Adoption Ethics: Red Flags Every Parent Must Know

About this episode

This episode explores the ethical complexities of adoption, highlighting red flags and the importance of supporting birth mothers and centering adoptees.

Adoption is often painted as a beautiful, selfless act, but what happens when we look beneath the surface? In this deeply honest and eye-opening conversation, Anna Bernacki sits down with birth mother advocate Jessie Mattos to unpack the ethical complexities that many families never see coming. From hidden coercion to overlooked birth mother support, this episode challenges the narratives that have shaped adoption for decades. Jessie brings nearly a decade of experience and her own lived story to shed light on what truly ethical adoption should look like. She shares powerful insights into red flags adoptive parents must watch for, the emotional realities birth mothers face, and why centering the adoptee is essential for long-term healing. This isn’t just about doing adoption “right” it’s about confronting uncomfortable truths so that children, birth parents, and adoptive families can all thrive. If you’re considering adoption, already parenting through it, or simply want a more honest understanding of its impact, this episode will change the way you think and feel about adoption forever. What You’ll Learn: The biggest red flags and green flags when choosing an adoption agency How…

People in this episode

Host: Anna Bernacki

Guest: Jessie Mattos

Topics covered

• adoption ethics
• birth mother support
• coercion in adoption
• adoptee identity
• open adoption
• trust in adoptive relationships

Keywords

• adoption
• ethical adoption
• birth mother advocate
• coercion
• open adoption
• adoptee identity
• trust
• support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: adoption agency, birth mother

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