Friends in Adoption is a non-profit, non-traditional, licensed agency whose goal is to help people make informed decisions concerning adoption. FIA works with both those interested in adopting and with pregnant women/couples considering placing their children with adoptive families.

Friends in Adoption was "officially" created in 1982 by Dawn Smith-Pliner. During the 1970's, shortly after they were married, Dawn Smith-Pliner and her husband found out they couldn't conceive a child and decided to adopt. But they were turned down by every agency they applied to. "We were told we weren't married long enough, we were of different religions, or my husband's hair was too long. We weren't the average middle-American couple," she said. But the more she got turned down, the more Dawn became determined. She heard of a pregnant woman in Florida, but interstate adoption was illegal at the time. "The only option," Dawn said, "was an 'open adoption' under which the pregnant woman and her husband and daughter would come to Vermont."

Joel and Dawn were present at Aura's birth in Bennington. It was a wonderful experience and "Aura can find all the answers to questions about why Joel and I are her parents," Dawn said. Twelve months later, Dawn's parents told her of another woman who wanted to place her child. This was a "confidential" adoption through an attorney, in which they didn't meet Isaac's birth mother. After the two experiences, Dawn realized there was a need for information regarding adoption. She and a friend started a non-profit information service to provide information on private adoptions. In 1982, a year and a half later, the partnership dissolved and Dawn formed Friends in Adoption, that changed its focus to "compassionate adoption" in which everyone's needs are met.

FIA has been providing these compassionate adoption services for over 25 years.

Our mission is to:

• Keep the central focus of the adoption plan on the needs of the baby or child
  
• Give attention to the unique needs of each individual involved in the adoption plan
  
• Recognize that adoption is a life-long process based on trust, honesty and mutual responsibility