Finding a Family
You can choose the family you want to adopt your baby. With our agency, you have hundreds of families to choose from. Finding the right adoptive family ensures your child will grow up being loved by two parents.
One of the most common deciding factors birth mothers have for putting their baby up for adoption is that they get to choose the lifestyle in which their child will grow up in. Many birth mothers want to provide their baby a lifestyle they never grew up with, or one they know they are unable to provide. This starts with finding a family to adopt your baby.
When you choose adoption, you are making the selfless and heroic decision to put the well-being of your baby first. Finding the right adoptive family is the best way to provide your child a lifetime of love and opportunity. Choosing a family for your baby and determining the type of relationship you wish to have with the family is one of the most important decisions you will ever make -- it is also one of the most exciting.
Here’s how you can find the best family for your baby:
Step 1: Determine What Type of Family You are Looking For
When you think of how you want your child to grow up, what do you envision?
Maybe they live in a beach town, a big city, or somewhere in-between?
Do they have siblings?
Same-sex parents? Bi-racial parents?
When you begin your search for an adoptive family, you are in complete control of determining the specific lifestyle you want your baby to grow up in. During the adoption planning stage, you will work with your specialist to determine the specific characteristics that you hope to find in an adoptive family.
This can be as simple as marital status, to as in-depth as level of education, career, and more. Determining the type of family you are looking for helps guide you towards a perfect match.
Step 2: Determine the Type of Relationship You Want with the Family
Adoption is a brave and selfless decision -- it is also a very personal and private choice. As the birth mother, you are in control of the type of relationship you wish to have with the adoptive family. There are essentially three choices for adoption relationships:
Open: The birth mother and adoptive family share identifying information and are in contact during the pregnancy and after. Some open relationships include updates as the child grows older and even in-person visits and meetings. Open adoption allows the birth mother to stay updated on her child’s life, and in some cases, remain a part of their support system as they are growing up.
Semi-open: These relationships vary in the level of openness and are determined throughout the adoption planning. In most situations, identifying information is shared, and updates are agreed upon in a lesser manner than in a fully open adoption. Communication may continue after placement has occurred, if both parties have agreed to do so.
Closed: No identifiable information is shared between the birth mother and adoptive family. There is no communication between the two sides during the pregnancy, nor after placement has occurred.
While open and semi-open adoptions are not for everyone, choosing to have a relationship with the adoptive family helps you feel confident in your decision to place your baby with that family. To learn more about having a relationship with the adoptive family of your child, fill out this form to speak with an adoption specialist.
Step 3: View Adoptive Profiles to Find a Family
Once you have determined the type of family you are looking for and the relationship you wish to have with them, you are ready to start viewing adoptive family profiles. Through video profiles, you will get a better feel for a family and their personalities, with the intentions of building a personal connection.
You can view as many profiles as needed to find a family or families that you feel may fit what you envision for your child. Based on your adoption planning, your specialist will help you identify families based on the preferences you expressed when creating your adoption plan.
To view families who are hoping to adopt, click here.
Step 4: Begin Your Search Today
When you choose adoption, finding the best family for your baby is the top priority. Providing the opportunity for them to grow up in a lifestyle you choose, with a loving family, has never been easier. Fill out this form or call 1-800-ADOPTION to speak with a specialist and to begin your search for the perfect family.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
