Adoption Services
Andy and Laura Kaye, who adopted daughter Stella from Volunteers of America, discuss our Adoption Program and the 2012 GolfStar Classic, our annual fundraiser, with WWL's Sally-Ann Roberts and Program Director Lori Arceneaux-North.
Our Adoption Program has united thousands of families over many decades, as a licensed adoption agency and a respected pioneer in issues such as open adoption. Email us to learn more.
Use the links at the left of the page to learn more about all our services.
We place infants in adoptive homes, counsel birth parents and adoptive parents and reach out to both groups with a variety of helping services that range from crisis counseling for pregnant women to home studies for adoptive couples. Adoption and Maternity is a full-service agency. The program also places children in state custody with permanent families. We work with Wendy's Wonderful Kids, a national initiative that finds adoptive parents for youngsters in foster care.
Serving Families
We serve birth parents, adoptive parents and their extended families. Services can continue for a minimum of five years after a child is placed for adoption. About 86 percent of expectant mothers who contact us choose to parent their child. Of these, approximately 50 percent have a gross annual household income below $10,000, 59 percent are unemployed, 53 percent reside in a female household with no husband, and 16 percent are ages 10-17.
History
In 1915, a Magazine Street home was donated to Volunteers of America to help indigent women and children. No one was turned away. In 1942, because of increased demand, the property became a maternity home, providing proper medical care, residential care and counseling.
Eventually, Volunteers
of America operated two other maternity homes — on St. Charles Avenue
and in Mandeville. We became a licensed adoption agency in 1948. As
times changed, there was no longer a need for maternity homes, yet we continue to
serve birth parents and adoptive couples with services that help them
make decisions that are right for their individual situations.
Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans is a non-profit human service organization that helps more than 63,000 people in need each year throughout 16 parishes in southeast Louisiana. You can help by donating your vehicle, stocks and mutual funds, and insurance, or making a planned gift or volunteering your time. Sign up today to learn more about our programs and services.
Volunteers of America serves these locations: New Orleans 70112 70115 70116 70118 70119 70125 70130, Jefferson 70001 70002 70003 70005 70006 70123 70065, St. Tammany 70448 70420 70452 70460 70433, St Bernard 70032 70043 70044 70075 70085, Washington 70438 70427 70422, St. James 70086 70763 70086, St. Charles 70080 70030 70090, St. John 70084 70049 70051 70076, Tangipahoa 70401 70402 70403 70404, Plaquemines 70040 70037 70093 70082, Terrebonne 70397 70363 70353, LaFourche 70345 70354 70357 70345, St. Mary 70340 70514 70380, Assumption 70341 70341 70372, Livingston 70706 70727 70726, St. Helena 70441 70453