Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Bliss.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After graduating from USC in 2000 and finishing my Masters in Social Work from UCLA in 2002, I started my professional career working with foster children at the Department of Children and Family Services. The position allowed me to work with children in foster homes as well as provide wraparound support services for families at-risk of being separated. While I was only there about three years, I loved that position and still often think about the children I worked with.
At that time, I decided I was ready to go back to school to earn my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Shortly before leaving my position at the county, was accepted into an executive PsyD program, which allowed me to work as I continued my education. In 2004, I accepted an offer at a non-profit adoption agency. The organization was one of the country’s largest and had a reputation for advocating for LGBT rights and for educating on the benefits of fully open adoption for children before the practice was as accepted as it is today.
As a licensed counselor at the agency, I continued to hone my clinical and case-management skills, and a few years later, I was promoted to Director of their Los Angeles office. Coming into my own as a supervisor allowed me to grow in new and challenging ways, and I began taking on a leadership role in the training of counselors in other offices as well. Shortly thereafter, I was tasked with creating the national protocols for clinical and procedural services for birthparents. In a new, national position, I was regularly flying to the other eight offices around the country to provide training for all of the agency’s counselors. Unfortunately, in January of 2017, the board of directors, were forced to close the agency’s doors and declare bankruptcy. With little notice and an overwhelming amount of grief, all of the staff as well as the families we were working with, were forced to find a new path.
As a licensed clinician with a passion for adoption, I decided to launch my own private practice to provide support services, case-management, education, and community opportunities for all members of the adoption triad. Currently, I have a caseload of birthparents, adoptive parents, and adoptees. I am also seeing couples and individuals going through the infertility process, and provide support to surrogates and intended parents.
In addition, I work as a private contractor to assist in case-management, consultation and supervision for adoption attorneys and their staff; facilitate ongoing contact agreements between adoptive parents and birthparents, and provide education and consultation services.
While this past year has brought unexpected obstacles, it has also presented an opportunity to find my way back to helping foster children in our community through the non-profit, SECOND NURTURE. This foster care to adoption permanency initiative works to establish support structures within communities to create opportunities for families interested in adopting older foster children, but previously unable to carve out a path to do so. The Los Angeles Project has launched with Wilshire Boulevard Temple, and as a part of the development committee, I have had the opportunity to assist in the creation and of program guidelines and participant requirements, solidify program’s partnership with Extraordinary Families as the Los Angeles based Foster Family Agency, and continue to provide consultation services throughout the formation and implementation of program.
My mission to improve the lives of children continues through Bliss Adoption Services and through my work with Second Nurture. Moreover, through telehealth technology, I have been able to help people throughout the country through my private practice. I am grateful for the strong foundation my path has given me, and I look forward to where this new journey will lead.
Please tell us about Bliss Adoption Services.
Dr. Jennifer Bliss, LCSW, PsyD has spent 15 years dedicating her career to adoption education and advocacy.
She specializes in providing clinical support throughout the adoption process. Individual programs include Adoption Education and Consultation, Match Case Management, ASP Services, and Pre/Post Adoption Relationship Support. Dr. Bliss has recently expanded her practice to provide direct therapy to individuals and couples going through the infertility process, and is now working directly with surrogates and intended parents to help them navigate their journey. Through telehealth technology, many of Dr. Bliss’ clients are able to meet with her via video-conference, allowing for services to be provided regardless of transportation issues.
Pricing:
- Individual Session $150
- Consulting Services $150 – $500
- Relationship Mediation Services $650-$950
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BlissAdoption.com
- Phone: 310-817-0866
- Email: [email protected]
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
