I’m Pregnant…
Questions that will be discussed further, when you call me,
Charlotte Duncan, LCPAA, Maternity Counselor
What is Open Adoption?
This is an Understanding developed over time between the Birth Family and Adoptive Family with the counselor’s help, which may include any or all of the following: pictures, emails, calls, scheduled visits. There is also the option to choose to have Semi Open and Closed adoption.
Does the biological father of the unplanned baby have to be involved?
Every situation is different and should be discussed on an individual basis.
Can anyone interfere with my decision?
Only a legal or biological parent of the child has the right to make a decision regarding voluntary Relinquishment of Parental Rights to a child, in Texas.
Will I get to pick the adoptive family?
Yes, you will be given your choice. It is our goal that your desires for your child’s future be respected and fulfilled.
Will I get to meet the adoptive family?
Yes, Adoptive Parents welcome the opportunity to meet and get to know the Birth parents. It will be your choice if and when you want to meet them.
I can’t work; how will I pay my bills?
Help is available with food, utilities, rent and transportation according to State Regulations for Child Placing Agencies. Also, counseling and assistance will be provided to help with securing medical care.
Will I have to pay for anything?
No, you will not be responsible for any of the expenses relating to the adoption which includes the pre and post placement birthmother counseling, the adoption legal expenses, Home Evaluation of the adoptive family and follow up supervision of the child in the adoptive home for 6-8 mos. following placement.
How long will I be able to receive post adoption counseling?
Post adoption counseling by the Maternity Counselor, will be available through the agency, As Long as you need.” (The Maternity Counselor is not a psychiatrist and does not prescribe medications. )
There are no simple answers to these complex questions as they can be affected by many different variables. As part of your adoption process they will be discussed as they specifically relate to your personal situation and needs.
I frequently hear the following statement from women who are faced with the challenge of making a plan to place their unplanned baby for adoption.
“I never thought I would have an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy and be faced with this decision. How do I give my baby up for adoption? I don’t know anything about it? What is the adoption process and how do I get started? ”
When faced with a pregnancy a woman is unprepared for, it can be a confusing, frightening and lonely time. A typical reaction of many young women is to want to hurry up and find an adoptive family. They feel the urgency to make all the arrangements as quickly as possible and the responsibility to take care of everything themselves. However, they don’t know where to start.
Frequently, the immediate reaction is to either rush to the computer or cellphone and start searching on the internet for answers or begin asking friends and family if they know someone who wants to adopt. Even though it may be helpful reading about a potential adoptive family or even talking to and meeting them, it may not tell you the most important information about them. This also may not be the best or safest approach to receive the personal attention and care you deserve or the best future for your planned or unplanned baby.
First of all, being pregnant and ultimately facing the difficult decision to consider adoption are enough for you to have to handle. You shouldn’t have to worry about reading hundreds of potential adoptive family profiles or other details such as: Read More
- agreeing on the future relationship between you and the adoptive family
- whether your baby is safe and being loved by the adoptive family
- whether the adoptive family is who they say they are and have been checked out thoroughly
- whether the adoptive family will encourage your baby’s love and respect for you and your decision.
- working out the legal process, including dealing with the birthfather’s rights
- finding counseling before and after the adoption
AdopTexas is an adoption agency that is not motivated by placing the most babies for adoption. We limit our adoption work to Texas only and individuals who want a personal caring approach. Though there are many other professionals who are involved in and assist this agency, I (Charlotte) personally meet and counsel all the birthmothers we work with.
Our Main Priorities for you as the Birth Mother
- Help you find the family you are looking for
- Help work out the future relationship and contact you want with the adoptive family and the child.
- Make sure you understand the adoption process fully
- Prepare you emotionally for your decision
- Do our best to help your immediate needs to be met as we are allowed to, by law
- Provide pre and post adoption counseling
- Provide assistance to have a smooth and as stress free of an adoption experience as possible
- Protect Your Privacy, and insure the safety of the child, above all else
I (Charlotte) meet all of the adoptive families and interview them face to face before they are accepted into our program. They are then evaluated by an Adoption Home Study Specialist, who will complete an objective, professional Adoption Home Evaluation of the prospective adoptive family. The Adoption Home Evaluation includes the following and more: (read more)
- FBI, Texas DPS, Child Abuse & Neglect Criminal Background Checks
- Tax Returns and Financial Status
- Medical History
- Insurance Verification
- References
- Firearms Safety
- Safety of the home environment
- Pet vaccinations
- Adoption Home Study completed by a qualified Home Study Specialist
- Infant CPR Training
- Monthly Education on child rearing and adoption issues
- Birth certificates, Marriage License etc.
- Educational and Work History
- Attitudes about child rearing
- An in-depth evaluation of the adoptive family’s childhoods and marital relationship
- Previous adoption experience
- Attitudes about adoption and and sharing adoption with the child
After the baby is placed with the adoptive family; the adoptive family and baby are seen monthly by an agency representative during the supervisory period which is a period of 6-8 mos. Additionally, the baby is seen monthly by a pediatrician until the finalization of the adoption, for the 6-8 months following the placement.
Our commitment to the women, their babies and the adoptive families never ends. We continue to care about and want to hear from them through the years. We feel like they are a part of our family here at AdopTexas.
We are very careful who we work with. Why?
Because you and your unplanned baby deserve the best.
Once you call me, I will:
- Answer your questions about the adoption process
- Learn what your current needs and concerns are
- Discuss your preference for the adoptive family you are wanting
- Find out the type of future relationship you would prefer with the adoptive family and child.
It would be unrealistic to say making an adoption plan for your unplanned baby will be easy. This will be the most difficult decision you will ever be faced with; though if handled correctly, it can the most fulfilling decision and one you are proud of.
Who do you call when you are having a tough day and asking yourself if what you are feeling is normal or need to talk about your emotions? Is this a conversation you can have with the adoptive family who has your baby, the attorney who handled your adoption or a counselor hired on a temporary basis? No.
It takes time and someone who understands what is normal emotionally to be supportive and guide a mom through the emotional time following her decision to allow another family to parent her child.
With over 40 years of experience working for a licensed adoption agency in Texas as an Adoption Counselor I have a personal interest in the long term happiness and success of the birthmothers, their babies and all the families we work with. I have more experience than most, understanding what are normal emotions as they relate to adoption.
Testimonials and Reviews
A precious adoptive family we have been blessed to work with.
You, as a woman who may be considering placing your baby for adoption, don’t care how many adoptions AdopTexas has done, you only care about yours.
It is now and has always been our goal that every adoption is treated as if it is the only one we will ever do and is handled with personal attention and care.
Why? Because you and your unplanned baby deserve the best.
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A 35+ year tradition of providing 5 star adoption services for Texas Birth and Adoptive Families
