A woman who is pregnant has three options. She can choose to have a baby and raise her child. She can have an abortion. Or can choose to have a baby and place her child for adoption.
Adoption involves two sets of parents and one child. One set of parents conceives, goes through the pregnancy, and gives birth to the baby. After birth, the other set of parents takes over. They nurture the child, supply its needs, and provide parental guidance. They are the child’s parents. The first set of parents is considered the child’s “birth parents” because they gave birth to the child, but they do not parent the child.
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about adoption. The answers may not apply to every adoption situation, so if you want to explore this further, you should contact your state, county, or local department of family or child services, or your local Planned Parenthood at 1-800-230-PLAN.
What is adoption?
Adoption is the legal placement of a child with people who will raise the child as their own.
What is an “open” adoption?
An open adoption involves an agreement between a child’s adoptive family and birth family that says that the two families will keep in touch. In other words, open adoption allows for birth parents to contact the child they gave birth to through letters, pictures, and visits with the child and his family.
Is adoption permanent?
Yes. Once placed, the child becomes permanently and legally a member of the adoptive family with full rights to inheritance and a lifetime family relationship.
What “qualifications” must someone meet before he or she is approved as prospective adoptive parents?
At most adoption agencies, adoptive parents go through a fairly lengthy process in order to become “approved.” They attend group meetings and interviews. They complete a lot of paperwork, and they go through a “home study.” Each agency prepares their families differently, but they all do their best to make sure the family is ready for a baby.
How much do birth parents know about the adoptive family?
Birth parents can be very involved in choosing an adoptive family for their child; they can also choose to be completely uninvolved. When choosing prospective adoptive families, birth parents are often given profiles of each family. Profiles include information about potential adoptive families’ ages, their physical and personality descriptions, their marriage, religion, lifestyle, occupation, education, feelings about birth parents, and more.
What information is needed from the birth father?
Most agencies like to get as much information from the birth father as possible. Each state has different laws detailing just how much information is needed from a birth father — contact a local adoption agency to find out more about the laws in your state.
How soon after the baby is born can it be placed in an adoptive home?
Each state has different laws about this, too. There is usually a waiting period of 48 hours or more before a child can be placed. Contact a local adoption agency to find out what the laws are in your state.
May birth parents write the adoptive parents a letter explaining to them the reasons for placing the child for adoption?
Most agencies encourage birth parents to write a letter not only to the adoptive parents but also to their child. Many agencies act as a “go between” for the birth and adoptive families.
Are birth parents able to have a visit with their baby before they sign the adoption papers?
Most often, relinquishment forms are signed after discharge from the hospital, and birth parents are often present at the adoptive placement. Many agencies even encourage what’s called a “placement ceremony,” to which both the adoptive family and the birth family can invite others to witness the placement of the child.
May birth parents have a picture of the baby?
Most often, yes. Many birth parents take lots of pictures in the hospital before they and the baby are discharged. Agreements are often made with the adoptive family regarding the sharing of pictures and letters prior to the placement of the child.
Here are some additional organizations that can give you information about adoption:
- National Adoption Information Clearinghouse: (1-888-251-0075)
- Independent Adoption Center (open adoption): 1-800-877-OPEN
- Department of State (international adoption): 1-202-736-9130
Related Links
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