Shock. Fear. Loneliness.
These are some of the feelings that will rush through you when you first find you’re unexpectedly pregnant. The emotions keep coming and they can create confusion and a sense of being overwhelmed.
You’ll have more questions than answers, such as:
“Where do I go?”, “What do I do now?”, “Who can I talk to?”
Finding someone to talk to that has the answers and is unbiased and willing to help is very important. Whether you’re considering adoption or know that adoption is right for you, we’ll provide you with all the help and information you need to make the best decision for you and your child.
Whatever your circumstance, whatever direction you are leaning, we are here for you.
We can help you turn a very difficult decision into a positive experience.
What they’re saying 
Stephanie is doing this for the right reason. It’s like this is her ministry.”
— Kassie
What are my options?
What do you do now? This pregnancy was not planned and you’re probably not prepared. Who would be? So, take a deep breath, calm down a little and let’s start considering your options. You have several options available that will give your child a chance for the future.
Benefits of Adoption
There are many reasons birth mothers choose adoption. Whether it’s their current situation, finances, or it’s just not the right time to raise a baby, they all have one thing in common – the love they have for their child.
Adoption is a difficult decision, but it is one that is full of love. It is brave, selfless, and giving. Adoption is far from giving up your child. Giving your child life is a gift that you and your child will always cherish.
By choosing adoption you are once again giving your child life – a life with a loving and financially stable family that will provide opportunities and advantages throughout the child’s life.
Choosing adoption gives your child a chance to live life to its fullest.
The Adoption Process
Preliminary
Paperwork
Choose
a Family
Interview
the Family
Hospital Plan and
Post-Placement
Give
Birth
Sign the Consent
to Adoption
Child
Adopted
Receive Updates and
Pictures of your Child
Financial Assistance and Medical Care
We help develop an individualized adoption plan for every expectant parent. This plan should be based on your desires for your child and should also consider your needs.
In addition to counseling both before and after birth, your plan may include:
- Counseling regarding your legal rights.
- Assistance with selecting and getting to know the potential adoptive family.
- Assistance with choosing the type of adoption, including contact with the adoptive family and child after birth.
- Communication with the biological father.
- Assistance with creating a hospital plan.
- Medical care and insurance.
- Hospital support.
- Payment of living expenses (rent, utilities, etc.).
- Housing assistance.
Florida law allows adoptive parents to assist the birth mother with financial assistance during pregnancy and up to six weeks after pregnancy.
You can receive assistance for medical care, living expenses, counseling, transportation, and more.
FAQs – Birth Mother/Parents
Yes, absolutely. You can even choose to meet them.
At any time during your pregnancy, while you are in the hospital, or even after you go home.
No. If your rights have not been terminated, then you can make our own decisions as to your child. You are still the legal parent.
No, you are not being selfish. You’re being just the opposite – unselfish. A mom who is unselfish creates an adoption plan and places her child’s best interest above her own.
No, you do not. The paperwork is just informational for us to be able to help you create your adoption plan. You will have a specified time following the birth to make your final decision. Usually it is 1-3 days, but it is dictated by the state law where you give birth.
Nothing. All services are free of charge to the expectant mom.
You should first be certain that they have been assessed and approved to adopt through a home study process. Otherwise, you won’t know if they can provide for your child or if their home is a safe place to raise a child. If you’re not comfortable asking the family for the verification of their home study approval, we can do that do that for you.
Yes, generally we can. The amount of living expenses allowed is dictated by the laws of your state and of the state where the adoption will be processed. Support is not meant to be total support. We can help you apply for medical insurance, utilities, and food stamps, and in most places, we can help with rent, groceries, and utilities in the second part of your pregnancy and for a period of time after the birth.
All families must be approved to adopt, and the approval process is very thorough. The family must go through months of counseling sessions and various screenings to be approved. This approval process is called a home study and involves an FBI check, a state criminal check, a child abuse check, medical exams, an inspection of their home, examination of financial records, and multiple recommendations. Those families that go through this process really want to adopt.
Additionally, you can choose to have contact after the placement. You will complete a contract stating the amount of contact you would like after placement, and the adoptive parents are required to sign this contract. Most moms opt to get letters and pictures of their child so they can see how he or she is doing well. These photos allow you to feel some peace when you see how your child is loved, doted on and adored.
The birth father can be involved in the process. Many times, they just want to be included without being deeply involved. However, if he doesn’t want to cooperate, we can evaluate whether his consent is even needed. Often, if the two of you are not married, or if he has not supported you emotionally and financially during your pregnancy, his consent will not be needed. Each case needs to be evaluated individually to discern what rights, if any, he may have.
Yes. If you don’t know the father’s identity, he will be reported as unknown to the courts.
In most states, no. If the baby was conceived as a result of a crime, then his permission is not needed.
You certainly can, and often the adoptive parents will send the same to you.
A closed adoption means that you know nothing about the adoptive parents and they know nothing about you. There is no contact at all.
A semi-open adoption means that you and the adoptive parents get to know each other during the pregnancy. You often talk on the phone, email, or even visit and attend medical appointments together. You may also spend the few days at the hospital caring for the baby together, but after placement, all contact goes through an intermediary, typically the agency. This is the most common type of adoption.
In an open adoption, the birth family and adoptive family stay in contact directly after birth. This contact may be nothing more than an occasional email or Facebook exchange, or it may include periodic visits. Open adoptions are built on trust and some birth families and adoptive families find they like each other so much that they often end up with an adoption far more open than originally planned.
Absolutely! As a matter a fact, this is the biggest reason a family should have for agreeing to an open adoption. Study after study has shown that children in open adoptions are less questioning of their identity and who their family is, and they have stronger self-esteem and fewer anger issues as they get older.
That is entirely up to you. The adoptive parents can be at the hospital and even in the delivery room if you allow them. You can allow them to care for the baby, you can do it yourself, or you can all do it together. The baby can stay in your room, their room, or the nursery. One thing to consider is that it is often good for the baby to start bonding with the adoptive parents that first day or two, and it is often reassuring for you to see them with the baby — to see the love and adoration on their faces. However, if you want the baby to yourself for that time, that is totally fine too. Again, it is all up to you!