Considering adoption as a choice?
Here are some questions to think about:
Q: Am I ready to parent this child?
A: Options counseling can help you come up with a decision that is right for you and your baby/child. All options are explored.
Q: Can I speak to other women who have chosen to parent or adoption as their option?
A: Yes. Many women who have used our services are willing to meet with you one on one to answer questions and share their experiences.
Q: What if I can’t travel to the Lund Family Center?
A: Our counselors can meet you at your home or at a location that is convenient for you.
Q: If adoption is my choice can I choose the adoptive family?
A: Yes. We will support you in finding a family you feel 100% comfortable with that has undergone background checks and received a thorough homestudy.
Why should I work with Lund Family Center rather than a private adoption?
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All our waiting families have completed homestudies, which means that they have had criminal background and child abuse clearances performed. They have been educated in the complexity of adoption. While private adopters have to have a homestudy before they finalize, they can have an infant placed with them without the homestudy being done.
- Our services to birth mothers do not end at placement. Our counseling and support and our help continue. If you choose, our adoptive families can send letters and pictures each year and we ensure you receive them.
What is an open or closed adoption?
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A closed adoption is when birthparents choose not to meet the adoptive family. No arrangements for contact have been established and no identifying information can be shared.
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An open adoption is an arrangement between birth parent(s), adoptive parent(s), and child for some contact. Some types of contact include correspondence through letters and pictures, meetings during pregnancy and a final meeting after the birth. The contact agreement can be designed by the birth parent(s) and can vary in frequency, duration, and type, as each situation is unique.
What is an open and compassionate adoption?
Compassionate attention is provided to develop an adoption plan that meets the needs of the birth mother/father and the baby/child. Birth parents have the option to meet prospective adoptive parents and are provided support and guidance to assist in developing a lifelong healthy relationship with the adoptive family if so desired. This is a unique plan that birth parents develop to ensure they receive the level and methods of communication they desire.
What Are the benefits of open compassionate adoption?
Many birth parents benefit from ongoing contact with their child and the adoptive family through letters and pictures. It gives them the opportunity to see their child thrive, develop and grow while confirming for the birth parents that the decisions they made were good. The open communication allows the child to develop their personal identity and aid in their self-esteem.
How can Lund Family Center adoption counseling help you?
- Free, confidential, and non-judgmental options counseling is provided to explore all options
- if adoption is your choice, support and guidance is provided to create an adoption plan that fits your needs
- Support in choosing an adoptive family. You tell us what is important to you in a family, and from that, we will share with you family profiles that meet your requirements
- The profiles shared are of adoptive families that are fully screened, background checked, and well prepared
- Support in making a birth plan to include:
- Who will be at the hospital
- Method of birth, natural or medicated
- After care
- Transportation needs
- Assistance will be provided in filling out legal documents.
- Grief and loss counseling will be provided throughout entire process (before, during and after) regarding any issues you may be facing (school, finances, employment, relationships, housing)
- Transportation is provided to all necessary adoption related appointments including medical, legal and counseling appointments
- Birth mother support groups are available
- Life long support (at no fee) to all birth mothers/fathers who would like counseling services.
What to expect if you have chosen adoption
We understand considering adoption as a plan for yourself and your child can be a very difficult decision. It can bring up a multitude of emotions and at times be confusing. We can help you through this confusing time and offer you support throughout the whole pregnancy and aftercare. Some important information to be aware of:
- Paperwork. We thoroughly go over all the legal paperwork that is needed at court. If you would like an attorney one will be available at no cost to you
- Support at court during the relinquishment
- Counseling and support for as long as needed by an adoption therapist
- 24/7 support throughout your adoption process
- Strict confidentiality
- Experienced kind and compassionate staff available 7 days a week
- Honesty and respect for your situation. You will be treated with dignity and an understanding for your personal situation.
- It’s your decision how many profiles you would like to review and if you want an open or closed adoption. We respect whatever decision you make.
- You create the adoption plan that is right for you
- Free counseling for you and your family members who are involved. We provide transportation, house visits when you are unable to make it to our office.
- We personally know all families who have been screened through our home study process.
- This screening includes a criminal and child abuses clearances, reports by physicians, DMV clearances, emotional health assessment, financial status and readiness to be parents.
- We can help you with medical and living challenges you may be experiencing.
- Free independent legal services from experienced adoption lawyers.
- If you choose letters and pictures in an open adoption the Lund Family Center will help to facilitate the contact and will always keep copies of correspondence on file in case anything is ever lost. If you choose a closed adoption all information will be kept confidential in your file.
For more information regarding your options, please contact Wanda Audette at
(802) 864-7467 or via email at wandaa@lundfamilycenter.org.