Adoption Information

What is adoption

Adoption is a legal process in which the biological parents of a child choose to give up all responsibilities and rights of their child, giving their child to an individual or couple of their choice. In return, the adoptive family agrees to nurture, parent, care, and provide for that child as they would their own child.

Important things to consider

Am I able to presently provide for this baby? (i.e. a home, clothing & food, and a healthy emotional & physical life)

Would having a child right now be the best choice for me with my career, educational goals, etc.? Or, should I choose adoption for my child and resume my normal life within the next year?

Am I emotionally prepared to begin being a parent?

How does my family feel about adoption? Would they support me if I chose adoption? Would they support me if I chose to parent?

What would I like to be doing with my life 5 years from now? 10 years from now?

What is the best decision for both me and my baby?

Myths about adoption

Adoption is cruel because I can't be sure of what will happen to my child after I've placed my child for adoption.

You have two very important decisions you can now make regarding your child's future: you can choose to give them life and you can choose the family in which they will cared for. If you are not ready (emotionally, physically, financially, etc.) to become a mother, then adoption is an ideal choice for your child's best well being. You can choose their adoptive family and give your child everything they need to be set on a course for a happy & healthy future.
back to top

I will have no control over my child's future.

You have complete control over choosing the family in which your child will grow up and be nurtured. Reputable adoption agencies require thorough screening & interviewing for all their prospective adoptive parents. The screening process obtains information about the couple's marriage, their employment, and their family members along with recommendations from employers, friends & clergy. Most agencies will have information about the various adoptive parents along with their pictures available for you to look at. If you so desire, you can even meet with the family yourself and ask them questions in order to help you make the best decision.
back to top

Adoption is abandoning my child.

Adoption on every side is a loving choice made for the child's best well being. The biological mother loves her child enough to give her child the gift of life regardless of the surrounding pressures due to her having an unintended pregnancy. With adoption, you will choose your child's adoptive parents & family. This decision is one made carefully because you want the best parents who will truly nurture, love and provide for your baby for his/her entire life. Adoptive parents choose to welcome a child into their lives and take on all the responsibilities involved for caring for that child and raising him/her to become an adult. Adoptive parents love the child as if that child was their very own.
back to top

When I put my baby up for adoption, I'll never know what happened to my child.

When you arrange the details of your adoption, you have control over how much contract you want from your child after the adoption. The standard for today's adoptive process is open adoption. With open adoptions, you can choose everything from when/where the child will be given to his/her adoptive parents as well as how much contact you desire to have with your child. You could choose occasional letters & pictures to be sent by the adoptive parents. You could choose occasional visits with your child as they grow up. Less open arrangements for adoption are also available. With these, you can end all contact between you and your child once the adoption process is completed. Any communication will take place between you and the child only if both you and the adoptive family permit it.
back to top

Putting my child up for adoption costs a lot of money

In the majority of adoptions, there are no costs to the biological mother when she chooses an adoption plan. The adoption agency will handle the legal matters & fees, and the adoptive parents will pay for all the expenses including, in most cases, the hospital costs for delivering the baby.
back to top