AFSN Mission

AFSN supports the lifelong well-being of adoptive families.

AFSN Vision

* Provide a support network to all adoptive families

* Promote access to community post-adoption resources for all adoptive families

* Raise awareness within the community about families formed by adoption

* Remain fiscally responsible in order to support the adoptive families we serve

AFSN Organizational Values

In everything we do to support the Mission and Vision of  the Adoptive Family Support Network, we will hold true to our values.

Accessible.  We are accessible to all within the adoption community regardless of race religion, age, sex, marital status, disability, and income. 

Compassionate.  We show compassion to all individuals in the adoption community.

Inclusive.  We ensure our staff, Board, and volunteers represent diverse interests in the entire adoption community. 

Responsive.  We respond to the needs, requests and suggestions of the adoption community in an appropriate manner. 

AFSN History

AFSN was founded in 1991 in response to a community need for post-adoption support services. 

A group of parents and child welfare professionals came together to make sure that adoptive families were getting the services, support and encouragement they needed.

The group kept AFSN going as a volunteer organization for five years which was quite an accomplishment, considering they had full-time jobs, families and other commitments!

They drafted by-laws, secured 501(c)(3) status, developed and implemented programming, and held social events for families.

Today, AFSN employs three part-time staff members and have an office located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

AFSN's Board of Directors is made up of adoptive parents, adoptees, and child welfare professionals who all have a deep commitment to strengthening adoptive families. 

From the beginning, AFSN's goal has been to serve as a clearinghouse for information useful to adoptive parents, a source of support to families facing adoption issues, and an advocate for change in policy and practices that affect adoptive families.

AFSN is not an adoption placement agency.

Rather, AFSN supports and strengthens families once they've been formed through adoption.

AFSN works closely with area adoption agencies and are represented on the Kent County Interagency Adoption Resource Committee and the Ottawa Area Adoption Council.

AFSN holds memberships with the North American Council on Adoptable Children and the American Adoption Congress.

Most important, AFSN maintain ties with adoptive parent support services and professional service providers throughout Michigan in order to refer families to the resources that best fit their needs.

Throughout the years, AFSN has given adoptive families an understanding shoulder to lean on and a chance to get involved with making it just a little bit easier to parent adopted children.

AFSN will continue responding to the needs of adoptive families by providing links to the experts and other adoptive families.