Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Richards.
Hi Debbie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My parents and the schools I attended are the foundation of how I view life today. My parents were immigrants from Trinidad and they taught me to respect and cherish relationships, have faith in God and see the good in everyone. My high school, Brooklyn Technical HS, provided a competitive spirit and the school in which I received my Doctorate, USC, taught me to never give up. USC motto is “fight on”!! I believe everyone was created to fulfill a role in humanity and I learned early on my role was to create families via Adoption.
There is no greater feeling than knowing that both a child and family’s life is about to change for the better! There are three scenarios that brings pure joy: 1) when a young lady who is faced with an unplanned pregnancy selects a family for her child. At that moment, both the expectant mother and the Adoptive family see a brighter future. 2) when I attend a RAS meeting at CPS and the Adoptive family I represent is selected by the committee as the number 1 family for the waiting child.
The 3rd joyous scenario is at finalization. Before the Pandemic the grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and godparents were all allowed to attend and take pictures with the judge afterwards. Finalizing an Adoption is a complete joyful occasion.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Adoption is not always smooth sailing. Sometimes birth mothers change their minds or with older children sometimes the pre-placement does not go as planned and the placement is halted. In those situations, I always remind the Adoptive families who are waiting that “adoption is not “if” it is going to happen but “when” it is going to happen. We cannot predict the “when” time -.some families get matched right away and others it may take a few years.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Rainbow of Love is Social Service Organization and Adoption Agency that was founded in Texas in 2003. ROL operates several programs: including charity, disaster, parenting classes and Adoption services. As part of our charity, ROL distributes essential new items, that are donated to us, year round to the surrounding communities. We are especially proud of our Adoption program as we attract the best of the best prospective adoptive families. ROL is “highly selective” with Adoptive parents that apply to the program. The goal is to allow the Birth parents or (in the case of older children) CPS to know that the child will have a “Great Life”! The agency’s motto is “Great Parents, Great Life”!
Any big plans?
The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused some structural changes, however, I believe change is inevitable and just a natural part of life. ROL operate mostly out of our Houston office using our Fort Bend office only for scheduled meetings and packages. To allow for social distancing, most of our Orientations and parenting classes are private and/or online. We also e-mail most forms and allow for docu-sign of important documents.
The Pandemic also seem to cause one Adoption program to increase and the other to decrease. The children waiting for adoption from the foster care system has increased while we are receiving fewer calls from expectant mothers or mothers with young children desiring to place their child into adoption via our Domestic Adoption Program.
Pricing:
- $50 – Parenting Classes
- $450 – application fee for Adoption
- $1,950 – Adoption Homestudy fee
Contact Info:
- Email: Olivia@rainbowoflove.org
- Website: www.Rainbowoflove.org
