Adoption

Considering adoption?

How familiar are you with making an adoption plan? Just like your other options for your unplanned pregnancy, it can seem overwhelming and scary. But many women have chosen adoption before. With a proper understanding, support, and counseling, adoption could be the perfect option for your situation.

What Is Adoption?

Adoption is the legal, lifelong transfer of parental rights from birth parents (or guardians) to adoptive parents. It is a permanent choice for everyone.

A birth mother (and father, if available) should never have to pay for adoption services. In some cases, you can even receive financial aid for rent, medical expenses, and transportation during your pregnancy.

How Do I Make A Plan?

Start the adoption process by choosing a coordinator you can confide in and trust. You need to know their first interest is in your best interest. Interview different agencies and ask about their process, North Carolina adoption laws, and the support they provide their clients.

Once you’ve selected an adoption specialist to work with, take a closer look at the different types of adoption plans.

Open Adoption

Do you want ongoing contact with your child and their adoptive family? If so, you should choose an open adoption plan. In an open adoption, you choose the adoptive family. The agency gives you profiles of potential adoptive families, and you select the one to raise your child.

An open plan means exchanging identifying information such as full names, addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses. Before finalization of the adoption, you and the adoptive couple determine the amount of contact you wish to have.

Closed Adoption

Closed adoptions are not as common today as they used to be. With this plan, the adoption specialist chooses a family for your child based on your requirements. You and the adoptive couple do not exchange any identifying information.

The court seals the adoption records and your child’s original birth certificate. You have no further contact with your child or their family.

Semi-Open Adoption

Choose a semi-open adoption plan if you want some contact while remaining more anonymous. With this plan, you and the adoptive family correspond, but all communication is through the adoption specialist or agency. You may know each other’s first names, but usually nothing more.

Often, an agency will require the adoptive family to agree to a certain amount of communication before finalization.

How We Can Help

To make an adoption plan, you need guidance and support. We provide referrals to reputable agencies we trust. You don’t have to make this decision alone. We’re here to help you.