Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Bucher.
Hi Elizabeth, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Caring for the vulnerable is a calling I take to heart as a person of faith. I was raised by my parents, along with my younger sister, in a loving Christian home in Cookeville, TN. My parents are artists at heart and cultivated our home as a place of learning, creativity, and love. As a young adult, I pursued an education at Tennessee Technological University in social work as I was drawn to a career of adoptions. In my first position after graduation, I was tasked with completing home studies for potential parents who wanted to grow their own families by adoption. At this time, my eyes became opened to the hardships of infertility and under-resourced mothers and fathers. I also saw mis-information and a stigma in our society surrounding adoption. There were many hoops to jump through legally for everyone involved, it was heart wrenching to watch the struggle to make decisions for placement, and it could be very expensive. However, I also saw the beauty and love for everyone involved when the services aligned.
All of these lessons were held in my heart as I started my own marriage and family a few years later. I chose to stay home with my children but felt drawn to adoption along with my husband, Christian. 9 years ago we began our own personal international adoption journey. I felt for the first time the other side of the fence and all of the emotions that waiting families face. We went through the extensive home study process of being background checked, having our home analyzed, interviews, and even a psychological evaluation in order for our home study to be approved. The day we were matched with our son is one of the happiest days of my life. I’ll never forget seeing his little face for the first time in the picture our agency sent us. After a long two year wait, we finally brought him home from Korea in December of 2019 and we knew that our family was complete.
In 2023, I rejoined the work force once again as a home study writer for Hope Adoption Agency. I could now empathize as a mother from both sides of the fence while we worked as an agency to support and join birth mothers and waiting families.
At the beginning of this year our founding Director at the agency stepped down, and I was asked to step in as the interim Director. I always knew that I wanted to work in adoptions, but never did I think I’d one day be running an agency! It has been a transformative experience to be handed such a huge responsibility and privilege. At our annual fundraising banquet this past September, I was named Agency Director. I truly feel like things have come full circle for me in my life. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve families across our state that are waiting to adopt, assist birth mothers and fathers, and share with them all my personal shared experience.
Adoption has brought so many unexpected blessings to my life. Of course the amazing gift of my son, but also the adoptive community and friends that I have made. I am grateful to be able to share my experience both in my personal life and my professional life as well and use what I have learned to help and encourage others on their adoption journey.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Working in the adoption world can present many challenges. Its challenging to meet all the needs that we see. The wait is long, it is unpredictable, and can be emotionally draining.
For social workers, it is a hard job at times but very rewarding. Keep going! For birth mothers (and fathers?), we have so much love and compassion for you. Please reach out! For prospective adoptive parents, you can do it. Wait well with us!
As you know, we’re big fans of Hope Adoption Agency. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Hope Adoption Agency was founded in Cookeville, TN in 2018 as the Upper Cumberland’s first state-licensed, non-profit Christian adoption agency. Since the beginning our mission has been to “Empower women to choose life while equipping forever families through Christ-centered adoption services.” We are also committed to providing affordable adoption services and are proud to be able to keep our fees at half of what the national average is.
We are a non-profit, 501c-3, faith based adoption agency, licensed as a child placement agency through the state of Tennessee. As a religious501 c-3 we do not receive any government funding, and rely on fundraising events, and the generous support of our community partners and donors.
We remain dedicated to supporting families through ethical, compassionate, and child-centered adoption services. For the families who partner with our agency to adopt, Hope Adoption Agency is committed to providing adoption education, home study services, counseling, legal representation, and post-adoption support.
We work closely along side birth mothers, women who choose to make an adoption plan for their child, by providing adoption education. We evaluate a woman’s current needs for a healthy and safe pregnancy. We help connect her with community resources, provide education and information of a birth mom’s rights under Tennessee law. Inform and walk along side women through each step of the adoption process. We provide legal council, counseling, and post-adoption needs.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My best advice to those who are just starting out in their careers whether it be social work or something else- is to be faithful in the small things, those daily small choices of honesty, faithfulness, and integrity are the building blocks for larger responsibility. Don’t be afraid of hard work, treat others the way that you want to be treated, and extend everyone grace, because I guarantee there will be a day when you need a little grace shown to yourself.
For those who may be beginning their adoption journey- surround yourself with good community, and those who will encourage and support you during the process.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hopeadoptionagency.org
