If you are thinking about placing your unborn child for adoption in New York, I'm sure you have many questions. We are here to help answer your questions and support your plan.
Family Connections, Inc. is a New York State adoption agency that has been supporting birth mothers for almost twenty years. We respect you decision-making and honor your choices. We would be very happy to speak with you; you can reach Anita or Renee at 1-800-535-5556 or anita@adoptfamilyconnectons.org. All phone calls and emails are confidential! All services are free.
The most frequently asked questions our agency receives from birth mothers about adoption in New York are:
Will I be able to choose the type of adoption I want? Yes! You decide if you want a confidential adoption, semi-open adoption, or open adoption with the adoptive family.
Will I be able to choose the adoptive family for my child? Yes! Our Agency will provide you with qualified adoptive families from which to choose. You may pick the family from family profiles, videos, or after face-to-face meetings. You decide who to place your child with.
Will my child know that I made a loving choice? Yes! Adoptive parents have tremendous respect and admiration for birth parent(s) and their decision to entrust their birth child to them. They will honor their child’s birth parents and speak with great reverence and love regarding the birth parents to their child.
Will my privacy be respected? Yes! Birth parent(s) privacy is ensured. Confidentiality is maintained at all times.
Will the adoption cost me anything? No! Birth parent(s) will have no costs. In New York, all expenses are supported by the adoption agency and adoptive parents. If the birth parent needs resources to support their pregnancy and adoption plan, the adoption agency will help the birth parent secure the needed resources (e.g. legal counsel, maternity clothes, housing, food, transportation, medical services) and may be able to provide financial assistance for pregnancy related expenses.
Will I receive counseling services? Yes! Every birth parent will be provided with adoption options counseling by their agency. This counseling provides the birth parent with information regarding her/his/their adoption choices and helps the birth parent(s) formulate an adoption plan that is right for them. In addition, if the birth parent chooses, the agency will provide therapeutic counseling services prior to and after the adoption.
Will my right to post adoption contact be protected? Yes! In a New York State agency adoption, if the birth parent(s) wish for post adoption contact with the adoptive family (e.g. exchange of pictures and letter, annual visitation with child) the birth parent and adoptive parents will sign a legally binding and court enforceable Post Adoption Contact Agreement that obligates the family to comply with all agreed upon post-adoption contact until the child becomes an adult (age 18).
Will I and my birth child be able to contact each other once the child is an adult? Yes, if both the birth parent and birth child agree to the contact. Please know that each State has very difficult laws regarding adult reunification of birth children and birth parents. In New York State, the Department of Health maintains an Adoption Information Registry. If both the birth parent and birth child voluntarily registry with the service, the Department of Health will release the birth parent’s name and address to the birth child upon the birth child’s request after the child’s 18th birthday. In open adoption relationships the birth parent and birth child maintain a relationship from infancy into adulthood.
Adoption is a loving option for expectant mothers facing an unplanned pregnancy. A birth mother may not have chosen to conceive a child, but she can choose to give birth to the child and then choose to parent the child or freely give the parenting responsibilities to another family through adoption. Only a birth mother (and birth father if involved) can decide the future of the child.
Family Connections, Inc. would be honored to support you and answer your questions about adoption in New York. All calls and e-mails are kept private. Please contact Anita or Renee at 1-800-535-5556 or anita@adoptfamilyconnections.org. You can learn more about your adoption options by downloading the free guide below.
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