The Cradle

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The Cradle The Cradle is an adoption agency and nonprofit provider of adoption services, counseling, and educational support. Call 800-CRADLE4 (800-272-3534).

The Cradle is a nonprofit, licensed child welfare agency providing adoption services, counseling and educational support. Since opening in 1923, The Cradle has facilitated over 16,000 domestic and international adoptions and has been at the forefront of open adoption, African American infant adoption and LGBTQ+ placements. Our team of social workers, counselors, and education and outreach staff offer ethical, inclusive and lifelong support to tens of thousands of people touched by adoption, including birth parents, adopted persons, and adoptive parents. Services include options counseling for women facing unplanned pregnancies, placement services, pre- and post-adoption education, an adoption-competent clinical therapy program, post-adoption services to provide information about and/or connect individuals with birth relatives, as well as training for prospective adoptive parents and professionals through Adoption Learning Partners (ALP). The Cradle is the only adoption agency in the country with an on-site nursery, a safe, neutral place for infants to stay while their parents take the time they need to decide if adoption will be the plan for this child. Learn more at Cradle.org or call 847-475-5800. Want to speak with a Cradle counselor about an unplanned pregnancy or to discuss possible adoption for your baby?

Kick off the holiday season with one of the easiest and most impactful gifts you can give. Your donation goes directly t...
21/10/2026

Kick off the holiday season with one of the easiest and most impactful gifts you can give. Your donation goes directly to Cradle birth parents, giving them the freedom and joy of picking out gifts for their children over the holidays. As one parent shared last year:

“I want to thank you for everything again this year. You have made my family very happy and feel warm. Every year you still surprise me on how truly a wonderful family The Cradle is.”

Learn more and give today: https://bit.ly/4erKZ4a

Breastfeeding, Bottles and Beyond: Infant Feeding Options for Adoptive ParentsLactation consultant Alyssa Schnell helps ...
20/10/2026

Breastfeeding, Bottles and Beyond: Infant Feeding Options for Adoptive Parents

Lactation consultant Alyssa Schnell helps parents and prospective parents navigate the world of infant feeding. Parents are not limited to formula and bottles. And if neither formula nor breastfeeding quite fit, Alyssa walks you through other options in our featured course for October: https://bit.ly/4xWUcKM

Health care professionals: Join Cradle counselor Carmen Knight for a FREE webinar helping you navigate the complexities ...
19/10/2026

Health care professionals: Join Cradle counselor Carmen Knight for a FREE webinar helping you navigate the complexities of adoption. This training will walk hospital staff through real-life situations that involve the father, prospective adoptive parents and when a child has medical complexities. This training is the second in a two-part series; however, attendance at the first session is not required to participate. CEUs are available!

Save your seat: https://bit.ly/4s96kqE?

Your baby’s nutritional needs change quickly in their first 18 months of life. But with so much information out there, k...
18/10/2026

Your baby’s nutritional needs change quickly in their first 18 months of life. But with so much information out there, knowing how to best support their growth and development can feel overwhelming.

From understanding changing nutritional needs to navigating the introduction of new foods, StageWise Parenting’s Baby Nutrition (0–18 Months) course helps make sense of it all. Developed with nutrition experts, this course turns complex nutritional information into practical guidance that parents can feel confident putting into action.

Learn more and explore the course today: https://bit.ly/4ytvJxN

The Cradle offers post adoption guidance and support, whether the adoption was facilitated by The Cradle or not. We can ...
17/10/2026

The Cradle offers post adoption guidance and support, whether the adoption was facilitated by The Cradle or not. We can help you learn about available services, manage expectations, explore possible outcomes, navigate the process and experience of learning new information or making a connection, and provide support in relationship development.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Qpp4kW

"We got married in April of 2024 and bought a home on the South Side in September 2024. All along the way, we discussed ...
16/10/2026

"We got married in April of 2024 and bought a home on the South Side in September 2024. All along the way, we discussed the future of our family — and continued to come to the conclusion that adoption was something we would like to do together! We are so thankful to have this chance to share our story with you."

Learn more about Derek and Alexander: https://bit.ly/3RajJAk

We're hiring a Bilingual Family Support Specialist (Spanish/English) to provide home-based support to families in Northe...
15/10/2026

We're hiring a Bilingual Family Support Specialist (Spanish/English) to provide home-based support to families in Northeast Lake County! The role provides ongoing, long-term support to families for up to three years and requires experience working with children and families, strong relationship-building, communication skills and cultural humility.

Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/4ze2kHU

Subscribe to The Cradle Blog Newsletter to stay up to date on our latest resources! In our last issue, we released Prepa...
15/10/2026

Subscribe to The Cradle Blog Newsletter to stay up to date on our latest resources! In our last issue, we released Preparing for an Out-of-State Adoption. Be the first to see this month's blog by subscribing today: https://bit.ly/43OKmNk

Stay up to date on all things Cradle by subscribing to The Cradle's eNews mailing list! You will receive monthly updates...
14/10/2026

Stay up to date on all things Cradle by subscribing to The Cradle's eNews mailing list! You will receive monthly updates on what's happening and how you can get involved.

Get the next issue: https://bit.ly/403H60L

For adoptive parents, sending letters and photos to your child’s birth parents or agency is crucially important, even if...
13/10/2026

For adoptive parents, sending letters and photos to your child’s birth parents or agency is crucially important, even if there is currently no contact. Read The Cradle’s guide for this ongoing method of communication: https://bit.ly/3TGDDAU

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+18474755800

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