Shaping the Future of Adoption One Birth Mother at a Time

When Donna Pope first heard her sister asking for help finding another adoption agency, she had no idea this conversation would redirect her entire career from medical research to becoming one of Utah's most respected adoption advocates. With 27 years of experience running Heart to Heart Adoptions and serving in leadership roles across Utah's adoption community, Pope's journey from respiratory therapist to adoption agency director offers unique insights into what makes Utah's adoption landscape both successful and compassionate.

Donna's background includes a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, medical research coordination at LDS Hospital and the University of Utah, and teaching anatomy and physiology at UVU. Yet her transition into adoption work emerged from witnessing firsthand the gaps in how birth mothers were being treated. Today, as executive director of Heart to Heart Adoptions, treasurer and board member of the Utah Adoption Council, and chairman of the Utah Adoption Agencies Consortium, she's positioned uniquely to address misconceptions about Utah adoption practices while sharing the personal stories that shaped her professional mission.

In this pilot episode of the Adoption Utah podcast, co-host Nathan Gwilliam interviews Donna about her unique journey and philosophy. Her story showcases how personal experience combined with professional expertise can transform an entire approach to adoption services. Through her own adoption of three sons and her work with countless birth mothers over nearly three decades, Pope has developed a philosophy that treats adoption as an opportunity for growth and healing rather than just a legal transaction.

Building an Agency Around Birth Mother Care  

The foundation of Heart to Heart Adoptions emerged from Donna's observations while helping her sister navigate the adoption process. Working with several agencies to understand their approaches, she noticed concerning patterns in how birth mothers were treated. Rather than receiving the genuine care and respect they deserved, many birth mothers faced institutional approaches that didn't recognize their courage and sacrifice.

Donna's decision to house birth mothers in her own home for several years allowed her to understand their individual struggles, desires, and dreams on a deeper level. This hands-on experience revealed that birth mothers weren't coming to adoption as problems to be solved, but as women making incredibly difficult decisions while facing various life challenges. Her background in medical research proved valuable in understanding that each situation required individual assessment and personalized care rather than standardized protocols. Research published in Americanadoptions.com relays that birth mothers frequently have stronger educational and economic trajectories than mothers who parent, overturning stereotypes about women in adoption situations. 

According to a study published by Utah Department of Health and Human Services  shows that there were '44,992 live births to Utah residents, a rate of 13.0 per 1,000 Utahns,' highlighting the significant number of families Utah supports. The goal became creating an agency that would help birth mothers use their pregnancy and placement decision as a catalyst for personal growth and positive life changes. Rather than viewing adoption as an ending, Donna envisioned it as a beginning, a time when women could gain confidence, stability, and hope for their futures.

This approach had an unexpected benefit that Donna didn't initially anticipate. Adoptive families began expressing deep gratitude not just for receiving their children, but for witnessing the love and care shown to their children's birth mothers. Years later, children who were adopted would thank Donna for the respect and affection shown to their birth mothers, demonstrating how this philosophy created positive ripple effects throughout the entire adoption triad. The Adoption Network reports that 95% of domestic infant adoptions today are open adoptions, as ongoing relationships prove beneficial for everyone involved.

Personal Adoption Experiences That Shape Professional Practice  

Donna's professional insights are grounded in her personal experience adopting three sons, each with unique circumstances that illustrate different aspects of the adoption process. Her first son came to her through Monica, a birth mother who had been living on the streets in California and was heavily involved in drugs. When Monica came to stay with Donna during her pregnancy, she was starving, as was the baby she was carrying.

The experience of providing Monica with safety, medical care, and proper nutrition during pregnancy demonstrated how providing stable support during this critical time could literally save lives. Despite drug exposure, Donna's son was born with a fighting chance because Monica received the care she needed. This experience reinforced Donna's belief that supporting birth mothers isn't just about paperwork and legal processes; it's about providing life-saving interventions during vulnerable times.

Her second son's adoption presented different challenges when he was born with serious medical complications including severe jaundice and blood type mismatches. The month-long stay at a children's hospital highlighted how Utah's medical community steps up to support adoptive families during high-risk situations. This experience showed Donna how adoption involves an entire network of professionals who often become unsung heroes in the process.

Donna's third son came through an international connection when Malou, the birth mother of her second son, contacted her from Austria two years later. After giving birth to another child and raising him for two years, Malou made the difficult decision to fly from Austria to place this child with Donna as well. This adoption demonstrated how relationships built through respectful, caring adoption practices can span continents and years, creating lasting connections based on trust and mutual respect.

These three adoptions gave Donna first-hand experience with drug exposure, medical complications, international placement, and sibling adoption, providing her with practical knowledge of virtually every challenge adoptive families might face. More importantly, they demonstrated how positive outcomes are possible when all parties receive appropriate support and care.

Utah's Adoption Laws and Community Support  

Utah's adoption framework represents a carefully balanced approach to protecting the rights and needs of all parties involved in adoption. According to Adoption Network, birth mothers in Utah cannot give consent until at least 24 hours after birth, ensuring major decisions aren't made during immediate recovery. Once given, consent is irrevocable, providing adoptive families with security while protecting birth mothers during decision-making.

Donna describes adoption decisions as involving a "quadratic" rather than the traditional triad, recognizing that birth fathers' rights must be considered separately, creating four distinct parties whose needs must be balanced. This complexity requires careful legal navigation, which Utah's adoption community has developed expertise in handling through collaboration between agencies, attorneys, hospitals, and social service organizations. According to the National Council for Adoption data reported by Adoption Network, approximately 115,353 adoptions took place in 2019, demonstrating the significant impact adoption has on American families.

According to Utah's Adoption Connection, the average age of a child adopted from foster care is 5.2 years of age, demonstrating that Utah's adoption services extend beyond infant placement to supporting older children who need permanent families. The state's approach recognizes that different types of adoption serve different family needs and child welfare goals.

The Utah Adoption Council brings together attorneys, agencies, foster care organizations, and DCFS representatives who are committed to continually improving adoption practices in the state. The Utah Adoption Agencies Consortium, which Donna chairs, focuses specifically on agency practices and standards, ensuring that the approximately 12 agencies operating in Utah maintain high standards for serving birth mothers, adoptive families, and children.

Donna's involvement in these organizations gives her a unique perspective on how Utah's adoption laws attempt to balance competing interests while prioritizing child welfare. The legal framework supports both private adoptions and agency placements, giving families options while maintaining protective oversight.

Addressing Misconceptions About Utah Adoption Practices  

Recent criticism of Utah adoption practices has motivated Donna to launch the Adoption Utah podcast as a platform for education and story-sharing. She believes that outsiders don't fully understand the love and care that characterizes Utah's adoption community or the thoughtful legal protections that have been developed over decades. National statistics support these positive outcomes - 88% of adoptive parents report being happy couples, versus 83% of non-adoptive parents.

Key aspects that Donna wants people to understand about Utah adoption include:

1. Birth Mother Support Systems: Utah agencies provide comprehensive support including housing, medical care, counseling, and financial assistance during pregnancy

2. Legal Protections: The 24-hour waiting period and irrevocable consent structure protect both birth mothers and adoptive families

3. Professional Networks: Collaboration between agencies, attorneys, hospitals, and social services creates comprehensive support

4. Quality Standards: Industry organizations maintain high standards for agency practices and professional conduct

5. Diverse Placement Options: Utah supports both infant adoption and foster care adoption for older children

6. National Reach: Utah serves families from across the United States, not just residents

Research demonstrates beneficial outcomes across well-managed adoptions. The Adoption Network reports that, about two-thirds of domestic infant adoptions experience some level of continued post-placement contact, and 85 percent of adopted children are rated to have "excellent" or "very good" health compared to 82% of non-adopted children. These statistics challenge negative stereotypes while highlighting the success of modern adoption practices. Utah exemplifies these positive outcomes. The state's adoption community serves families of all faiths and backgrounds, with many non-LDS families choosing Utah for adoption services. The state's legal framework and professional standards benefit all families regardless of religious affiliation.

Building the Future Through Stories

Donna's vision extends beyond individual placements to transform Utah's entire adoption landscape. Through the Adoption Utah podcast, she's creating a platform where birth mothers share their journeys of strength and purpose, adoptive families reveal how they built lasting relationships with birth families, and adult adoptees speak about the care their birth mothers received. These authentic stories challenge common misconceptions while showcasing the extraordinary outcomes possible when adoption is approached with genuine respect and professional expertise.

What sets Utah's adoption community apart is the collaboration between agencies, medical professionals, and legal experts who work together to handle even the most complex situations. Hospitals regularly take on high-risk cases involving late prenatal care and emergency placements, ensuring excellent care regardless of circumstances. Donna's dual perspective as both an adoptive mother and agency director gives her unique insights into how thoughtful approaches create positive outcomes that last for generations. Her work demonstrates how the right combination of legal frameworks, community support, and genuine care can transform lives in ways that extend far beyond the adoption process itself.

Ready to hear these stories and connect with Utah's adoption community? Visit adoptionutah.org to access the Adoption Utah podcast and discover the resources that are changing how adoption works in Utah.

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