12/05/2019
Announcement regarding BAAS's future -
As you likely know, for the past 2 years Bay Area Adoption Services (BAAS) and Adopt International (AI) have shared a close and wonderful partnership. Lisa Clark is the Executive Director for both agencies and this partnership has allowed us to combine our expertise, share our staff, and expand our program choices to benefit families and the children we serve.
We are very excited and honored to share that our two agencies will complete our planned legal merger sometime in December 2019. We're thrilled to combine best parts of both agencies under the single umbrella of AI's license and, ultimately, better serve clients like you!
We're so proud that we'll continue growing and strengthening this community as we enter this new stage of our work. And we're committed to honoring the deep history of both agencies, while bringing our services and support into a new decade.
**All the same folks you know and love**
Most important for your family - the staff and board members of both agencies will be combined under the single entity of Adopt International.
Sharmeela Shah will continue as our India Program Director, Xiaoqing Cai will continue as our China Coordinator, and current BAAS social workers will become (and many already are) AI social workers. Lisa Clark will continue to lead our organization in her capacity as Adopt International Executive Director.
**All the same services - and more!**
Adopt International holds a broader license that includes domestic adoption and the ability to work throughout the entire states of California and Hawaii.
We will retain a physical presence in the South Bay but our address will be changing. When the lease for our Mountain View office expires, we will move to a smaller office location. We will still offer meetings and trainings at this new location but your family's file will no longer be housed in the South Bay location.
**One bigger, brighter community**
Over the last few years, we have loved seeing BAAS and Adopt families coming together and building community. Shared events like Love Party, Date Night, and ACE have opened new opportunities to families from both agencies (including our collaboration with SJ Barracudas Hockey this past weekend, which welcomed our families to the first ever Adoption Awareness Day at SAP!). And they've shown us that we are together we are a stronger, more supportive community.
ALL Adopt and BAAS families will continue to have access to these opportunities and - we hope - even more, as we continue to build partnerships and programs.
Thank you for staying with us on this crazy, wonderful journey. We're so happy you're here with us as we enter this new chapter of exciting and important work serving families and children.
With gratitude,
The Board & Staff of Adopt International and Bay Area Adoption Services
PS - As part of this transition, we will be consolidating our email lists and social media accounts. If you want to be sure you don't miss anything on social media, please head over to the Adopt Domestic & International Services page and hit like/follow to keep getting all our updates!
