Choices in Adoption

Open adoption as defined by the Second Open Adoption Conference is adoption which includes the birthparents and adoptive parents meeting one another, sharing full identifying information, and having access to ongoing contact over the years. (All three components must occur to fit this definition.)

Openness in adoption (or semi-open adoption) refers to various forms of communication between birthparents and adoptive parents, such as exchanging letters and pictures, meeting on a first name only basis, meeting once, but not engaging in ongoing contact, etc.*

Closed adoption would be if a birthmother does not want any contact at all with the child and/or the adoptive family.

*Kathleen Silber and Patricia Domer take this definition directly from Children of Open Adoption)

Agency Adoptions

1. The client would contact an adoption agency and go for information and counseling; the agency would assign a social worker who would meet with her from time to time during the pregnancy to counsel her through the adoption process.
2. The agency keeps a list of couples who want to adopt and does an extensive interview and home study on each couple before approving them as adoptive parents.
3. The agency tells the client general information about the couple selected by the agency, or the agency gives the client the opportunity to review family profiles and select the couple herself so that she can be comfortable with her decision.
4. One important part of the paper work is a social/medical history form that the birthmother must complete for the future welfare of the child.
5. If the father is named, the agency will attempt to notify him as soon as possible to see if he wants to be involved in the adoption plan. This is not required by the State of Florida.
6. All pregnancy and adoption-related expenses for the birthmother which have not been paid by health care insurance will be paid for by the adoptive parents.
7. The earliest that the birthmother can sign the termination of parental rights papers in Florida is 48 hours after the birth or if the doctor allows the birth mother to be discharged from the hospital prior to 48 hours. The baby usually stays in the hospital during that time and is then placed with the adoptive parents, even though technically the custody belongs to the adoption agency until the final decree.
8. After that time, when the birthmother is ready to legally consent to the adoption plan, she signs the relinquishment of rights and consent to adoption papers.
9. The agency monitors progress of the adoptive family for three months, and then the adoption plan is finalized.

Court Adoptions or Private Adoptions

The term court adoption refers to those adoptions that are arranged legally, but not through an adoption agency. The term private adoption means that placement of the child in the home is arranged privately through a private attorney or through a private physician who works with an attorney.

1. A client would contact a private attorney (we have a resource list of adoption agencies and attorneys) who handles adoptions (or a private physician), usually her OB/Gyn, who would work through an attorney. If a birth mother needs counseling, the attorney or physician might arrange this during her pregnancy.
2. The attorney keeps a list of adoptive couples. These people have been approved after an extensive home study.
3. The attorney tells the birth mother general information about the couple so that she is comfortable with the couple who will be adopting her baby.
4. One important part of the paper work is a social/medical history form that the birthmother must complete for the future welfare of the child.
5. If the father is named, the attorney may notify the father to see if he wants to be involved in the adoption plan. All attorneys do not do this since the State of Florida does not require it. It depends on the wishes of the mother.
6. The birth mother is not charged for the services of the attorney, nor for the medical care she receives during the pregnancy and during her stay at the hospital. The adoptive couple, according to provisions of Florida law, pays for her expenses and the baby's. (If you ever hear of a case where money is changing hands between a birth mother and an adoptive couple, this adoption is not legal; the mother should see a reputable attorney or agency at once.)
7. After the mother has signed the adoption papers with the agency or lawyer, the baby is released (generally from the hospital) to the attorney, who delivers the baby to the adoptive couple.