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| Matching and Placement Services, Identified, Interstate, and Family Adoptions |
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Gone are the days when a woman felt disgraced by finding herself pregnant and unmarried. Also gone are the days when married couples felt inadequate because of their inability to conceive a child. Today, pregnant women and married couples embrace the adoption process as the best alternative to their seemingly desperate situations. In fact, they soon discover that adoption has become a widely recognized and socially acceptable option.
In adoptions of the past, the newborn was whisked away immediately after birth to some unknown family. Now the
birth mother
has the
opportunity to select and meet the family who will raise her child.
For the
birth mother, the adoption process begins when she meets with an adoption professional (attorney or social worker) to discuss the legal and emotional ramifications of adoption. After much discussion she may decide to parent the child or to initiate an adoption plan. |
The Adoption
Plan Begins:
If the birth mother decides to implement an
adoption plan, the next step allows her to express preferences as to various characteristics of prospective adoptive families. Religion, family size, geographical location, hobbies and interests are all important considerations. Once these facts are decided, the
birth mother is presented with photographs and background profiles of
adoptive families*. The profiles are unique portrayals created by each prospective
adoptive family.
| *The birth
mother may also choose to have little or no information
about the adoptive family. In this situation, the
adoption professional usually selects the adoptive
family. This is sometimes referred to as a
"closed" adoption which is discussed later in
this article. |
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Similarly, adoptive families consider the individual characteristics of
birth mothers. Birth mothers range in age from fifteen to forty- some are married, others single, some have children, some were adopted themselves, some are professionals, while others are unable to break out of the welfare cycle. All have one thing in common; they have made a decision to ensure their child is raised in a safe, financially secure, loving home. |
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Choosing
An Adoptive Family:
The key factor to the successful completion of an adoption plan is the involvement of a committed, energetic and influential adoption professional. The adoption professional becomes a close ally to the
birth mother by offering guidance and reassurance during each stage of the adoption plan. Assisting the
birth mother in the selection of an
adoptive family serves as the first major act which reinforces her commitment to the goals and objectives of the adoption plan.
Once the birth mother
has settled on the family to parent her child, the family and the
birth mother are encouraged to freely communicate throughout the pregnancy, through either personal meetings or by telephone. Through open communication a warm bond is established between the birth mother and her chosen family. Such a bond provides the
birth mother
with a genuine sense of contentment about her adoption decision while enabling the adoptive family to become secure with the
birth mother's commitment to the adoption plan. |
Open
Or Closed Adoptions:
Many different relationships may be developed between the birth mother
and the adoptive
family. In confidential ("closed") adoptions, the birth mother
chooses to have little or no information whatsoever about the adoptive parents and the
adoptive parents receive little or no information about the
birth mother. In closed adoptions, the adoption professional usually selects the
adoptive parents and there is very
little, if any, contact between the birth mother and the
adoptive parents.
In an open adoption, which are much more common today, the birth mother
and adoptive family exchange comprehensive personal information. The
birth mother
receives a background profile and photographs of the adoptive family as well as non-identifying information about the family's life. Likewise, the
adoptive family receives the birth mother's complete biographical and medical background information along with
photographs depicting her family members and, if available, pictures of the
birth mother
as a child. Additionally, the birth mother may prepare letters or diaries for the
adoptive family to present to the child at age-appropriate times. Although not required, more frequently than ever before, birth mothers are offering
adoptive families complete identifying information (address, phone number, social security number) so that the family may contact the
birth mother
in the future, if necessary. |
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Preparing
For The Child's Birth Date:
As the date of birth approaches, the birth mother
anxiously awaits the culmination of a long pregnancy and the adoptive parents plan for the ascension into parenthood. The adoption professional ensures that the
birth mother
and the adoptive family are well prepared for each and every circumstance that may arise when the
birth mother
goes into labor. When will the adoptive parents be called? Will the adoptive mother be present in the delivery room? How will the
birth mother
get to the hospital in the middle of the night? Will the birth mother
"room in" with the baby? Every minute detail is addressed by the adoption professional so that everyone feels comfortable and ready for the big day. |
Concluding
The Adoption Plan:
A well-formulated and effectively orchestrated adoption plan will yield positive results for everyone. Forget all of the sensational horror stories reported on
20/20 or similar entertainment news shows. With few exceptions, properly prepared adoption plans succeed. The
birth mother
signs the surrender documents, the baby is healthy, the adoptive family leaves the hospital as new parents and the
birth mother is ready for a new beginning, secure in her adoption decision.
Following discharge from the hospital the birth mother meets with the adoption professional to review the concluding aspects of her adoption plan, including her participation in post-placement counseling groups, her receipt of annual pictures and updates from the adoptive parents and her participation in the Florida Reunion Registry. She is encouraged to communicate with the
adoptive family for a brief period after the birth so that she knows the child is healthy, safe and thriving in the adoptive home. |
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hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be
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| Copyright ©
2008 Shorstein & Kelly Attorneys At Law, P.A.
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