, our presenting sponsor, along with the following sponsors:

Dale McElhany welcomed 84 registered golfers before teeing off at the 7th Annual LSS Golf Tournament in Watertown.

Dennis & Shirley Larson
Falcon Tour River Adventures
First Premier Bank
Sharp Automotive
Diamond Realty
Larry’s Lumber
First Bank & Trust
Aason Engineering
KWAT Radio
KXLG Radio
Macksteel Warehouse
Citi-Wide Property Management

We would like to send a special thank you to Levi Pearson and everyone at Cattail Crossing Golf Course for always helping us put on an amazing golf tournament!

We want to recognize Dale McElhany for his vision and efforts in helping to put this golf tournament together each year!

Betty Oldenkamp, LSS President/CEO and Mary Johnson, LSS Counseling Services in Watertown, pay tribute to Ronald Flemming, who dedicated 25 years to LSS prior to passing away almost a year ago.

This year, we had the privilege to pay tribute to Ron Flemming, who was a LSS clinical therapist for 25 years. Ron passed away less than a year ago and he touched many lives during the time he was with LSS. A print was dedicated to the Watertown LSS Counseling office in Ron’s honor for his dedicated service, devotion and commitment to LSS.

Following 18-holes of golf, golfers enjoyed a steak dinner and learned more about the many LSS services in the Northeast.

We would like to acknowledge all of the participating golfers and volunteers from the LSS Golf Tournament! We truly have such a smooth process with these events because of our wonderful volunteers!

Have we said THANK YOU yet?
We truly appreciate all of you.

 

Liesl Hovel, Development Director, Northeast Region
LSS Development & Foundation
605-262-6301 direct,  Liesl.Hovel@lsssd.org
www.LssSD.org

Misconceptions about Open Adoption

Here are a few common misconceptions on how open adoptions work.

1. Open adoption is confusing to the child. This is false! Children growing up in open adoptions do understand the difference between parents and birth parents. In healthy open adoptions, both adoptive and birth parents help define their own roles and responsibilities.
2. Open adoption is a form of co-parenting. This is false! Open adoption is not shared custody between adoptive and birth parents. Adoptive parents have full legal responsibilities over the child once the adoption is complete.
3. All open adoptions eventually turn into closed adoptions at some point. This is false! As in any relationship, contact with one another can change as life events happen. It is important that the unique relationships formed through open adoption are recognized and honored. All relationships involve challenges at some point. The key to positive relationships is mutual understanding and respect. When children know their adoption story from the very beginning there is less chance for resentment about being adopted.

Adoptive and birth parents are supported through each stage of the adoption process at LSS. Birth parents receive free options counseling and decision making services. Adoptive parents are provided education to equip them for successful adoptions. For more information on how open adoption works, or for pregnancy counseling services, contact LSS at 605-221-2346, toll free at 888-201-5061, or http://www.LssSD.org.

-Submitted by Hayley Van Den Brink, Supervisor, Adoption Program

Open Adoption – the Best Mother’s Day Gift

Every May LSS has an annual event to honor birth mothers. It provides them with an opportunity to visit with others who have traveled the same path in choosing to place their children for adoption. It serves as a support group as they struggle with grief and loss, but also allows them to celebrate their child.

Reunited! And it feels so… ??

Ah, adoption reunion – it’s the stuff of movies, novels, and reality TV – and it is a big deal. I was in tears at the end of the movie Tangled when Rapunzel was reunited with her biological parents. For me, that was where the movie should have begun, not ended. And although I have not yet seen the movie Lion, I have heard that it is honest and responsible in its portrayal of the emotions involved in adoption search and reunion. But it too, ends at reunion. What happens next?!

This Is LSS

I was hooked on the new TV series This is Us from the first five minutes of the first episode. None of the previews gave me any idea that adoption would be a major theme in the series, and so now every episode has me on the edge of my couch. If you haven’t watched yet but are interested, this is your spoiler alert! You might want to watch first before you read the rest of this blog.

The Best Advice

When we see someone struggling, our natural response is to try to help them. There is no moment more true to that than when we see someone we know or love facing an unplanned pregnancy. Whether it is your friend, sister, daughter, coworker, granddaughter or girlfriend, the first response is to offer them advice. The problem is, often they are inundated with several “helpers” who want to offer their advice, all with differing opinions. It’s very difficult to be struggling with a decision and have people all around you giving conflicting advice but not really providing any resources to follow through with that advice. “You’d be a great mom, I’ll help you!” while someone else says, “but what about college, you’ll never be able to go,” to “whatever you do, don’t just ‘give it up.’” The best advice you can truly give them is to refer them to an LSS Pregnancy Counselor, because everyone around them might have an opinion on what they should do, but a Pregnancy Counselor helps THEM decide what THEY should do.