When a woman finds herself pregnant and the pregnancy is unplanned, she has several options and choices. The decision she makes and the options she chooses are usually influenced by her personal moral beliefs, religious philosophies, age, social situation, relationship with the father of the child, support from family and friends, future goals and aspirations, and other personal circumstances.
Adoption is truly a choice. Birth parents make the decision whether to place their child for adoption or to parent the child. Sometimes birth parents are afraid to explore adoption as a choice for an unplanned pregnancy. Many fear that somehow they will be persuaded against their will to surrender their parental rights. Please know that NO person (family member, friend, lawyer, judge, social worker, doctor, employer, etc) can force or coerce a birth parent into implementing an adoption plan and placing their child with an adoptive family. The core belief and practice philosophy of Family Connections, Inc. (adoption agency) is that every person has the right to self-determine – to make their own choices without influence or pressure. Any plan for adoption is made solely by the birth parent and is a voluntary act. Adoption is a voluntary choice.
Birth parents have an array of choices when making an adoption plan and can design a plan that best meets their and their baby’s needs. Birth parents are in the “driver’s seat” - they have the power of choice. Birth parents have the right to choose the type of adoption they wish for themselves and their child (e.g. confidential, semi-open, or open) and to choose the adoptive family they wish to place their child with.
Family Connections, Inc., a New York adoption agency, can explore with the birth parent(s) her/their choices regarding a confidential, semi-open, or open adoption.
Confidential Adoption: A birth parent may choose a confidential adoption (aka closed adoption). In a confidential adoption the adoptive family will not know the identity of the birth parent(s) and the birth parent(s) will not be told the adoptive family’s identifying information. The birth parent may specify the characteristics of the adoptive family they wish for their child. The birth parent may choose the adoptive family from profiles and/or meet the adoptive family; it is up to them!
Semi-Open Adoption: A birth parent may choose a semi-open adoption. In most semi-open adoption relationships, the birth family and the adoptive family agree on what identifying information is shared. For example, the birth family and the adoptive family may only exchange first names or the name of the town in which they live. The birth parent may choose to pick a family for their child from family profiles or meetings with prospective adoptive parents. The birth parent(s) and adoptive family may or may not develop a relationship with each other prior to and/or after the birth of the child (based upon the wishes of the birth parent). The birth parent may or may not request post adoption contact (e.g. pictures/letters regarding the child’s growth). Any post adoption contact requested by the birth parent would be maintained through a third party such as an adoption agency. The wishes of the birth parent determine the degree of openness.
Open Adoption: A birth parent may choose an open adoption. Open adoption relationships are unique to each adoption triad (birth parent – adoptive parent – child) and vary greatly. The level of openness with the adoptive family depends upon the choices of the birth family. Most open adoptions are characterized by: a) the birth parent(s) meeting and choosing the family for their child; b) the sharing of identifying information between the birth and adoptive family; c) the development of a relationship between the birth family and adoptive parents; and d) the maintenance of a relationship between the birth parent, adoptive parents, and adopted child throughout the child’s childhood through pictures, letters and visits.
Birth parent(s) may choose the adoptive family for their child (the agency will chose a family only if the birth parent(s) do not wish to make the decision). Click here to view profiles of families waiting to adopt with Family Connections, Inc. The birth family can specify the characteristics that are important to her/them in an adoptive family. The birth family may designate:
- The religion of the adoptive parents
- Type of family (two-parent family, traditional stay-at-home mom, two career couple, same sex couple, single parent, childless couple, multi-child family)
- Racial composition of the family
- Education level of adoptive parents
- Age of adoptive parents
- Financial status of family
- Place of residence (city, suburban, rural)
- Any other characteristic important to the birth parent
Adoption is a choice and within adoption a birth parent has many choices. An adoption agency, like Family Connections, Inc., can provide birth families guidance and support as they consider all of their options. The Agency helps birth mothers throughout New York State, including but not limited to, birth mothers in Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, Buffalo, New York City, Albany and all towns in between. Our Agency would be honored to support your adoption plans. Please contact Anita or Renee at 1-800-535-5556 or info@adoptfamilyconnections.org. All services are free and all communication is confidential!
You can learn more about New York adoption and your options by downloading a Free Guide to Adoption Planning below.
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