Edgar “Eddie” Castlow
Houston, TX
Updated Reflections on Arms Wide Adoption Services Our family adopted through Arms Wide Adoption Services three years ago. Later, when we stepped into a kinship placement, we tried to work with Arms Wide again because we truly hoped to keep everything with one agency. Unfortunately, the experience was extremely challenging. Communication issues, staffing turnover, and gaps in the post-adoption support we relied on made the process far more stressful than it needed to be. In the end, the kinship placement did work out—and we are grateful for that—but we had to finalize everything through a different agency. That was not something we wanted to do. We had hoped to maintain continuity with Arms Wide, but the difficulties we encountered made it too hard to navigate such an important and emotional process with them at that time. Connected to other adoptive families through our support groups, we also heard stories that echoed our concerns. For a long time, it felt like the issues we faced reflected broader problems within the organization—a painful realization when you genuinely want to believe in the mission. However, today I had an honest, heartfelt conversation with the Board President of Arms Wide, and that conversation changed my outlook in a meaningful way. I shared everything: the struggles during our original adoption, the challenges during kinship, the communication barriers, and the stories circulating through the support networks. She listened—fully, without defensiveness. She acknowledged the concerns and made it clear that these problems were not a reflection of the board, the mission, or the heart of the organization. Instead, they were personnel and structural issues she is actively and urgently working to correct. Her sincerity, accountability, and determination renewed my faith in Arms Wide. I walked away believing that she truly cares about adoptive and kinship families—and that she intends to put the right people in the right roles to ensure that families receive the support they deserve. Because of her leadership and the direction she is taking the organization, I can honestly say: if I were looking for an agency today, I would recommend Arms Wide. Not because our past experiences were smooth, but because I trust the Board President’s commitment to fixing what went wrong and rebuilding the quality of services families depend on. Our adoption and kinship journeys were tough in ways they shouldn’t have been. But today’s conversation reminded me that organizations can grow, course-correct, and return to their purpose. My confidence in Arms Wide has been renewed, and I am hopeful for the positive changes that I truly believe are on the horizon.
