Rebecca Nayak will discuss “Understanding Adoption in Modern Families Through the Legal Lens” at the Jones Foundation Infertility Counseling Conference on April 3, 2025. Becca and co-presenter Margaret Swain (RN, JD) will examine the different types of adoption, with a focus on same-sex confirmatory adoptions and their increasing importance in today’s legal and political landscape. The breakout session will provide mental health providers with a primer on legal complexities in adoption journeys for individuals and adults considering family building through adoption. Becca will explain the legal process, including timelines, costs, differences across states, special issues in cases involving gamete or embryo donation and the reasons for pursuing confirmatory adoption. Along with the practical side of the adoption process, panelists will talk about the complex emotions surrounding adoption, including fear, resentment and empowerment, and the impact on the children.
