You are not alone

A national ecosystem for the lifelong post-adoption journey of birth parents.

ANCHOR Connect is a trauma- and adoption-informed digital platform combining direct support, professional training, evaluation, and replication — organized around the ROOTS Model and grounded in lived experience.

The ROOTS Model

Five domains that shape the birth parent journey.

Every training track, curriculum, tool, and evaluation instrument in ANCHOR Connect is organized around the ROOTS framework — the evidence-informed approach to understanding and responding to birth parent grief, identity, and relationship experiences following placement.

Explore the ROOTS Model →
  1. RRecognizing Loss
  2. OOscillating Between Grief & Living
  3. OOwning Parent Identity
  4. TTransforming Meaning
  5. SSustaining Lifelong Bonds

Birth Parent Access & Engagement Continuum

Seven engagement phases, one intentionally low-barrier pathway.

1
Awareness
2
Discoverability
3
Interest
4
Contact
5
Enrollment
6
Participation
7
Engagement
See the full journey

Platform Components

Everything the model requires.

Birth Parent Self-Assessment, Normalization, and Exploration Framework

A trauma- and adoption-informed engagement process that helps birth parents understand, validate, and contextualize their post-adoption journey.

Birth Parent Informal Support Network Preparation Program

Equips family, friends, clergy, healthcare, educators, and employers to provide compassionate, informed, nonjudgmental support to birth parents.

Support Group Curriculum

A structured, professionally facilitated, evidence-informed program organized around the ROOTS domains.

Clinical Services Curriculum

A structured treatment framework for adoption-competent therapists integrating grief theory, trauma-informed care, and adoption-specific interventions.

Case Management Curriculum

A structured, strengths-based approach helping birth parents identify needs, access services, and navigate support systems across the lifespan.

Peer Mentoring Preparation, Support, and Connection Model

A comprehensive approach for selecting, training, supervising, and supporting birth parent mentors.

Outreach and Recruitment Toolkit

A comprehensive marketing, engagement, and referral package designed to increase awareness, accessibility, and participation.

Dedicated Lifespan Follow-Up & Life Course Grief Framework

A dedicated contact navigation process for engaging birth parents across the entire post-adoption lifespan.

Resource Navigation System and Program Catalog

A centralized, searchable service ecosystem that connects birth parents to personalized supports, information, and opportunities.

Our Vision

A national, trauma- and adoption-informed support ecosystem that improves birth parent well-being, strengthens services, advances research, and creates a scalable framework that can be adapted across states, tribes, territories, and communities.