Making an Adoption Plan:
What You Need to Know
The decision to place your child for adoption is never an easy one. It’s a selfless act of love that deserves to be treated with care and thoughtfulness. If you’re considering adoption, there are a few things you should know about the process. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to ensure that your child is placed with a safe and loving family.
Choose an Adoption Agency
The first step is to choose a reputable, licensed adoption agency, like us at Adoptions of Indiana. This is a crucial decision, as the agency will be responsible to offer you unbiased options counseling and support services, will assess, educate and prepare the adoptive family. If you proceed with an adoption plan, they will assist you in finding the perfect family for your child.
Create a Adoption Plan
The next step is to create an adoption plan. This plan will outline your wishes for the adoption, including the type of family you desire to adopt your child, and the level of openness you desire with the adoptive family. Creating an adoption plan gives you some control over the situation and helps to ensure that your child is placed with an adoptive family you trust, and will provide everything you hope for your child.
Find your Perfect Family
Once you’ve contacted Adoptions of Indiana and created an adoption plan, it’s time to find the family you connect with heart to heart. AOI will work with you to find an adoptive family you will easily relate to and who shares the values that are important to you. We’ll provide support and guidance throughout the entire process, from finding the right family to signing the adoption papers. We will also provide post-adoption counseling and support services as long as you desire, without ever any cost to you.
Consent to Adoption
The final step in the placement process involves signing the consent to adoption. This can only occur after the birth of your child. You will have the opportunity to have your own attorney to explain the process to you. Your pregnancy counselor will review the documents with you if and when you are ready to proceed. Once consents are signed parental rights move from the biological parents to the adoptive parents. However, depending on your plan of openness with the adoptive family, you may remain in contact with them through letters, photos, and in person visits throughout your child’s life, if you desire.
Know Your Rights
If you are considering placing your child with an adoptive family, you are entitled to certain rights, some of which are guaranteed by law.
If any of these rights are not absolutely granted by the adoption resource with whom you are working, or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at (317) 820-2290.
You have the right to be free from pressure or prejudice in exploring various options concerning the birth and subsequent well-being of your child. Because this is an important decision, you need time to make it. Your adoption resource should help you explore all your options and assist you to plan for your child’s future, not insist you choose a family immediately or to reassure them continually of your commitment to your adoption plan.
You have the right to confidentiality. Even if you are a minor, placing your child with an adoptive family is your decision and it should be respected.
You have the right to have help with medical and other pregnancy-related expenses. If you don’t have health insurance, and are not eligible for Medicaid, your medical fees, including those of private doctors, should be paid by either your adoption resource or by the adoptive family. In Indiana, the law allows for financial assistance for lost wages and living assistance during the 2nd trimester and through 6 weeks post-birth.
You have the right to be put in touch with other women who have placed their children into adoptive homes. Before making a decision, or after placement, it may be helpful to talk with others who have shared your experience and understand your feelings.
You have the right to counseling. A trained and unbiased pregnancy counselor, familiar with adoption, should be available from the beginning to help you review all your options and make the best plan for you and your baby. You should be able to come back for counseling and support services or to supply updated information at any time. An established agency understands adoption is a life-long process and not a spur of the moment decision. There should never be a fee for counseling for post-placement counseling or support.
You have the right to select your baby’s adoptive parents. If you are working with an agency like ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA, you should be presented with several families so that you can choose who you believe will be the right family for your child. If you are responding to an advertisement, you should talk with the family and consider meeting them. You should always have the option to meet the family before placement.
You have the right to a safe, legal, ethical, and efficient process. You have the right to separate legal counsel, and to review all related legal documents ahead of time. You have the right to keep copies of anything you sign.
You have the right to peace of mind that the prospective adoptive parents have been carefully screened, are home study approved, and have participated in adoption education. Every prospective adoptive parent should be screened to make sure they will provide your child with a safe and loving home. A licensed agency like ADOPTIONS OF INDIANA completes a thorough adoptive home study evaluating the family’s social, emotional, medical, and financial stability. We also require all of our adoptive families to complete several hours of pre-adoption education to prepare them as adoptive parents and help them understand adoption from the birth parent’s perspective.
You have the right to choose the type of ongoing communication you will have with the adoptive family. Discussions about the options for post-placement communication and updates are an important part of pre-adoption counseling. You should have the opportunity to discuss post-placement communication directly with the adoptive family. A wide variety of options should be available to you.
You have the right to choose an open adoption. You always chose the level of openness you desire with an adoptive family. It is important to note that all prospective adoptive families with Adoptions of Indiana truly desire openness with their son or daughter’s birth family.
You have the right to take as much time as you need to make an adoption plan. Nothing you say or do prior to the birth of your child is binding in any way. This is an important decision and you should take as much time as you need and be sure that adoption is the right choice for you and your baby before signing legal documents.
You have the right to have an adoption resource that will stand by a child with health problems. You should expect your adoption resource to locate loving and prepared families for your child no matter the health issue.
You have the right to send the agency updated medical and other information. Your adoption resource should allow you to update your medical file and provide updated medical records to the adoptive family or maintain updated records.
You have the right to have assistance with any communication breakdown between the birth and adoptive family. Your adoption resource should offer you informal mediation in the event that there is a miscommunication between you and the adoptive family.
You have the right to be told about adoption reunion and information registries. Your adoption resource should inform you about adoption registry information. If the adoptee and birth parent choose to meet after the adoptee is of legal age, the adoption resource should be available to assist by preparing parties and facilitating this meeting.
We are here to guide you through the entire process.
Yes! You have the right to have help with pregnancy-related expenses. Your counselor can answer questions about how and when we can help.
Yes! You have the right to be able to select an adoptive family that desires the same level of openness in their adoption plan. Adoptions of Indiana’s prospective adoptive parents genuinely desire an ongoing relationship with their child’s birth family.
No. In the state of Indiana, you do not need parental consent to create an adoption plan. This is your choice and we respect your privacy.
No. In the state of Indiana, you do not have to name the baby’s father.
Yes! You will have an opportunity to review family profiles and get to know them, if you’d like.
Absolutely. All of our families are thoroughly vetted by our staff, have passed extensive background checks, have completed home studies and have participated in adoption education workshops.
Yes! We can help determine if you are eligible for Medicaid and assist in the enrollment process.