NEW AGENCY HELPS OUT WITH ADOPTIONS

Centre Daily Times (State College, PA)

BELLEFONTE -- Elaine Peachey had long wanted children of her own, but her body wouldn't cooperate.

Told she would never be able to conceive, Elaine and her husband, Gary, decided to adopt. In August 1996, the Potter Township couple began working with a private adoption service in Williamsport, and about nine months later the Peacheys brought home a five-month-old girl from Guatemala.

Today, 19-month-old Kali toddles throughout the spacious office of "Heart to Heart" Adoption Services Inc., the nonprofit agency her mother has started with Jennifer Holdren.

By MARGARET HOPKINS

Centre Daily Times With chubby hands chocked full of pretzels, the brown-eyed Kali challenges her mother to keep up with her.

"All through the adoption process, I thought this would be such a rewarding way to help other couples in the same situation as we were," said Mrs. Peachey, executive coordinator of the agency.

"The adoption process can sometimes be overwhelming, but since we've been through it, we can make it easier and more understandable," she added.

"Heart to Heart" officially opens its doors today. The Bellefonte agency located on the Benner Pike is licensed by the state Department of Public Welfare.

The only other state-licensed adoption agency in the county is a satellite office of an Altoona-based service, said Sue Aspy, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Welfare, which licenses adoption agencies.

As a licensed service, "Heart to Heart" can conduct the home study required by the state of all prospective parents. The multi-session program includes a discussion of what adoption is, how much it costs and what adoptive parents should be prepared for.

"Heart to Heart" also helps couples and single parents adopt American-born infants and older children and links parents-to-be with international agencies.

And through support groups and counseling, the two women help answer the many questions surrounding adoption.

"We want to support and help people through the adoption process," Holdren said. "Adoption isn't as hard as what people make it out to be -- it's challenging, but you have to have patience."

Holdren, the executive director, is also an adoptive mom. Her 14-month-old daughter Makayla is Guatemalan, too. But while the Peacheys' adoption experience was smooth, the Holdrens' was rough.

The first Guatemalan girl she and her husband, Randy, were to adopt died suddenly. Told the second time that the process would cost about $20,000, the Holdrens ended up paying more than that.

"We felt we weren't informed enough about the adoption process," Mrs. Holdren said. "That's why we want to inform adoptive parents about the whole process, the costs involved and emotional strain that can occur."

The two moms have worked for more than a year to start "Heart to Heart." During that time, they've undergone training with the private Children's Home Programs of Somerset County Inc. and attended conferences on adoption.

In addition, the two have met with lawyers, social workers and social service agencies to discuss finding permanent homes -- "forever families," Holdren calls them -- for youngsters from Centre County and surrounding areas who are in the adoption system.

And they've filled out forms and more forms for state licensing.

Knowledgeable about adoption from their own experiences, the two have learned some interesting facts:

In the United States alone, more than 500,000 youngsters are in foster care and group homes, with many waiting for permanent homes.

International adoptions cost four times more than domestic adoptions.

Single parents can more easily adopt internationally than domestically unless the American-born child has special needs, such as attention deficit disorder or fetal alcohol syndrome.

Parents are especially needed for older children and sibling groups.

Holdren and Peachey will start their first home-study group in late August. The five-week, 10-hour session will include basic information about domestic, international and special needs adoption.

Parents who have adopted from other countries will be there to discuss their experiences, as will parents who have adopted domestically. Adopted children also will tell their stories.

Once the home study is completed, "Heart to Heart" will help parents through the entire process of adopting, Peachey said.

"We don't plan on stopping our support once the adoption has been finalized -- support is an ongoing process as parents and child adjust," Holdren said.

Besides adoption, Holdren and Peachey plan to offer counseling services for birth mothers considering adoption for their unborn children. "Heart to Heart" already has a waiting list of couples wanting to open their homes and hearts to these infants, Holdren said.

The two also hope to speak to students in area high schools about adoption.

Holdren and Peachey have invested more than their time in "Heart to Heart." They depleted their savings to start the agency. Two recent yard sales netted money to pay the agency's rent and phone bill this month, Holdren said.

But the investment is well worth it, they said.

"When you see the pictures of a child who needs a home, and you see the reasons for that, it makes you want to reach out and turn their lives around," Peachey said. "Yes, there can be a bad side to adoption, but there is a fantastic side, and it can work."

After adopting daughters, 2 women create business to help other families do the same

A nonprofit adoption agency, "Heart to Heart" Adoption Services, Inc. can be reached at 355-4310. Donations can be mailed to 504 Benner Pike, Bellefonte, PA 16823.

Caption:

Adoptive moms Jennifer Holdren of Tylersville, left, and Elaine Peachey try to keep the day business-as-usual while holding their adopted Guatemalan daughters. Holdren and Peachey started the "Heart to Heart" Adoption Services on the Benner Pike to help people find foster children.