The Best 10 Questions about Adoption to Ask our Adoption Agency in New York
When you’re placing your baby for adoption, naturally you’ll have lots of questions! Sometimes, there are things you haven’t realized to consider, or you have so many thoughts that you forget where they began. If you’re considering placing your baby for adoption, and you have questions about adoption as a birth mother, Adoption Choices of New York has got you covered!
Questions to Ask while Considering Adoption
1) What types of adoption are there?
At our adoption center in New York, you may choose from three different options — open adoption, semi-open adoption or closed adoption. Each one has its own pros and cons, which your adoption caseworker can discuss with you. But these three options let you choose an adoption plan based on your personal preferences.
2) If I can’t afford to raise my child, how can I afford adoption?
Adoption is a FREE resource for you! If one of the factors you are considering is cost, you should know that we and your adoptive family will provide financial assistance to you during your pregnancy, should you choose adoption. This is need-based and may include doctor’s visits, maternity clothing, groceries, and more. There’s also the potential for assistance from government programs or other nonprofits that support birth mothers, such as the On Your Feet Foundation.
Our goal is to empower you to have a healthy, stress-free pregnancy.
3) Will my child be safe with their adoptive family?
Absolutely! All of our potential adoptive families go through an application process that ensures your child will be placed with a loving, safe adoptive family. Adoptive families also go through a home study, which takes two months on average to complete. This process includes a home visit by a social worker, interviews with all household members, child abuse and criminal clearances, medical information and other documentation.
In New York State, after the home study is completed, our prospective adoptive parents applicants must receive pre-certification via a court process that certifies applicants to adopt.
All of this helps us keep adoption a safe and reliable process for birth mothers.
4) How do I know if adoption is right for me?
This is a personal decision and, ultimately, only you know what’s right for you. It’s one of the most common questions about adoption. However, there are a couple of questions you should ask yourself. For example, do you have the resources to raise a child? Do you want to be a mother for the rest of your life? Do you have the time to dedicate to raising this child? Can your body sustain a pregnancy?
Questions to Ask if You’ve Decided to Place Your Baby for Adoption
1) Do you offer counseling for birth mothers and adoptive families?
Yes! We can connect you with counseling and support groups during and after your pregnancy, which may also be funded through us and your adoptive family. At these, you’ll be able to meet other birth mothers like you who understand what you’re going through.
2) How do I decide between open and closed adoption?
This is a personal decision, but there are certain factors that may help you decide! For example, if you value your privacy and think it would be too difficult to hear news about your child, you may prefer a closed adoption.
If you feel you and the adoptive family can set boundaries that work for you, and would like your child knowing a bit more about you, open adoption may be the right fit. This also leaves the chance to have a relationship with your child, should that be something you and the adoptive family want. If you find yourself somewhere in between, you may like a semi-open relationship, in which communication is facilitated through our adoption agency using a system called ChildConnect.
3) How does your agency help me choose an adoptive family?
We will provide you with profiles of potential adoptive families to choose from. When you’re selecting an adoptive family, you can consider your personal preferences for how you’d like your child to be raised. For example, if you want your child to be raised in a large family, you might look for an adoptive family who already has kids.
Questions to Ask about Adoption Post Placement
1) Is there support for me after I have my child?
Of course! Our free counseling services are available to you during and after your adoption process. If you are found eligible for it, the financial assistance may extend for a few weeks after you’ve given birth as well. Another option is to seek out national organizations that specifically help birth mothers like you. There is always support available!
2) Can Adoption Choices of New York connect me with post-placement counseling and support groups?
Yes, we can! We will continue to connect you with counseling and support groups as long as you need it. This way, you never have to feel alone in your adoption journey. However, it may not be covered financially after adoption.
3) How often can I communicate with the adoptive family?
In semi-open and open adoptions, this is something you’ll decide with the adoptive family and with the help of our agency. You may agree on yearly or monthly updates, for example. In an open adoption, you and your adoptive family may decide to have a visit at some point as well, depending on what kind of relationship you want with them, or even with your child.
Questions to Ask Our Adoption Agency
We hope this helped you understand the adoption process a little more. If you have any more questions about adoption, feel free to contact us. At Adoption Choices of New York, our goal is for you to feel as supported, empowered and comfortable as possible on your adoption journey.
Adoption Choices of New York is available to assist with your adoption plan. Call us, text us, email us; we are here for you!
Contact Us 24/7: 800-505-8592 (Phone) | 518-478-8420 | Click to Email
Meet the Author: Tara Giuffre has always loved reading and writing and grew up in the worlds of Narnia, Harry Potter and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Taking this passion for stories, she received a degree from Rutgers University in Journalism & Media. Besides writing, she likes long walks on the beach, spending time with her family (and her cat, Sansa), and baking the perfect loaf of bread.
She enjoys sharing vital information about adoption and birth mothers choosing adoption to families making important choices for their future family!
