"Adoption is a loving decision focusing on the best interests of the birth mother and child."

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Can I choose a family for my baby?

Yes! You can choose the family for your baby by selecting from the parents screened by our agency staff or you may choose someone who has been recommended to you by someone you trust like a relative, friend, pastor, doctor, etc. We will represent you, as well as your needs and wishes, to the family you select. If the family you choose lives outside of the state, we will arrange with an agency in their state to cooperate with us in making the placement happen.

Transracial: Same race adoption is ideal. We do believe, however, that transracial adoption can be an excellent option for minority birth parents. Your racial preference in choosing a family for your baby is important to us.

Meeting the Family: You can also meet the family. We will help you arrange with the family a mutually acceptable plan for contact after the placement.

What will my baby know about me?

We will help you plan for the exchange of letters, pictures, mementos, updates, etc. with the adoptive family. We will obtain social and medical background information which will be provided to the adopting couple. They can then be prepared to give informed medical care and accurate information about you to the child. We also prepare the adoptive family on how to share the adoption story with their child. Adoptive families will respect your need to know that your child is loved and happy.

You may want to write a letter to your child sharing special information about yourself or send a gift that will tell your child in the future that your decision for adoption was based on love and wanting the best for their future. Birth fathers are also asked to offer their medical and social history information, recognizing how important it is for the child. They can also be very involved in the adoption process.

Will I be able to see my baby in the hospital?

Yes. You have many choices available to you during your hospital stay. Your caseworker will assist you in making a plan of how you would like things to go at the hospital. It includes letting the hospital know how much contact you would like with the baby, who you want to visit with you and/or the baby, how much involvement you would like the adoptive parents to have, requesting a private room on or off the maternity floor, etc. This will help things go smoothly and alert the staff about how to best serve you during your stay.

How soon after birth will the baby go to the parents I choose?

Usually, it is possible for your baby to go directly to the adopting family from the hospital if you are sure of your decision and there is no other legal or medical reason to prevent it.

Can the agency assist me with expenses?

Yes.
Living Expenses: We will be able to help with pregnancy-related expenses and necessary living expenses if the pregnancy disrupts your usual income due to underemployment or unemployment. We may also be able to help you with apartment rent before and after delivery. Some of these new expenses may include rent, electric, phone, maternity clothes, or transportation. We can also help you up to 6 weeks after delivery.

Medical Expenses: Most young women are eligible for Medicaid or medical insurance; we can assist you in determining your eligibility. If you are not covered by Medicaid, we can help with medical expenses.

Attorney and Agency Fees: There is nothing for you to worry about. We will handle every detail of your release and that of the birth father. There are no costs to you.

Does the birth father have any rights?

The birth mother and birth father's rights are very similar in the state of Florida. We encourage birth fathers to be involved in making an adoption plan for the child. Counseling is available to both birth parents.

In cases where the birth father is not involved in the adoption plan or is unknown, the agency can still proceed with an adoption and will make every effort to determine that the birth father is aware of his rights before proceeding with the adoption.

You will need to provide your caseworker with any information that you have regarding the birth father. If you are unsure about where the birth father is, we are required by law to try and locate him.

Is adoption permanent?

Yes. You may not sign consents for adoption until after your baby is born.

Under section 63.082, Florida Statutes, if the minor is to be placed for adoption with identified prospective adoptive parents upon release from a licensed hospital or birth center following birth, the consent to adoption may not be signed until 48 hours after birth or until the day the birth mother has been notified in writing, either on her patient chart or in release papers, that she is fit to be released from the licensed hospital or birth center, whichever is sooner. The consent to adoption or affidavit of non-paternity is valid and binding upon execution unless the court finds consent was obtained by fraud or under duress.

Can my child find me in the future?

Most states now have programs which make personal contact possible when the child reaches a certain age. In Florida, a child can find his/her birth parents through the Florida Adoption Registry after he/she reaches 18 years of age. Any contact will be mutually agreed upon. You can contact the Florida Adoption Registry for more information at www.adoptflorida.org.