Are You Considering Adoption?

When considering adoption, you may feel overwhelmed with the choices you have to make and the emotions that come with making those choices. At Alliance for Children (AFC) we understand the importance of knowing all of your options so you can make the decisions that bring you the greatest peace of mind.

The outline below is designed to guide you through and prepare you for each and every step of the adoption process.

Step 1 – Contact Us

When you feel ready, your first step is to email or call us. An AFC counselor will talk with you about your options and address any of your immediate questions or concerns. You can reach an AFC counselor by calling 1-800-40-ADOPT or by emailing srosen@allforchildren.org.

Step 2 – Complete Paperwork

An AFC counselor will send you literature about adoption along with a confidential information packet for you to fill out. If at anytime you begin to feel overwhelmed, your AFC counselor is available to assist you. The paperwork process allows your counselor to help you create an individualized plan that works best for you and your baby.

Step 3 – Meet with your AFC Counselor to Explore Your Options

An AFC counselor will meet with you at a location where you are comfortable, such as an AFC office, your home or a library. Your AFC counselor will explain different parenting options, including the adoption process, and help you determine what would be in the best interests of you and your baby.

Step 4 – Create an Adoption Plan or Decide to Parent

If after meeting with your counselor you feel that adoption is the best choice, your counselor will assist you with creating a personalized adoption plan. In doing so, our goal is to address all of your needs and wishes, such as:

• Selecting an adoptive family
• Deciding how much contact you want with the adoptive family, if any, before, during, and after the baby’s birth
• Deciding how much and what type of ongoing contact you would like to have with your child, if any, after the adoption (e.g., photos and letters through AFC or in person visits)
• Creating a hospital plan
• Creating a future plan that addresses your physical and emotional health along with your safety needs

In the alternative, should you decide to parent your child, your AFC counselor will refer you to any parenting resources and continued support services you may need.

Step 5 – Your Baby is Born

When your baby is born, we will meet you at the hospital to ensure that your needs and wishes, as outlined in your Adoption Plan, are being met. It is normal to experience strong emotions after delivery and we will be there to support you every step of the way.

Step 6 – Placement

If you are still confident that adoption is the best plan, your baby will be discharged from the hospital to the adoptive family or to temporary host care provided by AFC. Your AFC counselor will guide you through the completion of legal documents and provide any additional assistance required by state law. We will ensure that you completely understand every legal aspect of moving forward with an adoption plan.

Alternatively, should you decide to parent your child, your AFC counselor will refer you to any parenting resources and continued support services you might need.

Step 7 – Post-Adoption Services

Over the next few weeks, months and years, the feelings you will experience after completing your Adoption Plan are likely to change often. Should you ever need support or counseling, your AFC counselor will be available to help you sort out and process your feelings. Adoption is a lifelong process and therefore, AFC offers support services to you, as you need them.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are ready to help.