Considering adoption?
By now, the idea of being unexpectedly pregnant is starting to sink in. We understand how difficult this is. You want what’s best for you and your baby. Choosing to make an adoption plan is tough, but adoption could be right for you for some of the following reasons:
- You feel you are too young to parent
- You’re heavily involved in school or work
- You don’t want to be a parent but also don’t want an abortion
- You feel you can’t support a child emotionally or financially
- You’re in an unstable and potentially dangerous relationship
How to begin the adoption process
Your first step to learning more about adoption is to talk with an adoption specialist. At Hope Unlimited Family Care Center, we can give you referrals to agencies we’re familiar with as well as support you through your journey. Interviewing and choosing an adoption coordinator involves trust. You need to know they will keep your best interests in mind.
A reputable agency or lawyer will never ask you to pay for any of their services. In fact, most states have laws that prohibit anyone from paying in exchange for a commitment to adopt. Make sure nothing is required of you financially.
Making Your Adoption Plan
As the birth mother, if you want to be in complete control, you can. You decide what type of adoption plan you want, who the adoptive family will be, and when the adoption will occur. No one should ever force you or manipulate you to make this decision.
There are a couple of general adoption plans. However, they can be combined or changed at any time during the process. No one plan is better than another. You choose the plan that is best for you.
Closed Adoption
If you decide you want to remain anonymous, you choose a closed adoption plan. The adoption coordinator will select the adoptive family based on your requests and take care of the details. Some women feel remaining anonymous helps them move on with their lives.
Open & Semi-open Adoption
If you would like to have ongoing contact with the adoptive family and your child, you would make an open or semi-open adoption plan. These plans involve exchanging personal information like full names, addresses, emails, or even phone numbers with the adoptive family you choose.
In an open adoption, you would have direct contact with them. Together, you would arrange meetings and communicate regularly. With a semi-open adoption, you would have contact, but it would be through a third party such as the adoption agency or lawyer.
Choosing the adoptive family
Selecting the perfect family is the most important part of the process. You’ll be asked a lot of questions to find out what is important to you. Once you’ve described the type of family you want to raise your child, your adoption coordinator will show you bios of families that resemble what you’re looking for. Take your time.
Is adoption right for you?
Adoption is a big decision. Get as much information as you can. At Hope Unlimited, we’re ready to be the support you need no matter what you choose. We’ll connect you to local, reputable experts who have you and your baby’s best interests in mind. How can we help you along your adoption journey?
Contact us today, and let’s talk about the adoption process and your other options.