The Internet offers some wonderful Christian groups for all those touched by adoption.

During the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to exchange frequent e-mails with Coley Strickland, one of the founders of a Christian ministry called BirthMom Buds.

BirthMom Buds offers peer counseling, support, encouragement, and friendship to pregnant women considering adoption as well as women who have already placed children for adoption.

One of the highlights of their ministry is their Pregnant and Placing Program. Created in 2003, the program pairs up pregnant women considering adoption with one who has already placed and is at peace with her decision. They try to pair women who live in the same state.

“We hope that having someone who has ‘been there, done that’ to lean on is helpful to our ‘mentees,’ says Coley.

Women join the program in many different stages of the process. Some join with just weeks left to go in their pregnancy while others who join are just a few months pregnant and are not positive about whether they will parent or place.

“We support our mentees, whatever their choice may be,” says Coley.

The Pregnant and Placing area on their Website includes links for pregnant women considering adoption, including:

• Questions to ask yourself when you’re considering adoption



• Questions to ask prospective adoptive parents



• Information on entrustment ceremonies



• Checklist of what to bring with you to the hospital



• Birth mom’s bill of rights

Another division of this program is their care packages. “We collect items and send care packages to mentees about 2-3 weeks after placement. We include things such as a journal, an inspirational book, bookmark, picture frame, candle, bath stuff, photo album and more,” says Coley.

One woman who received a care package after placing her birth daughter said it made her realize that there are others out there who truly understand.

To date, the program has matched nearly 80 women with mentors and sent out over 40 care packages.

You can learn more about BirthMom Buds and listen to an interview with Coley Strickland on Mardie Caldwell’s radio show, “Let’s Talk Adoption.”