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 of
22/06/2026
Connecting Your Family, Inside And Out
World renowned attachment expert Dr. Dan Hughes shares family centered strategies on how to connect to your child as a toddler, tween and teen. Dr. Hughes is joined by Lynn Wetterberg, who discusses finding attachment related resources and adoption competent professional support.
Get parenting tools you can use today: https://bit.ly/4vufO0b
21/06/2026
Happy Father’s Day to the extraordinary dads in our Cradle community. We honor and celebrate you today!
For those who are experiencing grief or carrying loss, please know you are not alone, especially on a day like today. If you would like a listening ear, guidance or resources, we are here for you. Please call (800-272-3534) to speak to a Cradle counselor.
Today is Birth Father’s Day. We want to take this time to honor birth fathers with care and compassion, while recognizing that this day can hold many different emotions.
We invite you to watch Tyler's story. After agreeing they weren’t emotionally ready to care for a child, birth parents Tyler and Madison decided adoption was the right choice for their son Myles. Through The Cradle, they were able to complete an open adoption with an adoptive family. Tyler and Madison now visit Myles several times a year and cherish the strong bond they have with him and his adoptive parents.
At The Cradle, we are mindful of the deep complexity this day can carry. If you need a listening ear or support, The Cradle’s counselors are here to talk. They can also help connect you with resources, including counseling, food assistance, emergency housing information, parenting support, and other services based on your needs. Please call 800-272-3534 to speak with a Cradle counselor.
19/06/2026
In observance of Juneteenth, The Cradle’s offices are closed on Friday, June 19. Our 24-hour HELPLINE, 800-CRADLE4 (800-272-3534), remains available every day of the week.
17/06/2026
Read The Cradle's 2025 Annual Report! Learn how we have expanded our vision for whom, how and where we serve, and how our supporters have stood with us as we meet this moment together and continue building The Cradle’s future.
Read the Annual Report: https://bit.ly/3PMhy5K
16/06/2026
"We finally married in 2021 and have since started creating our own home together with our plants and animals. We love spending time in the garden, playing fetch with one of our cats and teaching the dog how to shake."
Read more about Sam and Justin: https://bit.ly/4umRmN5
15/06/2026
You are invited to The Cradle Family Picnic from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, July 11! We will be at The Cradle office, 2049 Ridge Ave., Evanston, for a day of fun. Join us and enjoy fun for the whole family including:
- Bubbles
- Face painting
- Balloon creations
- Nursery tours
- Games
- Refreshments
RSVP: https://bit.ly/4cGwrg3
14/06/2026
Last chance to RSVP! Join The Cradle at the Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate. There are two great ways you can join us to support this meaningful community event. You can join the race as a runner or as part of The Cradle's cheering team!
Register as a runner: https://bit.ly/4uHIti1
Cheer with The Cradle: https://bit.ly/48Qtj1h
13/06/2026
Nurses and social workers: Join Cradle Counselor Carmen Knight at 12 p.m., on Friday, July 24, for an interactive webinar on ethical considerations in infant adoption. This session will focus on the treatment of those considering an adoption plan and ethical considerations for hospital and social service professionals.
There will be an overview of best practices in adoption and small group break out rooms to apply those practices to real life scenarios you might see in your line of work. Learn how you can best serve and protect this special group of clients you work with so they can do what is best for themselves and their families.
Register: https://bit.ly/3QJxxhV
12/06/2026
"Family is one of our core values. We’ve known since our first date that if we built a family, it would be through adoption. Adoption has always been Becka’s plan and Jon is the ultimate includer and loves the idea of welcoming a little one into our family."
Read more about Becka and Jon: https://bit.ly/4fP6Rrx