BIRTH MOTHERS FAQs

Yes, absolutely. In our process, you tell us what you are looking for and we will show you families with the characteristics you are looking for, like age, how many children in the family, where they are located, religion, experience with adoption, and many other factors. Once you have selected a family that you are comfortable with, you will get to meet them and decide before making your final decision. Also, we will keep looking until we find the family of your choice. Many adoption professionals have a very limited number of families for you to choose from. In our process, we have over 3000 adoption-related contacts to find the right family for you. Simply put, you tell us who you are looking for and we will find that family. All the families that would be interested in adopting through us already have a valid home study completed in the last 12 months that proves they have had their financial, physical, employment, household, criminal and personal background investigated and that they are fit to adopt.

Yes, counseling is provided by a licensed mental health counselor. We strongly believe that counseling before and after the baby is born is very helpful in the short run and long run. Counseling is free to the mother.

That is really up to you. In this day and age, most adoptions are pretty open through secure 3rd party social media platforms, like Facebook. Some moms want very close relationships and others want a closed adoption. Tell us what you are looking for and we will find a family enthusiastic about that type of relationship. Most adoption professionals allow for annual or semi-annual photos for a year or two. We believe you have the final say in what type of relationship you are going to have and we will make sure your wishes are followed. In the over 300 adoptions we have done in the last 20 years, many still communicate with each other.

Fathers do have rights but they must exercise them to protect their rights. In other words, if a man is opposed to an adoption plan, legally he needs to step up and show that he will be financially supportive before and after the birth and be willing to legally commit to fatherhood for 18 years and he must do so in writing and file it with the Court. Whenever possible, we like to include the father in the adoption plan and get his input in the process, if positive.

Yes. When the identity of the father is unknown, we do a search of Florida’s Putative Father Registry to see if any man has registered saying he might be the father. This registry is helpful if a man is trying to protect his rights and a mom says she doesn’t know who the father is. In that case, if he has put his name in the registry, it will pop up during the search.

Yes. That is a possible. Immediate relatives don’t need a home study to adopt a close relative. In the last 20 years we have done many grandparent/relative adoptions.

Yes, as long as they have a valid home study completed in the last 12 months.

Absolutely. There are many hopeful adoptive parents that are hoping to adopt toddlers and sibling groups.

It is more common than you might think. And the good news is that there are many hopeful adoptive families out there that understand drug use during pregnancy and are eager and willing to address any issues that may arise.

In recent years, more than ½ of the mothers we have helped have been exposed to methadone or other opiates during pregnancy. The good news is that there are so many families out there that have educated themselves on the effects of opiates while pregnant and are not even slightly hesitant to adopt. In some cases, the baby needs to stay in the NICU for a week or so but we have never had any problems finding the right family for the baby.

As long as you initiate your adoption plan before your rights are terminated, yes, a family you have selected can file a Motion to Intervene and step in and take placement of the child or children. We have done many of these over the years and do have some cautionary advice: don’t wait until the day before your TPR hearing to call us. That may be too late. It is best to call us as soon as you know that you will not be able to complete the case plan. The sooner you call us the better it is for you and the child. We have done many successful interventions in the last 20 years.

As a general rule, all maternity related living expenses are covered. M.R.L.E. can include housing, food, transportation, medication, utilities, phones, insurance, daycare, etc. There are limits, of course, but as long as it is reasonably related to the pregnancy, the Court will allow payment or reimbursement.

100%. We go to great lengths to respect privacy. After the adoption is completed, someone would need a Court order to access the clerk’s file.

No. You can if you wanted to see the process, but it is not required.

100%. You can hold, care for, feed, change diapers…as much or as little as you want. Some moms find it difficult and others find it comforting. We will get you counseling to help you make all these decisions.

Yes and you will receive a birth certificate showing your name as the mother of the child and the child’s name. That will change after the adoption is finalized but you will get an original birth certificate, if you like.