What is Open Adoption? Is this a good choice for me?

An Open Adoption means that YOU will be the one who chooses the adopting parents for your child, which is very different from the traditional adoptions where an agency determined who would raise your child.  You will participate fully in your adoption plan. You will get to know all about the adoptive parents, the values and the attitudes that determine what kind of people they are, and the life your child will share with them.  You will decide what kind of contact you want in the future, be it pictures, letters or visits with the family.

Emotional support for your decision to consider adoption.

We understand that you are in the process of making a very difficult decision. We strongly encourage you to explore your adoption plan with the support of an adoption counselor to determine if it is the best decision for you and your child.  We can help you find an adoption counselor in your area who will provide you with counseling during pregnancy and after placement. There will be no cost to you for this service.
 
 We also can introduce you to other birth mothers who have placed their children in a home of one of our adopting families. They would be very pleased to talk to you on the phone or in person about their personal experience through the adoption process.

Do we have potential adopting parents for you to meet and consider?

We have many couples who have delayed parenting and now desire to become parents. Our families have thought long and hard about adoption and have the resources to adopt and provide for a child. You will inform us as to what characteristics you want in adopting parents and we will begin by providing you with a personal letter and pictures of our families looking to adopt that match your expectations. If our office does not have the appropriate family for you we will use all our resources to help find the right match.  MEET OUR FAMILIES

What happens after I pick the profile of a couple that I like?

Does the birth father have to be involved?

It is terrific if you and the birth father are supporting each other through the pregnancy and the adoption process. We welcome involvement of birth fathers and will help them as well with emotional support. However, this kind of cooperation is often not typical.  Even if you are not talking to the birth father, be it your husband, boyfriend, etc., we must give him notice that an adoption is being planned and will need your cooperation in finding him and serving him with notice of the adoption. Many men will sign a waiver of their parental rights before the child is born, and others prefer to do nothing and our office will terminate their rights through the court. If a birth father is going to contest an adoption we want to know early so we can discuss how to best handle the situation. Our office is always careful to handle the birth father in a courteous and legal manner so that we will have a safe adoption for your child. If there is more than one possible birth father we will give each possible birth father notice privately. If you have no way of knowing who the birth father is we will need an affidavit explaining the situation and will terminate his rights through the court.

How do I know that the adoptive parent(s) are suitable parents?

You can give birth to your child in your home state and the adoptive parents will come to your state to take the baby home. Some adoptive parents even get to your state to be there for the birth, if time permits. However, any expenses of your pregnancy paid for by the adoptive parents must be considered acceptable expenses in your state. You will also need to sign consent papers after the birth of the child, usually of your own state and those of California. The adopting parents may not leave your state with the baby until both states have approved of the adoption and they are given permission to leave your state. Often there will be an attorney and an agency coordinating these efforts with our office in California. It is not complicated but rules of both states must be carefully followed. Our office will coordinate this for you and the adopting parents.

Do I have any costs for the adoption?

Birth parents are not responsible for any professional fees, such as legal, social work, or counseling fees. All such services are free to birth parents. These costs are paid for by the adopting parents with whom you match. Living expenses and medical expenses that you can not cover yourself can be assisted with during your pregnancy and for a month or two after delivery by the adoptive parents, where appropriate and legal.