This episode of the AllPaths podcast features a conversation with Alexis Eyler, the Executive Director of On Your Feet Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting birth parents post-placement. On Your Feet Foundation, founded in 2001, addresses the historical lack of post-placement services for birth parents, recognizing that open adoption, considered best practice since the 90s, highlighted a significant unmet need. The organization started with small “gap grants” and peer-led retreats, but now provides a comprehensive suite of services, including support groups, drop-in calls, a mentorship program, holiday assistance for children parented and placed, and enhanced mental health support for birth parents, including a soon-to-be-launched Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) Assessment Tool specifically for birth parents and group practice to provide direct, sustainable counseling and therapeutic services with adoption-competent therapists.
The foundational belief of On Your Feet Foundation’s work is that by empowering and supporting birth parents, there is a positive “ripple effect” that ultimately improves outcomes for the entire adoption constellation. And while the organization’s primary focus is providing crucial post-placement support for birth parents, Alexis shares about the specific resources they’ve developed for adoptive parents and those hoping to adopt. A key initiative is their “Activism in Adoption” program, which offers adoptee and birth parent-centered adoption education. This program provides an invaluable space for prospective adoptive parents and adoptive families to learn from the lived experiences of those most impacted by adoption, going beyond traditional education to foster a deeper understanding of race, relationships, and resilience within the adoption constellation.
For prospective adoptive parents, here is the direct link to the blog post Alexis talks about in her episode: Ethics in Adoption: 10 Questions about Birthparents that Prospective Adoptive Parents Should Ask When Vetting Agencies. We also invite you to attend AllPaths’ free, virtual Adoption Group to connect with other potential adoptive parents and families.
Alexis Eyler is an accomplished nonprofit Executive Director with a decade of experience developing innovative programs for birthparents at On Your Feet Foundation. Under her leadership, On Your Feet has expanded services from 2 states to 46 states and Canada, serving nearly 800 clients, and launched Activism in Adoption, an adoption education platform centering the lived experiences of birthparents and adopted persons. With a diverse background spanning finance, entrepreneurship, and extensive board leadership, Alexis brings a unique blend of business acumen and social impact expertise. A dedicated violinist and member of the Evanston Symphony Orchestra, community volunteer, and advocate for women in science as a member of the Women’s Board of The Field Museum’s Executive Committee, she is currently pursuing her MSW in Leadership & Social Change at the University of Illinois.
Interested in sharing your story? Get in touch here!
