Frequently Asked Questions about Adoption

Q: What services are available if I decide to investigate adoption? La Familia's Pregnancy Counseling Program is committed to assisting birth parents experiencing a problem (unexpected or unplanned) pregnancy. We help birth parents plan for the future of their child, whether they choose to parent, make an adoption plan, or end the pregnancy. Children and families are served without regard to age, handicap, national origin, race, ethnic identity, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, or economic status, consistent with the equal opportunity goals of the agency.

La Familia provides a full range of pregnancy counseling services. We have trained counselors who will provide support and education regarding the options of parenting, adoption, abortion and family care.

La Familia provides emotional support to birth parents throughout the pregnancy, and assists with pregnancy related financial concerns. If adoption is the birth parent's choice, the agency handles all the elements of an adoption. We also investigate the whereabouts of absent birth parents, conduct searches for any member of the adoption triad after the adoptee turns 18 years old, and act as an intermediary between parties. We are prepared to offer or provide referrals for whatever services our clients may require.

Q: Do I get to choose the family that will raise my baby? We support each birth parent's preference regarding the adoptive family's characteristics, and will attempt to locate a family that matches the birth parent's specifications. We have pictures and letters from adoptive families to help you choose the right family for your baby. You can even meet the family if you would like. You can locate a family on your own if you wish, however the family has to complete a homestudy and be approved to adopt.

Q: Can my family have counseling too? Yes. La Familia provides client-centered supportive counseling. Our counselors take the approach that the birth parents have the right to decide their child's future, and they deserve warm, caring, knowledgeable and non-judgmental counseling throughout the entire process.

La Familia's counseling approach is inclusive. We recognize that a crisis pregnancy affects not only the unborn child and birth parents, but extended family members or support persons. La Familia provides free pregnancy counseling to birth mothers and fathers, single or married, and family members who may want counseling, all regardless of age.

Q: What kind of input does the baby's father have? La Familia makes every attempt to contact the birth father, according to state and federal laws and standards. La Familia also encourages the involvement of the birth father whenever possible. It is sometimes in the best interest of the child to contact and involve the birth father. In many situations, La Familia's primary client is the birth mother, but there are various ways we can assist with including the birth father, even if the birth mother does not want to have contact with him.

If the birth mother does not want La Familia to provide counseling to the birth father, we will provide the birth father with referrals to other counseling services. The birth father is welcome to come to birth parent group, we have books available for him to read, and we provide him with his own attorney. We also provide full counseling services, to the birth father, whether he participates with the birth mother or not.

Q: Who has to know about my pregnancy or my adoption plan? No one in your family has to know about the pregnancy or adoption. For adoption purposes, you can sign all necessary legal documents without the knowledge or approval of your family. Adoption is an option that protects your confidentiality!

La Familia extends confidentiality to all parties, according to all state regulations and standards. La Familia's staff may not reveal information about clients in the Pregnancy Counseling Program. Information concerning the client shall be treated with respect at all times and used only in the course of normal, authorized La Familia activities. No information regarding a client shall be released unless authorization in writing from the client is on file.

Q: How will I know my baby is okay? La Familia respects the wishes of birth parents and prospective adoptive parents about the degree of "openness" in each adoption. The agency will assist with negotiating strategies ranging from complete confidentiality to a totally open adoption, as the parties request.

It is La Familia's role to mediate and support the agreement of the parties, keep both parties involved and focused on what is best for the child, and to facilitate an acceptable adoption agreement between the birth parent(s) and prospective adoptive parents.

• Open Adoption: An open adoption is when the birth parents and adoptive parents establish a trusting relationship so that ongoing contact may occur after placement of the child. This contact may include direct correspondence, written and/or by phone, and/or visits between birth parent(s) and adoptive parents.
• Semi-open adoption: This type of adoption may involve sharing first names only and receiving pictures and letters from adoptive parents after placement.
• Closed or Confidential Adoption: In some situations, a birth parent(s) may desire a closed adoption. This is defined as a confidential adoption where identities may not be shared and birth parent(s) may choose not to receive annual pictures and update letters on the child from adoptive parents

Q: How much does this cost? Biological parents do not pay anything for adoption services. Your medical bills and pregnancy-related expenses could be covered by the adoptive family.