Could Adoption Be Right For You?
The process of adoption is often misunderstood. People wrongfully suggest they are giving their children away to strangers and that they’ll never hear from or see them again. And birth mothers are told their children will hate them.
Let’s clear up some of the misconceptions about adoption. The following are your rights as an expectant woman or birth mother:
1. Choosing the Type of Adoption
There are three adoption plans, and you choose the best plan for you and your child.
Open
Open adoption means you and the potential adoptive parents you choose exchange identifying information so you can communicate directly with one another. You can share your full name, address, phone number, etc. Together, you can create an adoption contact agreement.
Semi-Open or Mediated
If you like the idea of contact but aren’t ready to give out private information, this may be the right option for you. The adoption coordinator you choose handles communication between the two parties.
Closed or Confidential
You and the adoptive family have no contact with one another. You both remain entirely anonymous.
2. Choosing the Family and Future for Your Child
Couples qualified for adoption have been through a rigorous screening process. From background checks to home studies, they must provide health and financial records, be fingerprinted, and provide references. As you view the bios of potential couples, they will not be strangers to you.
You select the couple that will provide the future you want for your child. Do you want them to grow up on a farm or in a big city? Should they be the oldest or have immediate siblings? You decide based on what’s important to you.
When you have an open or semi-open plan, you have the opportunity to tell your child why you chose adoption and reassure them it was out of love.
3. The Freedom to Change Your Mind
In every state, a woman is given time after her child is born to decide if adoption is still the best choice for both of them. In Kentucky, you must wait a minimum of 72 hours before you sign any legal documents.
4. Access to Adoption Counseling
Adoption is not an easy choice. In a nationwide survey, birth mothers who were most satisfied with their decision said having a complete understanding of the process and not being coerced were the two most important reasons they felt comfortable choosing adoption. Select an adoption agency or coordinator that assures you access to proper counseling and support and doesn’t coerce you into making a decision.
We Can Offer Adoption Referrals
Although we do not personally handle adoptions, we can give you additional information and referrals to reputable adoption agencies. Schedule an appointment to talk with us about this option.