Abrazo In The News
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WOVE Inspiration founder Althea Richardson interviewed Abrazo birthmother and Birthparent Care Coordinator Lauranda Garza on 3/28/25 for the WOVE podcast. The interview focused on open adoption as an option for unplanned pregnancy and how Lauranda’s choice as a teen mom has bettered her life of Lauranda as well as the life of the (now teenage) daughter she placed for adoption at Abrazo shortly after birth.
News4SanAntonio, the local NBC affiliate, and its sister station KABB-FOX29, covered Abrazo’s Birthmother Homecoming 2024 on 9/7/24, and also interviewed keynote speaker Kelsey Ranyard, co-author of the new book Adoption Unfiltered. (Check out some of that event coverage here.)
Those who have seen the Modern Adoption billboards or heard the radio ads over and over may not have known it is a state-funded campaign that promotes a few select agencies doing what purportedly is a newer form of adoption (although agencies like Abrazo have been doing open adoption for years.) An investigative report by journalist Julian Gill dug deeper into what the campaign is really promoting and why. You can read the article here that was published by the Houston Chronicle on 3/21/24 and includes some perspective shared by Abrazo’s founder and executive director.
The 9/7/23 edition of the San Antonio Express-News featured an op-ed by Abrazo’s executive director, entitled “San Antonio Needs to Invest in Existing Adoption Resources, Not Baby Boxes.” The guest editorial expressed opposition to the San Antonio City Council’s pending plan to spend nearly a half-million taxpayer dollars to encourage vulnerable mothers to abandon babies in baby boxes that research shows do little to stem infanticide and nothing to encourage responsible adoption planning. (Read it here.)
Abrazo’s founder and executive director appears in all three episodes of the documentary Where is Baby Gabriel? streaming on Peacock. The series, by filmmaker Thomas Leader, delves into the mysterious disappearance of Gabriel Johnson, who went missing in San Antonio in December 2009 and has yet to be found, despite a search that involved the FBI and law enforcement in three states. (Learn more here.)
A loving birthmother who chose to place through Abrazo shared her story in a feature published in the 1/12/23 issue of The Christian Science Monitor. The article, entitled “Post-Roe, Is Adoption A Realistic Alternative to Abortion?” (written by reporter Sarah Matusek), carefully weighs the impact of adoption (or lack thereof) in the wake of the Dobbs decision limiting abortion access in America. (Read it here.)
Abrazo was mentioned in the May 2022 issue of ELLE magazine, in a story that featured the agency’s founder/executive director and her secret hobby outside of work. (Read the story here.)
![](https://abrazo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KSAT12-Header.jpg" "KSAT12-Header - Abrazo Adoption Associates")
Local ABC affiliate KSAT 12 sent reporter Patty Santos to Abrazo on 5/10/22 to discuss the possibility of SCOTUS overturning Roe vs. Wade, the impact this might potentially have upon private adoption agencies across Texas, and how mothers with crisis pregnancies could possibly be affected. (Watch it here.)
On 9/8/21, FOX News 29 sent reporter Amanda Henderson to talk with Abrazo’s director about how Texas’ recently-announced “heartbeat bill” abortion restrictions may potentially impact private adoption agencies in this state. (View the news story here.) The report also aired on News4 San Antonio, and was later picked up by other affiliated stations through Texas, as well.
A 4/14/21 newsbrief published by The Imprint cited Abrazo’s executive director in its report on the latest efforts to get adoptee rights recognized by the Texas Legislature. (View the news story here.)
On 4/10/21, San Antonio television station News4SA aired reporter Amanda Henderson’s interview with Abrazo’s director and other adoptee rights reformers about the all-important push to get the Texas Legislature to pass much-needed laws that could restore the rights of Texas’ adult adoptees to access their own original birth records. (View the news story here.)Abrazo’s director was interviewed on 1/11/21 by by journalist Robyn Oguinye of San Antonio television station FOX-29 about the importance of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Vinnie Vinzetta of San Antonio’s CBS affiliate, KENS 5, interviewed two birthmothers who placed through Abrazo as part of their “Forever Families” feature on the Abrazo Birthmothers Homecoming. It aired 5/26/18, and you can view it here.
Abrazo launched a petition to protest the Lifetime movie “Birthmother’s Betrayal” and that protest was reported in a 6/20/20 story by the online women’s magazine, Bustle: read the story here.
Local news channel KSAT 12 did an interview with Abrazo’s director on 5/11/17 in which the pending HB 3859, called a “religious freedom bill” by some and an “LGBT discrimination bill” by others, was discussed. If passed, HB 3859 would exempt faith-based organizations from being obligated to provide services to those whose values contradict religious standards of the sponsoring organizations, and would require the State to provide those refused services with referrals to other available agencies like Abrazo, which is not a church-related adoption agency.
The Associated Press released a 5/1/17 news story by reporter David Crary about the problems that are impacting domestic adoption statistics in America, which quotes Abrazo’s executive director and has been carried nationwide by media outlets such as CBS Boston, the Chicago Law Bulletin, and the Spokesman Review.
USA Today featured remarks from Abrazo’s director about the agency’s 6-12 month average wait time for childless couples in its full-service program, in the newspaper’s “Your Say” feature.
Abrazo’s director was interviewed on 10/12/16 by reporter David Goins of WFAA Channel 8, the ABC News affiliate in Dallas, about breaking abuse allegations involving a North Texas child adopted internationally, and how post-placement supervision requirements in domestic adoption standards better protect children being adopted. San Antonio has long been known as “the adoption capitol of Texas” but that’s not a good thing when it draws people who seek to do the kinds of adoptions that violate Texas laws.
Crime Watch Dailyinterviewed Abrazo’s director about the mystery of the still-missing Baby Gabriel and the problem of gray-market adoptions, dangerous arrangements in which adoptions are arranged privately without licensed adoption professionals being involved, in a program that aired on 4/18/19.
BraveLove featured a guest editorial by Abrazo’s director called “When You Work in Adoption” (about the benefits and challenges of a career in the adoption field) on its 4/5/16 blog: read it here.
San Antonio WOAI news anchor Evy Ramos was interviewed about her own open adoption story on Channel 4’s “San Antonio Living” show on 11/18/14, and gave Abrazo a glowing endorsement. Evy is herself a birthmother, and holds a special place in the hearts of Abrazo’s birthmothers and staff. Watch Evy’s moving television interview here: San Antonio Living, with Evy Ramos.
As a NY couple went to court to try to undo the adoptions of two children they acquired abroad, Abrazo’s executive director was quoted in a 10/30/14 Huffington Post article by adoption activist Mirah Riben, which can be read here: Impermanence: When Adoptions Fail.
Thanks to Abrazo’s fully-bilingual Agency Services Coordinator, Abrazo was able to participate in a May 21, 2014 interview with the local Telemundo KVDA 60 news station, for a story about open adoption and Abrazo’s services in San Antonio since 1994. Abrazo’s tribute to its longtime attorney, Bob Estrada, was published in the Jan/Feb 2015 issue of San Antonio Lawyer magazine after his death. Read it here.
The very first baby born at Spohn South Hospital in Corpus Christi in 2014 was brought into the world by an Abrazo mom and her chosen adoptive couple, good news that was reported throughout South Texas on NBC affiliate KRIS-TV. Read the 1/1/14 KRIS news story of how Abigail, Riley and the Smullens became a family here.
Abrazomom Claudia Gonzales-Paredes appeared on Fox 2 McAllen’s “Good Day Valley” morning show on 11/18/13 to talk about the importance of open adoption, and her family’s experience of adopting through Abrazo not once, not twice, but three times. View the FOX Rio 2 interview here.
Chicago Mom Source featured a beautifully-written adoption column by Abrazomom Ann Glynn in its 11/11/13 tribute to National Adoption Awareness Month, entitled “Our Journey to Family: A Local Adoption Story.” Click here to read the Glynns’ Abrazo adoption story.
One of Abrazo’s beautiful open adoption stories was featured on Birthmother Baskets in a 9/13/13 guest blog (read it here), written by Shelley S., who with her husband became parents through Abrazo, all because of one very special birthmom and her family.
Abrazo was cited in a 4/10/12 news story on Fox 5 New York (WNYW), which pictured the agency’s website, included clips of an interview with Abrazo’s director and noted Abrazo’s efforts to help families left in the lurch by another recently-closed local agency.Abrazo’s director was interviewed by KABB/Fox News San Antonio in a 4/9/12 investigative report about the abrupt shutdown and alleged bankruptcy of another San Antonio adoption agency.
In February 2012, Abrazo’s director was interviewed by Vinnie Politan of CNN’s InSession, about the need for adoption reform in Texas, as it pertains to fathers’ rights, gray-market adoptions, and the still-missing Baby Gabriel.
One of Abrazo’s midwestern families, Brian & Nicole Turnis and their adorable daughters, were featured in the 11/30/11 edition of the Cascade Pioneer, their hometown paper, in a sweet National Adoption Month story entitled “Two (Adopted) Children and Counting.” (Read it here.)
The Adoption Diaries blog featured on the Parents magazine website on December 21, 2011 included a profile of Abrazomom Diane Hogan, who with her husband Patrick twice adopted successfully through Abrazo.(Read blog) 
The Stover family, who adopted through Abrazo in the spring of 2011, celebrated National Adoption Month with an October 2011 interview about their open adoption experience on Memphis television station WREG.(View it here)
Dawn Davenport, host of the radio talk show “Creating a Family,”interviewed Abrazo director Elizabeth Jurenovich on her April 6, 2011 show on “Adoption or Infertility Treatment After Cancer.” (Listen Here)
Abrazo’s director was interviewed in February, 2010 by San Antonio television station FOX-29 and by Phoenix television station KHPO about Gabriel Scott Johnson, the Arizona toddler who disappeared in San Antonio in December, 2010. Gabriel, who was just seven-months-old at the time, is believed to have been the victim of an illegal, gray market adoption plan made by Gabriel’s mother and an out-of-state couple who’d been trying to adopt Gabriel without his father’s blessing.
Elizabeth Jurenovich pitched in with adoption experts discussing open adoption with staff writer Liza Mundy on May 7, 2007 during an online Live Discussion hosted by Washington Post Magazine (search for “Abrazo” on the linked page).
The Asbury Park Press, a Gannett newspaper, now features a new blogger on its website: it’s Nina Rizzo, who also happens to be an Abrazomom. She’s been blogging since 2/21/07, sharing her perspective on the challenges of becoming a new mom later in life, in Jersey Shore Moms: Diaper Diva.
The Tate family of Florida, who have adopted through Abrazo twice, were featured in the Lake Mary Life, in a 1/8/07 story entitled “Domestic Adoption: A Perfect Fit for Local Family.” Read about how their first child came to them just 2 weeks after orientation and their second arrived beforehand!
On 5/25/06, The Learning Channel show “Surviving Motherhood” showcased an Abrazo mom, Dr. Rosalie Dow, along with her husband, their two daughters and Texas-born baby boy. Dr. Dow’s primary purpose in participating, she explained, was specifically to help raise awareness about domestic adoption.
On 4/9/06 MSNBC again aired an hour-long feature contrasting a California attorney-facilitated adoption plan that ended in fraud and a secure and compassionate open adoption handled through Abrazo. The story, which featured Abrazo birthmom Denise Weaver and the Slattery family of North Carolina, underscores the importance of ethical adoption providers, as well as the preliminary education and preparation of all adoption participants.
The Monitor (McAllen, TX) celebrated National Adoption Month by running a November 2005 feature on Abrazomom Dr. Mary Curtiss, a single parent, and her very talented daughter. Dr. Curtis, a college professor, completed a transracial and open adoption which has enabled her child to maintain a positive relationship with her birthfamily while benefitting from all the advantages a loving adoptive home has to offer.
Telemundo broadcast a 5/12/05 television interview about adoption, starring Abrazo’s Santos family of San Antonio, featuring their beautiful baby girl, and educating Spanish-speaking viewers on the advantages of open adoption within the Latino community.San Antonio’s Fox News affiliate featured Abrazo’s director in an on-camera interview, discussing the 1/3/05 airing of the controversial TV program “Who’s Your Daddy?” During this interview, Abrazo redirected television viewers who may be adopted persons in need of reliable search information to the American Adoption Congress.On 12/24/04, the San Antonio Express-News printed Abrazo’s director’s defense of beleagured local Child Protective Services caseworkers, in an opinion entitled “Blame the Legislature.”
The Mountain Times (Ashe Edition) of North Carolina featured the Rector family, who have adopted twice through Abrazo, in a 11/18/04 newspaper article entitled “Local Couple Shares Happy Adoption Story.” (read story)
An Amarillo Globe-News feature article on 10/10/04 “A Typical Family: Understanding Adoption Risks Is Key” cited adoptive family Shannon & Tera Ridgway’s successful placement experience with Abrazo as a safeguard against private adoption failures.The San Antonio Express-News 9/17/04 edition published Abrazo’s executive director’s perspectives on the Baby Moses law and its shortcomings, in a piece entitled “Adoption Is Alternative.”
On November 23, 2003, NBC news affiliate KCBD-Channel 11 in Lubbock, TX aired a feature story on Abrazo family Robert and Christina Barritt’s adoption of baby Samuel, entitled “Young Couple Finds Hopes In Power of Prayer.” (read story)
Abrazo, the Burns family and loving birthmom Amanda were featured onDiscovery Health channel’s program “Adoption Stories,” which aired nationwide on June 23, 2003.
The November 2002 issue of the Christian Banner featured an article entitled “Above All that We Ask or Think: Mid-South Family Shares Joy of Their Adoption Journey” which recounted Abrazomom Susan Word’s open adoption experience and its impact on her faith and her family.
On July 28, 2002, the Hallmark Channel‘s Adoption series aired an hour-long television program featuring Abrazo’s placement of newborn triplets born to a loving birthmom who was, herself, an adult adopted at birth. (View “Angel’s Gift” here.)
Abrazo’s triplet adoption was also a feature article in Women’s World magazine, in the July 23, 2002 issue, and the subject of a San Antonio Express-News column earlier in the year.
The March 5, 2001 issue of People magazine quoted Abrazo’s executive director on page 66 of their cover story on celebrities adopting children. Read the PEOPLE celebrity adoption story here.San Antonio’s Fox News affiliate KABB-TV aired commentary by Abrazo’s executive director about California’s infamous Internet twins scandal in January 2001.
The BBC (British Broadcasting Company) produced a documentary in July 2000 about domestic adoption in America, featuring Abrazo as a model example of agency adoption. The title, “Baby Business,” reveals the unique position that open adoption holds in America; the concept is largely unfamiliar to much of the world outside our country. The program has also aired several times on MSNBC, bringing a vision of the Abrazo adoption experience to viewers on American shores, and on the Australian Broadcasting Company, which hosted a lively discussion about open adoption on their ABC Online site.On May 21, 2000, the San Antonio Express-News published a “First Person” guest column entitled “Open Adoption Provides Peace,” written by Abrazo staffer April Beaty. The article offers a moving account of how it feels to be the birthmother of twins in an open adoption plan.
Abrazomom Diane Hogan shared the real-life tale of her family’s open adoption experience in a wonderful Jan/Feb 2000 article in Adoptive Families magazine, titled “Open Minds, Open Hearts.”
“Let There Be Light” is the title of novelist Jacquelyn Mitchard’s May 1996 Parenting magazine feature. She describes her first adoption through Abrazo, as a then-single parent of three boys, seeking a daughter.Ready To Talk? Call anytime, day or night: 800-454-5683
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