I was a featured mom activist on Mother's Day at Yahoo!Voices in 2011. I was also named in the "Top 20 Adoption Blogs" list (2011) and on the "Blogs We Love" list at Adoptive Families Magazine. I am a BlogHer syndicated writer. By the close of 2013, I will have contributed to five published books, including one of my own and an anthology for which I am the primary editor. I am perhaps best known for this project, The Declassified Adoptee, my award winning, internationally recognized adoption blog.
Having worked in health care and social services for about ten years, my background includes nursing home social services, information and referral, direct needs assistance, hospital registration, and home-based hospice social work. I have an A.A. in psychology and I have a BSW in social work from West Chester University. I am currently an advanced standing candidate for a Masters of Social Services in Clinical Social Work.
I was awarded as the Outstanding Senior in Social Work for 2013 by the undergraduate social work department faculty at West Chester University and recognized by the College of Business and Public Affairs. I received the "Outstanding Policy Practice Award" from faculty, and my senior research group received the "Outstanding Research Paper Award" for our research on adoption. I was also named in the 2012-13 Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges, and I graduated summa cum laude from my undergraduate program. I am a certified LGBTQA ally, a member of the PHI ALPHA national social work honor society, a member of the International Association for Social Work with Groups, and a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
I am the founder of Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights, I am the Vice President and Director of Outreach of The Adoptee Rights Coalition, and I am a founding board member of Adoption Policy and Reform Collaborative. I am a contributor at Adoption Voices Magazine, and am also the founder of Lost Daughters, a collaborative writing project featuring the voices of over 30 adopted women from all walks of life.
I cross-train in kickboxing and three different martial arts, hold a brown belt in karate, enjoy photography, and live with my husband of six years and our two children in Pennsylvania.
I cross-train in kickboxing and three different martial arts, hold a brown belt in karate, enjoy photography, and live with my husband of six years and our two children in Pennsylvania.
I was born in 1985 and surrendered to adoption at three days of age. I was then placed into foster care by my adoption agency. I was placed with my adoptive parents at nearly five months of age and officially adopted at 8 months old. My adoption was finalized in 1986 and facilitated by the largest adoption agency in the United States.
I became "declassified" when my foster care file, adoption file, and original birth certificate were released to me in 2009. I reunited with my original mother, brothers, and extended maternal and paternal original families in January of 2010.
In addition to being adopted, I am connected to adoption in multiple other ways. Among my ancestors and family members are other adopted persons, original parents, and adoptive parents.
This blog began as a way to chronicle my quest for adoption reunion in hope that my original family would see the blog and contact me. Many of those posts were deleted after I reunited and took the blog in a new direction as an activist platform. When I began writing, I never intended to be seen as an expert on various aspects of adoption. This blog was a single seed that I never anticipated would grow into published works, speaking opportunities, collaborative efforts, and treasured connections. I am forever grateful for those who have valued my voice.
You can find out more about my books, projects, media mentions, and speaking engagements at my website www.amandawoolston.com.
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