Adoption

By Jerry Price - Jan 9, 2006 - comment

The Domestic Adoption Process

Domestic adoption consists of five parts:

  1. Home study—The home study is an evaluation and education process required by the State to determine your preparedness to parent through adoption. A home study consists of three components: paperwork, education, and interviews with a social worker.
  2. Match/Identification of birthmother—Once your home study is complete and you have been approved to adopt, your profile will be shown to birthmothers. Our social workers will work with both the birthparents and the adopting parents to find the best possible match for everyone involved.
  3. Relinquishment and placement—After the birth of the baby and the birthmother is discharged from the hospital, the birthmother will voluntarily sign a relinquishment of her parental rights to NCA. She will also release her baby into the care of the adoptive family, which is known as physical placement.
  4. Post Placement—California Department of Social Services requires that adoptive families undergo six months of Post Placement Supervision in which they meet with a social worker four times. These visits are scheduled every 6 weeks during which the social worker observes how the child is growing, developing, and interacting with family members. During this period any remaining parental rights are terminated.
  5. Finalization—Once all parental rights have been terminated and the Post Placement Supervision is completed, we will submit our Final Report to the court. Your attorney will then arrange for a court date when the Adoption Order will be issued.

What Is the Adoption Process?, Nightlight Christian Adoptions [Accessed September 2, 2005]

Adoption vs. Abortion

Adoption

  • Your pregnancy ends with giving life.
  • You can feel good and positive about your choice.
  • You will remember giving birth.
  • You will have plenty of time to plan your and your baby’s future.
  • You can hold, name and love your baby.
  • You can have continued contact with your child through an agency.

Abortion

  • Your pregnancy ends with death.
  • You may feel guilt and shame about your choice.
  • You will remember taking a life.
  • Abortion is final; you can’t reverse your decision.
  • You will never know or treasure your baby.
  • You will miss the opportunity to see your child develop.
  • Adoption goes a step beyond choosing life for your baby. It is a quality of life decision for you and your child.

The Differences of Adoption and Abortion (Christian Adoption Services, Inc.) [Accessed August 25, 2005].

Myths About Adoption

  1. If You Care About Your Child You Would Never Consider Adoption.

    You might be afraid if you consider adoption that others will think that you don’t love your child and that you are an uncaring and selfish person. When in fact, those women who choose to place their child for adoption are the most courageous, for they put the needs of their child first. Your counselor can arrange for you to talk to other birthparents who have already placed a child for adoption. In talking to them you will see the great love that they have for their child. Allowing your child to be born is a loving choice. Choosing to place your child with a family that can provide a stable, loving Christian home is the greatest act of love and sacrifice on your part. This is not an act of abandonment, but of love.


  2. All Adopted Children Grow Up To Have Serious Problems Later In Life.

    Studies show that adopted teenagers are as emotionally stable as non-adopted teenagers and that adopted individuals do not have any more family problems that non-adopted peers (Benson, P.L. and Sharma, 1994. “Adopted Teenagers.”).


  3. Birthparents Will Never Know Anything About Their Child And His Or Her Adoptive Parents In The Following Years.

    You may be thinking that if you choose adoption, you will never know anything about your child’s future. But today, sharing information between birth and adoptive families is very common as the child grows. Birthparents have the option of developing an adoption plan that has the degree of openness that you desire.


  4. Birthparents Will Have Emotional Problems If They Choose Adoption.

    Some birthparents do view adoption negatively because they think that they will never recover emotionally from placing their child. Some feel that they will never again be happy. Your pregnancy counselor will explain to you the different levels of adoption and you will choose the type that is best for you and your child. After placing your child you will feel sad and grieve the child and grief can be painful. However, the ability to grieve is a sign that you are moving in the right direction and if you continue on the path then healing will come in time.


  5. No One Can Love My Child Like I Can.

    Adoptive parents can and do love their children as selflessly as birthparents. Good parenting is a matter of unconditional love and acceptance, constantly nurturing and caring in a way that puts the needs of the child above your own. Adoptive parents love their children as much as if they had given birth to them.

Myths About Adoption (Christian Adoption Services, Inc.) [Accessed August 25, 2005].

A new government campaign to help create awareness of the need for adoptive parents was launched in July 2004 by the Department of Health and Human Services. The emphasis seeks to highlight the number of children in foster care who need permanent, loving homes. The campaign is entitled “Answering the Call: A National Campaign to Encourage Adoption of Children from Foster Care.” Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., said, “There are many people who would make really terrific adoptive parents but have not thought about it.” For those interested, many resources are available to assist them, including training, subsidies, Medicaide, and a $10,000 tax cut for those adopting special needs children. Information may be obtained at http://www.AdoptUSKids.org or by calling toll-free at 1-888-200-4005.

National Campaign to Encourage Adoption, Administration for Children & Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [Accessed August 25, 2005]

For those interested in adopting a child from another country, the U.S. State Department maintains a Web page that provides helpful information. To retrieve information on U.S. adoption requirements and the requirements of countries where children might be available, go to http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption_country.html

Further Learning

Learn more about: Family, Life, Abortion, Adoption

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