Frequently Asked Questions

Hiraeth Hope & Healing, Inc. is a nonprofit organization creating community, connection, educational resources, peer support, and shared experiences for adults with lived experience in adoption, donor conception, late discovery adoption, unexpected DNA discoveries, misattributed parentage, family separation, origin loss, and hidden truths.

Our work includes retreats, Wellness Weekends, peer support spaces, workshops, Community Conversations, educational resources, community gatherings, and other opportunities to connect, learn, reflect, and participate.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing serves adults with lived experience in adoption, donor conception, late discovery adoption (LDA), unexpected DNA discoveries (NPE), misattributed parentage, family separation, origin loss, and related experiences of identity and belonging.

Our community includes people with many different experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and relationships to these discoveries and circumstances. There is no expectation that everyone experiences them in the same way.

Hiraeth is a Welsh word often used to describe a deep sense of longing for a home, place, or connection that may no longer exist, or may never have existed in the way it was imagined.

The word can hold elements of longing, grief, memory, and connection, and may resonate with experiences related to origin, identity, family, and belonging.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing offers many ways to connect, learn, participate, and find community.

Offerings include peer support spaces, retreats, Wellness Weekends, workshops, Community Conversations, HH&H Hangouts, Book Club, Helix Hearthkeepers, Search Angels & DNA Kit Support, educational resources through the Learning Center, Community Voices, and other gatherings and programs throughout the year.

You do not need to participate in every offering. Explore what feels most relevant to you and engage at your own pace.

No.

There are many ways to be part of the Hiraeth Hope & Healing community without attending a retreat or other in-person gathering.

You may connect through peer support spaces, Community Conversations, Book Club, HH&H Hangouts, the Learning Center, Community Voices, Helix Hearthkeepers, virtual workshops and gatherings, and other community offerings.

Some people participate virtually before attending an in-person gathering. Others may never attend one at all. Both belong here.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing offers a range of in-person and virtual opportunities for connection, learning, reflection, and shared experience.

Offerings include multi-day retreats, Wellness Weekends, peer support gatherings, Community Conversations, workshops, Book Club, HH&H Hangouts, documentary viewings, and other community gatherings offered throughout the year.

Programs and events vary in format, location, frequency, and cost. Current opportunities can be found on our Community Calendar and Upcoming Events & Gatherings pages.

Each Hiraeth Hope & Healing event has its own structure and purpose.

Retreats are multi-day, shared-home experiences that combine facilitated sessions with shared meals, community time, rest, optional activities, and unstructured time.

Wellness Weekends are three-day, two-night experiences with hotel accommodations that balance facilitated sessions with opportunities for connection, reflection, local experiences, rest, and unstructured time.

Virtual and community-based offerings, including peer support gatherings, Community Conversations, workshops, Book Club, and HH&H Hangouts, are structured according to the purpose of each gathering.

Participation is always optional. There is no pressure to participate or perform, and individuals are encouraged to listen to their own needs and engage in ways that feel supportive and self-directed.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing offers a variety of free ways to learn, connect, and participate.

These include peer support gatherings, Community Conversations, the Learning Center, Community Voices, Ask Our Community, Helix Hearthkeepers, Search Angel guidance, and other community resources and virtual opportunities.

Some offerings require advance registration even when there is no cost to participate. Availability and scheduling may vary throughout the year.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing offers recurring virtual peer support spaces for adults with relevant lived experience, along with Helix Hearthkeepers for those who would appreciate an optional peer-based point of connection within the community.

Peer support at HH&H is community-based and non-clinical. Participants may share, listen, ask questions, or simply spend time in a space with others who understand aspects of these experiences.

There is no requirement to speak or share personal information in order to participate.

Community Conversations are free, therapist-led monthly educational discussions exploring topics related to identity, origin loss, family relationships, trauma, grief, boundaries, self-understanding, adoption, donor conception, unexpected DNA discoveries, family separation, and other experiences relevant to our community.

Community Conversations are educational and discussion-based. They are not therapy, treatment, or crisis intervention.

Advance registration is required, and participants are welcome to listen without sharing.

Yes. The Hiraeth Hope & Healing Learning Center offers trauma-aware articles, visual guides, and educational resources related to adoption, donor conception, unexpected DNA discoveries, search and reunion, identity, grief, relationships, belonging, and other lived experiences.

Additional opportunities for learning include Community Conversations, Recommended Reading, workshops, Community Voices, Book Club, and other educational offerings throughout the year.

There are many ways to connect with the HH&H community without attending a retreat or Wellness Weekend.

Opportunities include peer support gatherings, HH&H Hangouts, Book Club, Community Conversations, Helix Hearthkeepers, workshops, documentary viewings, and other virtual and community-based gatherings.

Some are structured or facilitated, while others, such as HH&H Hangouts, are informal opportunities created and hosted by community members.

Workshops and facilitated sessions vary by event and may explore identity, origin, family relationships, grief, belonging, unexpected discoveries, genetic genealogy, creativity, reflection, boundaries, relationships, and other topics relevant to lived experience.

Formats may include facilitated conversation, educational presentations, reflective exercises, creative activities, writing, or other opportunities for exploration and connection.

Specific topics, facilitators, and formats are provided on individual event or offering pages when available.

Both.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing is community-based and many of our spaces and sessions are peer-led or facilitated by people with lived experience. Other offerings are led by licensed therapists, educators, subject-matter professionals, or other facilitators with relevant experience.

Community Conversations are therapist-led, while peer support spaces are peer-based and non-clinical. Retreats, Wellness Weekends, workshops, and other gatherings may include a combination of lived-experience and professional facilitators.

Individual event pages identify facilitators and provide information about their backgrounds when applicable.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing primarily creates spaces for adults with lived experience in adoption, donor conception, late discovery adoption, unexpected DNA discoveries, misattributed parentage, family separation, origin loss, and related experiences.

Participation guidelines may vary depending on the event or program. Some educational resources and opportunities are also available to family members, supporters, professionals, and others seeking to better understand these experiences.

Individual event and program pages provide specific eligibility or participation information when applicable.

Yes. Hiraeth Hope & Healing offers scholarship and financial assistance opportunities to help make eligible gatherings more accessible.

We also offer a 10% registration discount for active-duty and retired military personnel. Verification is required, and the discount cannot be combined with other offers.

Additional opportunities to reduce future event costs may be available through Hiraeth Hearts and other HH&H programs. Current eligibility requirements, benefits, and application information are available on the relevant program pages.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing gatherings bring together adults with lived experience in adoption, donor conception, late discovery adoption, unexpected DNA discoveries, misattributed parentage, family separation, origin loss, and related experiences.

Participants come from a wide range of ages, backgrounds, identities, and life experiences. Some arrive knowing other community members, while many attend for the first time knowing few or no one.

Individual events may have specific participation guidelines, which are provided on the event page.

No. Hiraeth Hope & Healing retreats and Wellness Weekends welcome adults of all genders.

Our gatherings bring together people with different backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and lived experiences. Everyone is encouraged to participate in ways that respect their own comfort, boundaries, and pace.

Many people attend their first Hiraeth Hope & Healing gathering alone and without knowing anyone else.

There is no expectation that you arrive already connected to the community or immediately feel comfortable in a new group. Time for conversation, shared experiences, and informal connection is built naturally into retreats and Wellness Weekends.

For those who would appreciate a familiar point of contact before arriving, optional connection through a Helix Hearthkeeper may also be available.

No. There is no pressure to participate or perform.

Participants are encouraged to listen to their own needs and engage in ways that feel supportive and self-directed. You may participate in facilitated sessions, listen without sharing, take a break, step away, or spend time on your own when needed.

Specific expectations for an individual gathering, if any, are shared before registration.

Retreats and Wellness Weekends intentionally balance facilitated sessions with opportunities for connection, rest, shared experiences, optional activities, and unstructured time.

There are breaks throughout the experience, and participants may use unstructured time for conversation, personal reflection, rest, local activities when appropriate, or simply spending time on their own.

A detailed schedule is provided to registered participants before the gathering so everyone can prepare while preserving the unique experience of each event.

Retreats and Wellness Weekends are designed as complete experiences, and registration generally covers the full gathering.

For those who cannot attend the entire event, designated Saturday experiences may sometimes be offered separately.

At Retreats, this optional standalone experience is called Saturday Shenanigans.

At Wellness Weekends, it is called the Hedgehog Hop.

Availability, timing, cost, and activities vary by gathering and are provided on the individual event page.

Lodging differs between Retreats and Wellness Weekends.

Retreats are shared-home experiences. Depending on the individual retreat, registration may include on-site lodging options as well as opportunities for participants to arrange their own accommodations nearby.

Wellness Weekends use hotel accommodations, with lodging information and booking details provided for each gathering.

Specific lodging options, availability, and registration requirements are provided on the individual event page.

Meal arrangements vary between Retreats and Wellness Weekends and by individual gathering.

Retreats generally include shared meals as part of the experience. Wellness Weekends may include some meals or food offerings, while other meals may be enjoyed individually or together at local restaurants.

Participants are asked to provide information about dietary needs during registration. We make reasonable efforts to offer appropriate options when meals are provided, but participants with significant allergies, medical dietary requirements, or other concerns are encouraged to contact us before registering so they can make an informed decision.

Specific meal information is provided on individual event pages and to registered participants before the gathering.

Registered participants receive event-specific information before arrival, including anything they may need for planned sessions or activities.

In general, you may want to bring a reusable water bottle, personal snacks or preferred beverages, a notebook or journal, and anything that helps you feel comfortable during shared or personal time.

Some gatherings may include activities that require particular items or optional spending. When applicable, those details are communicated in advance.

Comfortable, casual clothing is encouraged.

Retreats and Wellness Weekends include a mix of facilitated sessions, informal community time, meals, optional activities, and downtime, so clothing that allows you to feel comfortable throughout the day is usually best.

Depending on the season, location, and planned activities, layers, comfortable shoes, swimwear, or other items may be helpful. Event-specific recommendations are shared with registered participants before arrival.

There is no expectation to dress formally.

Sometimes.

Certain gatherings may include optional offerings such as massage, body-based practices, creative experiences, or other enhancements provided by facilitators or outside practitioners.

These offerings are not guaranteed and vary by event. Participation is always optional, and additional costs may apply.

When available, details are provided on the event page or shared with registered participants before the gathering.

It is completely okay to take a break, step away, rest, or choose not to participate in an activity or conversation.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing gatherings are designed with flexibility and personal choice in mind. Participants are encouraged to listen to their own needs and engage at their own pace.

If you have concerns before an event, you are welcome to contact us. During a gathering, you may also reach out to an HH&H team member if you need information, assistance, or help navigating the space.

Yes. Participants who would appreciate a familiar point of connection before attending may request connection with a Helix Hearthkeeper.

Helix Hearthkeepers are returning community members who offer light, peer-based connection. They are not therapists or facilitators, and participation is entirely optional.

You may request a connection during registration when that option is available or contact us at any time. Connections are based on availability and are not guaranteed.

Accessibility varies by venue and gathering.

We encourage participants to review the accessibility information provided for each event and contact us before registering with questions about mobility, sleeping arrangements, transportation, dietary needs, sensory considerations, or other accommodations that may affect participation.

We will provide the information available to us and make reasonable efforts to support accessibility when possible so you can determine whether a particular gathering meets your needs.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing welcomes trained service animals as required by applicable law.

Because our gatherings take place in a variety of settings, including shared retreat homes, hotels, and other venues, participants who plan to attend with a service animal must contact us before registering so we can review the specific venue, accommodations, shared spaces, and activities.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is generally a dog individually trained to perform work or tasks for a person with a disability. This may include psychiatric service dogs that are individually trained to perform disability-related tasks.

Emotional support, therapy, comfort, and companion animals are not considered service animals under the ADA. Hiraeth Hope & Healing does not permit emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals at our gatherings, except where otherwise required by applicable law.

Please contact us before registering or making travel arrangements if you plan to attend with a service animal.

Sleeping arrangements vary by gathering.

Retreats take place in shared homes with a variety of sleeping arrangements that may include private bedrooms, shared bedrooms, and rooms with different bed configurations. Available options and occupancy are provided for each retreat during registration.

Wellness Weekends use hotel accommodations. Hotel and booking information, including any available HH&H room block, is provided for each gathering.

Please review the lodging information for the specific event before registering, as accommodations vary by location.

Possibly.

At Retreats, some bedrooms are shared while others may be available for individual occupancy. Room options depend on the property, registration type, availability, and the specific gathering.

If sharing a bedroom is not something you are comfortable with, please review the available lodging options carefully before registering. We cannot guarantee private-room availability.

At Wellness Weekends, participants arrange their hotel accommodations according to the options available for that gathering.

Bathroom arrangements vary by venue.

At Retreats, some bedrooms may have a private or en suite bathroom, while other bathrooms may be shared among participants. The number, location, and configuration of bathrooms depend on the retreat property.

Wellness Weekend hotel rooms generally include a private bathroom associated with the individual hotel room.

Specific lodging and bathroom information is provided for each gathering when available. If bathroom access is an important consideration for you, please contact us before registering.

Many retreat participants share a room with someone they have not met before.

Shared rooms are part of the communal retreat experience, and participants are expected to respect one another's privacy, belongings, boundaries, sleep needs, and personal space.

If you have a roommate request, you may provide it during registration when that option is available. Requests are considered but cannot always be guaranteed.

If you have a concern about sharing a room, please contact us before registering so you can determine whether the available accommodations are a good fit for you.

Retreats are communal experiences. Participants share living areas, kitchens, dining spaces, outdoor areas, and, depending on the property, bathrooms and bedrooms.

Everyone is expected to treat shared spaces, the property, and one another with consideration. This includes respecting personal belongings and boundaries, helping maintain reasonable cleanliness, being mindful of noise, and recognizing that people may have different needs for conversation, activity, quiet, and rest.

Wellness Weekends offer more individual privacy through hotel accommodations while still providing shared spaces for facilitated sessions, meals, activities, and community time.

A DNA surprise is an unexpected discovery through DNA testing or genetic genealogy that changes or challenges what someone previously understood about their biological relationships, ancestry, or family history.

This may include discovering that a presumed biological parent is not genetically related, learning about previously unknown biological relatives, discovering donor conception or adoption, or uncovering other unexpected family information.

People respond to these discoveries in many different ways, and there is no single way someone is expected to feel or respond.

NPE is commonly used to mean Not Parent Expected and describes a discovery that a presumed biological parent is not genetically related in the way someone previously believed.

The term may be used by people who discover through DNA testing, records, family disclosure, or other circumstances that their biological parentage differs from what they were told or understood.

Not everyone with this experience uses the term NPE, and individuals may choose the language that best reflects their own experience.

You do not have to make immediate decisions after an unexpected DNA discovery.

Before contacting biological relatives, changing relationships, or making other significant decisions, you may want time to process what you have learned, understand your DNA results, consider what information you want, and think about your own boundaries and readiness.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing offers educational resources, peer connection, genetic genealogy guidance, and other community support for people navigating unexpected discoveries.

Unexpected DNA discoveries can affect much more than a family tree. They may raise questions about identity, relationships, belonging, trust, grief, ancestry, family history, or how someone understands their own story.

There is no required way to interpret or respond to what you discover. Some people want information immediately, while others need time before deciding what, if anything, they want to do next.

HH&H offers spaces and resources for both the practical questions surrounding DNA discovery and the experiences that may follow.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing offers several forms of support and connection for adults navigating unexpected DNA discoveries.

Options may include peer support gatherings, Helix Hearthkeepers, Community Conversations, educational resources through the Learning Center, HH&H Helpers for genetic genealogy guidance, and other virtual or in-person community offerings.

You may explore one resource or several. There is no expectation to search, contact biological relatives, share your discovery, or take any particular next step.

Yes.

Volunteer Hiraeth Hope & Healing Helpers offer informational guidance related to DNA results, genetic genealogy, biological family discovery, and search processes at no cost.

Helpers may assist with interpreting DNA match lists, evaluating possible genetic relationships, building or reviewing family trees, researching records, identifying possible biological family connections, and considering potential next steps.

Because this support is volunteer-based, availability and response times may vary, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Possibly.

Depending on available DNA matches, records, family trees, research, and other information, a Helper may be able to assist with identifying possible biological family connections.

Genetic genealogy does not always produce a definitive answer, and Hiraeth Hope & Healing Helpers cannot guarantee that a biological parent or other relative will be identified.

Helpers do not contact biological relatives on someone's behalf without consent.

Not necessarily.

The information needed depends on the question you are trying to answer and what records, family information, or DNA results are already available.

For some genetic genealogy searches, DNA testing may provide important information that cannot be obtained through records alone. A Helper may discuss possible next steps and whether DNA testing could be useful for your particular search.

Through the DNA Kit Access Program, free donated DNA testing kits may periodically be available to individuals who need assistance accessing DNA testing while exploring ancestry, biological connection, or family history.

The program is offered in partnership with Everything's Relative with Eve Sturges. Availability depends on donated resources, funding, and current program capacity, and receiving a kit is not guaranteed.

Individuals seeking assistance may submit a request through the DNA Kit Access Program for consideration.

There is no single right place to begin.

If you are new to Hiraeth Hope & Healing or unsure which resources may be most relevant to you, our Start Here page offers a simple introduction to the different ways you can learn, connect, participate, and explore.

You are welcome to begin with information, join a virtual gathering, explore peer support, attend an event, read lived-experience perspectives, or simply spend time learning about the community before deciding whether you want to participate.

Yes.

Sharing is always optional in Hiraeth Hope & Healing spaces. You are welcome to listen, observe, reflect, or participate in ways that feel comfortable for you.

There is no expectation that you disclose personal information or tell your story in order to belong or participate.

You can join the Hiraeth Hope & Healing newsletter for periodic updates about gatherings, programs, resources, and community news.

Our Community Calendar and Upcoming Events & Gatherings pages provide current information about retreats, Wellness Weekends, workshops, Community Conversations, peer support spaces, HH&H Hangouts, Book Club, and other opportunities throughout the year.

You can also follow Hiraeth Hope & Healing on social media for announcements, resources, community features, and updates.

Yes. Hiraeth Hope & Healing welcomes people interested in contributing their time, experience, skills, or knowledge to the community.

Volunteer opportunities may include helping with events, community programs, outreach, fundraising, Search Angel and genetic genealogy support, and other organizational needs.

We also welcome inquiries from individuals interested in facilitating sessions, workshops, or other educational and community offerings.

Opportunities vary throughout the year. Visit our Volunteer or Facilitate With Us pages to learn more and express interest.

Yes. Hiraeth Hope & Healing welcomes opportunities to collaborate with organizations, professionals, therapists, educators, advocates, researchers, creators, and others whose work may align with our mission and community.

Collaboration may include educational programming, Community Conversations, workshops, resource sharing, community initiatives, events, professional expertise, or other projects developed together.

Organizations or individuals interested in collaborating are welcome to contact us to begin a conversation.

There are many ways to support Hiraeth Hope & Healing.

You may make a one-time contribution, become a monthly Helping Hands donor, support the DNA Kit Giving Program, participate in fundraising efforts, volunteer, share HH&H resources and programs with others, or shop through Shop with Purpose.

You may also want to check with your employer to see whether they offer a matching gift program. Some employers match charitable contributions made by employees, which may increase the impact of your gift to Hiraeth Hope & Healing at no additional cost to you.

Every form of support helps sustain opportunities for connection, education, community, and shared experience.

Hiraeth Hope & Healing, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Charitable contributions may be tax-deductible as allowed by law. The tax treatment of a particular contribution may depend on the nature of the donation and whether goods or services were received in exchange.

Please retain your donation receipt for your records and consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual circumstances.