Frequently Asked Questions
These frequently asked questions will help you further explore the option of adoption.
Can I call the adoption hotline to talk to someone about my pregnancy?
Yes, you can call or text the National Adoption Hotline anytime to talk. You will always reach someone kind, caring, and non-judgmental ready to listen and help.
What do I say when I call or text the National Adoption Hotline?
How do I get adoption help fast?
What is open or semi-open adoption?
With open adoption, you choose your baby’s adoptive parents instead of an adoption agency making this choice for you. You can choose the family that best meets your child’s needs and your preferences. However, an adoption professional can select parents for you if that’s what you’d prefer.
You can also decide on what kind of contact you wish to have in the future with your baby and their adoptive parents. Some birth mothers decide to receive email updates with photos of their child, while others want to meet up for visits or have regular phone calls after the adoption.
Why choose adoption?
Making an adoption plan for your baby can be one of the most loving decisions you make for them. It takes lots of love and maturity to realize that raising a child can be difficult. Love is not enough to provide what a child needs to thrive and grow. Parenting can be overwhelming for many people, even if they have the help of family and friends. We often hear from new moms who share that their family and friends were there to help at the beginning but were left on their own when times got more difficult.
No matter what you decide, you may be the main caregiver who will need to take care of your child. Being a single mom can be a sacrifice for many years to come. Some women realize the time is not right for them to become a mom, and adoption is the most practical decision they can make for their child and their future.
Are there any costs to me?
Placing your baby or child for adoption is always completely free. Depending on your state’s adoption laws, the adoptive parents you choose can pay for your reasonable pregnancy-related expenses, legal fees, counseling fees, and medical bills not covered by your insurance. Once you have completed the required forms, chosen adoptive parents, and have agreed with them to go forward with an adoption, payment of living expenses can then begin.
What if I go into labor and have not made an adoption plan?
You can call the National Adoption Hotline at 1-800-923-6602 from wherever you are, even from the hospital. Our adoption professionals will arrange to have adoptive parents travel to the hospital you’ll deliver at within hours. In most states, the adoptive parents can bring your baby home from the hospital, so they won’t go into foster care. Your baby can begin bonding with their adoptive parents right from the start. The National Adoption Hotline is open for emergencies on holidays, throughout the night, and every weekend.
How do I know whether the couple I place my baby with are good people?
Hopeful adoptive parents undergo a long and detailed process of being screened and pre-qualified before they are approved to adopt. A licensed social worker will visit the adoptive family’s home and perform a detailed home study evaluation, including FBI screenings, background checks, medical evaluations, and inquiries into their finances. As a result, you can be assured that your child will be raised in a safe and loving home. You can interview potential adoptive parents and then decide whom you feel you want to adopt and raise your child.
What if my child is older; can I still make an adoption plan?
There are loving families seeking children of all ages and races. Just call the National Adoption Hotline at 1-800-923-6602.
What if my child has a disability or medical issue, would there be any adoptive families willing to adopt him? I don’t want him to go into the foster care system.
Yes, there are adoptive families that are prepared and trained to parent a special needs baby or child.
Just call the National Adoption Hotline at 1-800-923-6602 and receive details on how to get started. There is a home for every child.
My baby will be African American and I’d prefer to place her with a black couple. Are there any black adoptive families out there?
Yes; many birth mothers who are African American hope to place their baby with parents who can better understand their racial identity. There are waiting families of all races across the country.