It's Okay to Talk About Adoption
Join a movement bringing adoption conversations into everyday life—in workplaces, schools, universities, and faith communities.
When we start talking about adoption, we replace silence with understanding and stigma with belonging.
What People are Saying
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![Professional woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing a white blazer and a pearl necklace, smiling at the camera.]()
“This book is an important reminder that small steps can spark meaningful change. After hearing stories like those shared here, we updated our family-forming benefits, and the response was immediate. It reinforced how impactful even modest efforts can be when they’re rooted in empathy and inclusion.”
—ANGIE SCHAEFER, Chief Human Resources Officer, Safety National
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[A]n honest conversational piece for considering the complexities of adoption and the foster care system. I'll be keeping it as a resource in my work as a therapist, including couples counseling!
— PATRICK GANN, MSW/LCSW, Professional Therapist
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![Portrait of an African American woman with braided hair, wearing an orange jacket and a black top, smiling softly.]()
“This isn’t a book you set aside—it stays with you. The stories illuminate unseen assumptions and offer tangible, heartfelt ways to help communities become more inclusive and aware. It’s a powerful blueprint for making adoption visible and valued.”
—YEMI AKANDE-BARTSCH, PHD, Chosen Mom and President & CEO, FOCUS St. Louises here
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![Headshot of a smiling middle-aged man with no hair and a beard, wearing a light blue checkered shirt.]()
“Adoption reflects the heart of God—and this book equips us to make that truth visible. It will awaken a deeper sense of responsibility—and hope—in everyone who reads it.”
—GARY SCHNEIDER, Adoptive Dad, President of Every Orphan’s Hope, and Founder of Orphan Sunday®
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I stayed up late to read “It’s Okay to Talk About Adoption!” I finished it!! … So spot on! How do we get this in the hands of every prospective family??? So much insight!! So real!! Love it.
— MELINDA KLINE, LSCSW, Child Welfare Frofessional
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![A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing glasses, smiling, and dressed in a dark green top.]()
“These perspectives linger in your heart and mind, challenging you to take on a role to provide voice and visibility to adoption. Not only is it okay to talk about adoption, it is beneficial and critical for everyone to join the conversation.”
—LINDA ARMBRUSTER, Third Grade Teacher
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“As someone who aged out of foster care, I know the lifelong weight of navi- gating life without the permanency every child deserves. This book gives voice to that pain and shows what’s possible when we truly show up for youth. Belonging changes everything.”
—ROB SCHEER, Founder of Comfort Cases, Adoptive Dad, and Former Youth in Foster Care
Meet the Voices
Click a contributor to learn more and connect.
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Simon Benn
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Brandi
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Marcy Bursac, MA, MBA
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Janet Craig
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Lane DeGregory, MA
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Connie Going
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Susan Haertling, LCB
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Ryan Hanlon, Ph.D.
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Rev. Ryan Hebel
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Lisa Jackson, LCSW, MSW
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Todd Lake, Ph.D., M.Div.
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Andrew C. Lewis
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Thea Ramirez, MSW
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Rene Savage
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Lisa Schelbe, Ph.D., MSW
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Vincent Slaugh, Ph.D.
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Rita Soronen
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Leah Sutterlin
Invite Marcy to Speak
Marcy helps organizations, schools, universities, faith communities, and businesses create meaningful conversations about foster care and adoption through speaking engagements, author visits, and educational experiences.
Start the Conversation
A simple way to make adoption more visible and help open the door to meaningful conversations.
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About Marcy
marcy@forgottenadoptionoption.org
Founded by It’s Okay to Talk About Adoption Curator, Marcy Bursac, all royalties from this book support The Forgotten Adoption Option, a national nonprofit mobilizing allies and adoptive families for children and sibling groups waiting in foster care through resources, storytelling, and research.
501(c)(3) • EIN: 87-4305358