Why Would I Choose Adoption?

Women choose adoption for a variety of reasons. Do any of the following seem familiar?

• I don’t have the financial or emotional support of the baby’s father or my parents.
• I am in an unsafe relationship that would not benefit a child.
• I’m already raising other children and don’t have the time or finances to care for one more.
• This is not the right time for me to have a child.
• My child deserves a stable, two-parent household. I want them to have more than I can provide.
• I don’t want my child to wind up in foster care.
• My health isn’t good, so I couldn’t properly care for a child.

Whatever your reasons, choosing to make an adoption plan doesn’t lessen the fact that you’re a mother or father. You recognize the need for someone else to parent your child. It is selfless, loving, and challenging at the same time.

What is an Adoption Plan?

An agreement made between an expectant woman and an adoption agency or adoption attorney.  A woman can only work with one agency or attorney.  In this way, Christian Family Services (CFS) is able to better assist women by meeting with you, discussing your wishes, the future of your baby, and exploring needs you may have.  Florida adoption agencies and attorneys may assist with living expenses up to 6 weeks after the child is placed with the adoptive parents. 

At the hospital, CFS caseworkers are advocates for your wishes. We make sure hospital staff know about your adoption plan and make sure the family you chose for your baby are kept up to date on your wishes. CFS offers women with adoption plans qualified adoptive families who have been thoroughly background screened with an approved Home Study. CFS prefers women be able to meet the couples chosen and get to know them prior to delivery, but that isn’t always possible. 

Legal paperwork

The last part of the adoption plan is the signing of “consents.” In Florida, women cannot sign legal paperwork for adoption until they have been notified by the hospital that they are ready to be discharged.  CFS has worked with women who were released from the hospital the day after delivery, while others were discharged on the fifth day after giving birth. Because the paperwork is considered legal and binding once it is signed, CFS caseworkers review the paperwork with you, usually in advance of your hospital stay.

CFS will never force you to place your baby for adoption. Many women we work with parent. Others may not be allowed to parent due to legal issues; in this instance, working with CFS will allow you to choose the adoptive family and keep up contact with the child you place. Some women we work with place their child for adoption and work with their caseworker to create a communication agreement with the adoptive family.

Adoption Communication

There are three types of communication, depending on how much privacy an expectant mother wants. You choose the plan that is best for you.  CFS waiting families are expected to be open to communication after placement.

CFS Caseworkers listen to what expectant mothers (and fathers, if available) want for their child. We also listen to what you like to do versus what our families like to do. We provide a few profile books for you to review. Once you decide on a family, we work towards you meeting with them before the baby arrives. After placement, you and the family will create a communication agreement. CFS caseworkers will work to make sure this happens as you request.

Open Adoption

The majority of adoptions today are open. Open communication does not always mean you will have all the identifying information of an adoptive family-or they yours. It may mean providing updates on a regular basis or meeting together.  The level of openness will depend on many factors which may lead to sharing more information with one another.

Semi-Open Adoption

This plan is similar to open adoption but gives you more privacy. You still select the potential adoptive couple, exchanging first names only. CFS handles any communication between you and the adoptive family, and may include use of apps to protect identifying information.

Closed Adoption

For complete anonymity, choose a closed adoption. We select the adoptive family based on your requirements, but no identifying information is exchanged, and the courts seal the original birth records.

Safe Haven Laws in Florida

CFS accepts Safe Haven infants to be placed in adoptive homes. We let hospital staff know that if the mom wants to receive updates on her child, all she needs to do is contact CFS. Many women who at first do not want communication change their mind. CFS wants moms to have the option of communication!

Is Adoption permanent?

Yes. Adoption terminates a parents’ parental rights and responsibilities, which adoptive parents then legally assume. It is not co-parenting. It is a permanent decision.   

Every adoption is unique. Potential adoptive parents must be approved through background checks, health evaluations, financial reports, a home study, references, and more. Expectant parents pay nothing for the assistance of CFS.

Is Making an Adoption Plan Right for Me?

Only you can determine if adoption is the right choice. CFS caseworkers like to meet with you regularly to help you create a unique Pregnancy Plan that meets your needs. We want you to be confident in your decision. We want you to have your needs met during and following your pregnancy.