Heather Gonzales decided to go back to school after coming out of the fog and recognizing a need for post-adoption resources a well as the difficulties involved in finding adoption-competent therapists. After having a small woodworking business for almost ten years with her husband, Heather moved to Ohio to attend Capital University for a degree in Art Therapy. This was the first stepping stone toward her hope to work with adoptees, fostered (AFK) people, and their families. While there, she had a desire to be part of the adoptee community and felt inspired to create resources sooner, rather than wait until all her schooling was completed. This led her to look into starting a student-led organization at Capital for AFK students.. Being adopted with her twin had a significant impact on Heather and helped form a strong appreciation and dedication to teamwork and community. In 2016, Heather began to lay the groundwork and formal paperwork for a student organization while searching for a fellow adoptee student with equal passion and energy, before officially starting. This concept of teamwork and community is still a foundational element of everything that Encompass does today and plans for the future.

Rachel Dumke had spoken up about some of the struggles adoptees face at another campus event. Heather heard about Rachel from fellow students, but it would still take most of the semester for Heather to find and meet her. Once they met, Heather and Rachel found they had mutual interests along with individual strengths that complemented each other. Together, they co-founded CASAFA and were Co-Presidents in January of 2017. Soon after, the pair met Maggie Bier, another adoptee student, who joined them in the process of organizing events and building a strong foundation for what was to come.

Together, the three hosted 2 monthly adult Support & Discussion groups, one for adult adoptees and one for adoptive and fostering parents. CASAFA was also able to bring in professional adult adoptee therapists from around the country to speak monthly on adoption related issues, thanks to a generous program through Capital University. Columbus community members started to notice and come to hear various speakers they hosted or participated in the support groups. Slow and steady, CASAFA grew. By the time Rachel and Heather graduated, the group was comprised more of community members than students.

Because of this, Heather filed the paperwork to transition into an official 501c3 nonprofit organization in January of 2019 and chose the name Encompass Adoptees. Since the beginning, repeated requests for post-adoption services for youth had been mentioned by attendees. From Adoptive parents as well as adult adoptees who understood personally what a program like that would have meant to them growing up. In 2019, Heather purchased a “fixer-upper” in the Hilltop and began working on a space for just that purpose - as well as a space to continue hosting the previously started support groups. In September that year, and with a 100% volunteer staff of over 10 AFK adults, Encompass was able to launch its first Saturday Support and Mentoring Group for adopted, fostered, and kinship (AFK) Youth. And although COVID delayed plans, Encompass started a Creative Support & Discussion Group for adopted and fostered Teens in February 2021.

As a nonprofit, Encompass Adoptees hoped to continue to grow, slow and steady, with a focus on long-term sustainability, and gradually offer more services and resources to AFK families and those with adjacent experiences— and that is just what Encompass has done. Today, Encompass continues to offer the AFK youth program, adult adoptee support groups, has added an online parent support group in addition to the in-person one, and has grown to offer adoption competent therapy, therapy for donor-conceived people and their families, adoptee art workshops for teens and adults, an annual adoptee art show, adoptee youth mentoring, AFK family picnics, and other events.