Yes! Most agencies have screened and approved many families you can choose from. There are also additional options, such as choosing a friend or someone who has been recommended to you. The adoption agencies can help you in this process.

You have several options. When planning your child’s adoption, you can choose an open adoption plan that allows ongoing visits with your child, or you can choose semi-open adoption that keeps you informed about your child’s progress through letters and pictures. Also, you may prefer not to have any contact with your child or the adoptive family. Closed or confidential plans are also possible if preferred.

An open option adoption plan may include:

• Meeting potential adoptive families before making your decision.
• You and the adoptive family may exchanging information (names and addresses) at the appropriate time.
• Ongoing communication that may include visits together, gathering as extended family members during special occasions, etc.
• Direct correspondence between you and the family.
• Contact each other directly by telephone.

In a semi-open plan you choose a family from written non-identifying material provided by the agency.

• An agency or third party mediates the contact between you and the adoptive family before and after the birth.
• You will know the adoptive family by their first names only.
• The adoptive parents may be present at the birth and may possibly meet you before the birth.
• All correspondence is sent through the agency or third party, there is no direct communication.
• Post-placement meetings are arranged and supervised by the mediator only.
• Adoptive parents often share the child’s pictures and letters with you, but may also include gifts, videotapes, etc.

Closed adoption (also called “confidential” and sometimes “secret”) is a process by which an infant is placed with another family. Usually the record of the biological parent(s) is kept confidential. Often, the biological father is not recorded—even on the original birth certificate.

In most cases, financial assistance for medical and living expenses is available for the birth mother, along with many other benefits.

The timing of your child’s placement depends on three factors:

• When you prefer time of placement.
• Legal aspects of adoption.
• The cooperation of the birthfather.

Many women want their baby placed with the adoptive family directly from the hospital, but you may prefer to place your baby in temporary care while you consider adoption.

It depends on what type of adoption you choose whether it be open, semi-open, or closed. Your agency will encourage you to provide complete medical and social history of your child, no matter what type of adoption you choose.

Both you and the birthfather have rights. If you disagree about adoption or you no longer have a relationship with him, your agency will work with the birthfather and/or the courts to determine if his rights can be terminated. This may vary from case to case. 

The current laws in your state will determine when your child may have access to information in the adoption file.

There is no cost for you in regard to adoption. Our Center can provide you with a referral to several agencies that will help you free of charge. The agencies have access to funds that will help assist you once you have made the decision to place your child in an adoptive family. In addition, many agencies work with adoptive parents to assist in providing for all your pregnancy-related expenses.