Choosing Private Adoption in Missouri

September 29, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Choosing Private Adoption in Missouri

By Anna Keller

Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy in the state of Missouri and are unsure of your next steps? You may be asking yourself, what should I look for in an adoption agency near me? How does adoption in Missouri even work? How do I put my baby up for adoption? What does the adoption process look like, and how do I make an adoption plan? Most importantly, where do I begin?

Adoption Choices of Missouri is a private, blanket agency that connects you with a team of specialists working in your city. At Adoption agencies in Missouri, we are geared toward helping you navigate all the possible challenges ahead. If you are considering adoption, then another thing you may be thinking about is what to look for in an agency. Simply put, you want an agency that makes it a priority to assist you in every possible way. This Missouri adoption agency will answer any questions you have. From how to give a baby up for adoption to what financial assistance you are eligible for, you will be guided. If you are pregnant and considering adoption, then these are all relevant questions that will be answered.

What Private Adoption in Missouri Looks Like

Your first step is to contact the agency. Next, consequently, is to schedule a meeting with an agent representative. This can either be done in person, somewhere you choose, or virtually. You will need to bring proof of your pregnancy, but once you have completed that, you may proceed. Thirdly, you will begin working with the agency on your adoption plan. This includes not only family selection and meetings but assessment of financial needs. Finally, you are responsible for putting together a plan for your medical care, which the agency will help you with. Prenatal appointments are vital to a successful pregnancy. Resultantly, you will need to work with your team on scheduling them. You will also need to schedule transportation if you require it.

Adoption in Missouri, or anywhere for that matter, can be complicated. You embark on a series of events that will permanently change you as a person. But you don’t have to feel alone. This journey is meant to be shared. Even if you are in a situation where you do not want your family to find out you are pregnant, you still have a support system. There are people you can reach out to for help with financial assistance or even if you just want to talk about your feelings. The next thing you may be concerned about is how you will manage to remain in control of your situation.

Perks of Choosing a Private Adoption in Missouri

This is what the agency is here for. You are in charge of every decision throughout the process, from which types of families you consider to your birth plan. If you wish to provide your child with a similar lifestyle to the one you were raised on, then you can. Once you have found a potential family, then you can speak with them on the phone. Get to know them a little. Then you can arrange an in-person meeting. If this goes well, then you can add them to your list of potential candidates.

Why should you consider a private agency? The answer is your needs will be more fully tended to. Your input will be highly regarded. Your feelings will be more strongly validated. Private agencies like this one guarantee quality. Since you are venturing into a challenging endeavor, this will come in handy. Adoption Choices of Missouri is an agency that will not only prioritize your needs but exceed the minimum requirements. Now, you may be wondering what else happens after birth.

What Happens After an Adoption

Once your baby is born, it will leave the hospital with the adoptive family. Any remaining paperwork will be finalized, and you will begin your road to recovery. But that’s not to say that you will be irreversibly damaged; rather, you will have been changed. And it’s only natural to feel displaced after this change. That is why there are resources available to guide you through your postpartum period. Additionally, you will have already named your baby, and you will give your final adoptive consent.

This is not a permanent goodbye by any means. If you selected open adoption or semi-open, then you will receive updates about your child’s condition. Additionally, you will receive as much counseling as you need after you give birth. Postpartum is often overlooked by those who have not been pregnant before. It can be a very emotional time, especially for someone who has adopted out her baby. As a result, the agency is eager to help you throughout the entire process. You have nothing more standing in your way from getting started.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800

Differences Between Past and Modern Adoption

September 26, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Differences Between Past and Modern Adoption

By Melissa Camacho

Are you currently experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and pursuing adoption in Missouri? Well, lucky you! We are here to tell you how fortunate you are to launch your adoption journey with us. Due to the efforts that contributed to the reputation of adoption, the doors have opened for all birth mothers considering adoption. Adoption has existed for many centuries and has evolved because birth mothers like you are part of the evolution of adoption. The adoption community has helped to combat the stigma of adoption over the years due to several factors.

Even though adoption has been more positive, you may experience quite a few adoption misconceptions. Those misconceptions can be traced back to ancient times of birth mothers who placed their children for adoption. It is our privilege at Adoption Choices of Missouri to educate our birth mothers about the foundation of a purposeful adoption.

About the History of Birth Mothers and Adoption Placement

Adoption has been around since the early 1600s or 17th century in Ancient Rome. Children were adopted by wealthy families in order to ensure and sustain their wealth. However, birth mothers didn’t have as many adoption options as there are today. The reason why there weren’t that many options and benefits are because adoption was seen as “giving up.” In addition, most of the adoptions were closed adoptions. There were rarely any open adoptions available.

The Turning Point of Modern Adoption in the Late 19th and 20th Centuries

After 1851, Massachusetts initiated the new phase of adoption into laws that regulated the benefits of child welfare too:

Have children adopted by families who are financially able to provide for children
Ensure the adopted children are placed in loving, caring, and healthy home environments
Prioritize the well-being and interests of children

Since then, the wellness of adoption has been increasingly accepted by society and has brought birth mothers together. This inspired the rise of open adoption in the 1990s or late 20th century. Open adoption is an advantage you will get considering adoption with a private adoption agency. Through open adoption, you can have as much contact with the adoptive family, such as contact through mail, emails, phone calls, social media, and family visits.

Open adoption has risen to 70% of adoption cases thanks to the internet and the unity of birth mothers and adoptive parents. Semi-adoption is another form of open adoption but doesn’t involve exchanging personal information. Instead, you communicate with the adoptive family through an adoption agency or third party. The third option is a closed adoption which grants the birth mother the right to terminate any type of communication with the adoptive family. As in past adoption history, closed adoption is still considered by some birth mothers.

To ensure a child will receive proper care from an adoptive family, home studies are required to evaluate their background and home environment. A case worker will conduct the home study process with face-to-face interviews and review financial and legal documents. In addition, birth mothers can visit our waiting families throughout Kansas and Missouri profile page to learn about their interests and backgrounds.

Adoption in Missouri is Not “Giving Up” in the Modern Adoption Era

I am a birth mother in Missouri. How can I put my baby up for adoption today? Choosing adoption in Missouri is an honorable choice because adoption is not giving up. We work with you throughout your adoption journey to place your child for adoption. To place your child for adoption means you will reach out to our adoption agencies in Missouri to create a suitable adoption plan. It’s a system that works to make your pregnancy less stressful and for the well-being of your child.

Our licensed adoption team will walk you through the steps to locate an adoptive family that fits your needs.

Adoption Choices of Missouri comes to meet you either virtually or in person to launch your adoption plan with an adoption specialist. This is a responsive and trusting agency to work with. Birth mothers are treated with respect and dignity in regard to their unique preferences, circumstances, and challenges. In addition, you will have the opportunity to explore our adoption options to solve matters with other necessities.

Financial assistance is available to help you pay for monthly expenses, such as food, utilities, medical, transportation, maternity needs, and housing. Furthermore, we can help you find affordable housing if you need a safe and comfortable place to stay. If you need emotional support as well, you are not alone with our counseling support services. Our counseling support group sessions will also give you an opportunity to network with other birth mothers and share your experiences. It’s a great way to heal and manage any emotional distress that affects your pregnancy, especially before you finalize the adoption process.

Feel Free to Experience the Quality of Modern Adoption in Missouri Today

Don’t hesitate to experience the gift of modern adoption. The bridge that leads to a successful adoption journey was made for you. Responsible and caring birth mothers like you are an inspiration to the evolution of adoption. Yes, you are all part of our history and can keep the love of adoption growing throughout many generations to come. If you want to learn how to give a baby up for adoption, reach out to our adoption agencies in Missouri today.

We build on the progression of adoption by empowering our birth mothers to overcome adoption fears and barriers. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800.

Birth Mother Blog

Can I Put My Baby Up for Adoption in Missouri?

September 22, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Can I Put My Baby Up for Adoption in Missouri?

By Jonathan Tick

What are the criteria a birth mother must know if they want to give their baby up for adoption? Perhaps there are some special hoops or conditions a birth mother may have to go through to become eligible for adoption. Or, maybe the process is a lot simpler than sources and other places may make it out to be. While the adoption process may be very involved, the path to starting it may not be. However, for pregnant women considering adoption in Missouri, your path to becoming a birth mother may be simpler than you think. Here, we’ll go through the steps that begin the adoption process and what a birth mother can expect to happen if she signs up with a private adoption agency like us.

Am I Able to Put My Baby Up for Adoption?

The first question pregnant women may have is wondering how to give a baby up for adoption. Or whether or not it’s possible or not. The answer to that question is a simple yes. Since none of our adoption agencies in Missouri turns away any birth mother who seeks adoption, we believe that every birth mother reserves the right to choose adoption if they want. So you can rest assured that you’ll only be welcomed when you approach our doorstep.

After that, you’ll be settled in with an adoption specialist who will help run you through the early steps in your adoption. You may ask questions during this time to help clear up any confusion. And your adoption specialist will provide you with some paperwork to sign and look through to start the adoption process. This part is crucial as it lays out the foundation of what the birth mother should expect. Then, if the birth mother doesn’t believe adoption is right for her, she can back out. No questions asked.

Creating an Adoption Plan in Missouri

This part will change a bit depending on when you decide that adoption is the choice for you during your pregnancy. Regardless, the process up until your baby’s birth will more or less be the same. Just with some varying time restraints that may come up if you decide on adoption later in your pregnancy.

Once you sign on, you’ll be given the opportunity to begin an adoption plan where Adoption Choices of Missouri gives birth mothers the opportunity to decide how their adoption will go. Your adoption specialist may give you general guidelines on how things will go. But aside from that framework, your adoption plan will be however you decide to build it. Featuring various care options ranging from financial care on necessities to medical care. This way, the adoption plan becomes a unique care plan specifically catered to each birth mother’s needs. A custom-made journey that makes every Missouri birth mother special and unique to everyone else.

Not only that, but you will also get the chance to decide on your baby’s form of adoption and birthplace. Thus further personalizing your adoption experience where you will be the person deciding who and where your baby will end up. This care will continue at least until your baby’s a due date. And will be provided for a while to ensure that both you and your baby are happy and well. During this time, you will also have the right to a consent timer that must be waited out. This consent timer is set to 48 hours and is what must be waited out before you can consent to offer your baby up for adoption. As well as acknowledging that your parental rights will end once you’ve given up that right.

Adoption Post-Birth

Depending on the kind of adoption you choose, a whole host of options can open up to you. Choosing open adoption allows your adoption in Missouri to become more involved in your child’s life. For example, you can arrange forms of communication with your child’s adoptive parents. Through our adoption agencies in Missouri, we will let you exchange letters, among other things, through our adoption centers. Thus letting you form a bond between you and your child for many years to come.

Despite what birth mothers may think, Adoption Choices of Missouri welcomes all birth mothers, no matter where they come from. We believe that all birthmothers deserve a chance to pursue adoption if they want. And should at least be allowed to pursue it regardless if they want to take it or not. Just know that our doors are always open. And if you take the plunge, know that you’re doing it not just for your baby’s benefit but your own. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800.

Birth Mother Blog

Choosing an Adoption Agency in Missouri

September 19, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Choosing an Adoption Agency in Missouri

By Melissa Camacho

I am going through an unplanned pregnancy and want to put my baby up for adoption. If you are a birth mother considering adoption in Missouri, we can help. Adoption Choices of Missouri is a licensed private adoption agency where you have more adoption options than a public adoption. Although both private and public adoption agencies work to place your child with a responsible adoptive family, you have more legal rights with a private adoption. Our adoption team will guide you when choosing an adoption agency in Missouri. In addition, we will help you learn how you can access our product adoption resources and locations in Missouri, including private adoption benefits. Private adoption in Missouri is the heart of creating an adoption plan that most fits your and your child’s needs. So choose Adoption Choices of Missouri, and we’ll get to work!

How to Locate A Private Local Adoption Agency in Missouri

If you search for adoption agencies near me, you will see a listing of local adoption agencies in Kansas and Missouri. You can expect to find a listing of Missouri call adoption agencies in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, and Independence. In Kansas, you can find your nearest adoption center in Wichita, Olathe, and Topeka.

Benefits of Choosing a Private Adoption Agency in Missouri

A licensed or private adoption in Missouri is regulated by state adoption laws. Our licensed private adoption agencies cover both domestic and international adoption. Local adoption agencies are located across Kansas and Missouri because services specialize in certain birth mothers’ needs. We operate through a network of licensed adoption professionals that guide you on how to give a baby up for adoption.

Primarily, our goal is to help birth mothers create a flexible adoption plan with respect to their situation. In addition, a big part of our mission is to practice inclusivity to expand the support of our adoption community. Therefore, all birth mothers are treated with respect and dignity. Once you contact a local adoption agency in Missouri, you can schedule a meeting with an adoption specialist virtually or in person. When you meet with your adoption specialist, you will be advised on the steps you need to complete the adoption process.

Options to Choose an Open-adoption, Semi-adoption, or Closed-adoption

With a private adoption, you have the option to create an open adoption. Open adoption will enable you to have any level of contact with the adoptive family. You can communicate through phone calls, messaging, social media, mail, and family visits. The adoptive family can be present on your labor date, and you have another opportunity to socialize and take photos. If you want a more private level of communication, you can choose a semi-adoption. With a semi-adoption, you can have a more mediated level of communication. You will not need to share personal information; you can communicate with the adoptive family through an adoption agency or third party.

A public adoption or foster care will not provide you with options to create an open adoption or semi-adoption. It will be a closed adoption where there will be no contact with the adoptive family. However, a private adoption will allow you to choose a closed adoption if you wish to not disclose your information and not maintain contact with your child or the adoptive family.

If you need help searching for an adoptive family to meet your preferences and your child’s needs, visit our waiting families profile page. You can view their photos and learn about their family values, living environments, and interests. Next, a caseworker will require a home study to conduct face-to-face interviews and background screenings on the adoptive family. After that, it’s your private adoption, your choice.

Financial Assistance for Personal Necessities and Other Coverage

You may qualify for financial assistance with monthly expenses if you are struggling financially. This includes phone service, utilities, food, transportation, maternity expenses, housing, and medical coverage for prenatal care and doctor or hospital visits. We can even support educational costs if you try to return to school or finish college. To determine your qualifications, contact our adoption agencies in Missouri. Are you worried about your child’s medical coverage when your adoption is finalized? Don’t worry. We will help you place your child with an adoptive family that is financially able to provide for your child’s needs.

Counseling Services Available with Adoption Agencies in Missouri

Our local adoption agencies offer counseling services to all birth mothers in need of emotional support. It’s difficult to mentally process the hardships surrounding an unplanned pregnancy. Some birth mothers often feel being pregnant and considering adoption is just giving up. Adoption is an alternative you take to place your child in a caring and loving environment rather than committing a neglectful act.

We understand birth moms go through unexpected situations and feel unable to raise a child without financial support or guidance. Moreover, we offer Post-Placement support services that include extended counseling and financial support up to six weeks after your adoption.

A Safe Place to Stay

A private adoption agency like Adoption Choices of Missouri helps birth mothers going through homelessness. Our licensed adoption professionals can help you find a secure, healthy, and comfortable place to stay. We are the home of your adoption journey and will work with you to plan your housing options.

Reach Out to Our Private Adoption Centers in Missouri Today!

We make your pregnancy less stressful by providing you with the resources to customize a flexible adoption plan. Every birth mother has different needs and priorities, and you have the right to choose what works for you. Adoption Choices of Missouri is a responsive and trusting agency to work with. It’s not an easy choice to seek a Missouri adoption, but we are a diligent team that can help make your adoption happen.

Our private adoption agencies in Missouri come together to be a branch of support to help our birth mothers fulfill their adoption journey. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800

Birth Mother Blog

Does Roe v Wade Affect My Adoption in Missouri?

September 15, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Does Roe v Wade Affect My Adoption in Missouri?

By Jonathan Tick

On Friday, June 24th, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the judgment passed over the case of Roe v Wade. Thus choosing to terminate a pregnancy is no longer a constitutional right for birth mothers. And left the choice to legalize abortion a matter for the states to deal with rather than the federal government.

If you were a birth mother considering adoption, chances are you are wondering how this may affect you. What does this mean for you and your baby now that Roe v Wade was overturned? In short, the effects may be a lot less severe than you may think. And if you have any further questions after reading this post, please contact one of our adoption agencies in Missouri. They’ll be able to answer any question you may have and can help you get started on the adoption process too.

Adoption vs. Other Alternatives

The first thing to consider regarding Roe v Wade is what was being overturned in the first place. The Supreme Court overturning the case meant that only abortion as a constitutional right was affected, not adoption. This means that any birth woman wondering how to give a baby up for adoption can still pursue that. So the situation of adoption in Missouri hasn’t significantly changed when you compare it from before Roe v Wade to after.

That being said, it might still be a good idea to familiarize yourself with local adoption laws. Since every state has its own set of guidelines that birth mothers must follow if they want to adopt out their baby. Missouri, for instance, requires a change in custody to be approved by the court before an adoption can proceed. So if you’re thinking, “I want to put my baby up for adoption,” familiarize yourself with local laws. Or, contact one of our adoption agencies if you want someone else to help you understand.

Then Does that Make Adoption Easier?

If adoption isn’t affected, that must mean it’s more readily available, right? Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Adoption shouldn’t be considered the ‘easy way out’ for birth mothers. Instead, it should be seen as one of several options that birth mothers have when approaching an unplanned pregnancy.

The processes for both abortion and adoption differ heavily from one another. Each choice has its own trials and tribulations a birth mother must overcome. And both require the birth mother to be heavily involved in different ways. Therefore, a birth mother should not consider adoption to be an alternative. Adoption Choices of Missouri is willing to help all birth mothers who wish to go through this life-changing event. But at the same time, we want birth mothers to remain committed to the adoption process. After all, they will have to carry the baby to term and birth them. Without this, the experience may cause unnecessary stress for the pregnant woman at the end of the day.

What Will Happen if I Choose Adoption?

Considering adoption with us will give you access to the best care we can provide you. You will be in charge of an adoption plan after you sign up with one of our adoption agencies in Missouri. Which is something that lets birth mothers dictate the way their adoption will progress. Your adoption journey may be pretty long and may require a lot of effort on your part. So we feel like giving birth mothers this chance to take control can help alleviate any stress they may have.

Your adoption in Missouri may also give you the chance to know your child in the future. Most adoptions these days don’t have birth parents leave their child and never see them again. Open adoption, as it’s called, allows birth parents some access to their child growing up if so desired. Thus giving both parent and child updates on each other. As well as improve a birth parent’s confidence in knowing that they made the right decision in choosing adoption.

How We at Adoption Choices of Missouri Can Help

Roe v Wade did shake things up for women deciding what to do with their pregnancies nationwide. And while abortion for many states is up in the air, adoption is not as affected as people may think. Putting a baby up for adoption requires a different mindset than other alternatives. Meaning that women who decided or were thinking of adopting their baby were probably settling on that choice already.

That being said, choosing adoption is a very big decision. And if you’re committed to the leap, then our adoption agencies will welcome you with open arms. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800

Birth Mother Blog

Choosing Adoption as a Teenage Birth Mother

September 12, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Choosing Adoption as a Teenage Birth Mother

By Jonathan Tick

A teenage birth mother may feel like they have nowhere to go. The idea of becoming a mother at such a young age is inconceivable for many. And you’re not alone in thinking that way. As a result, you may be looking for a solution to your situation. And to that end, choosing adoption as a teenage birth mother may be just what you need. It might be scary at first, but choosing adoption in Missouri could be just what you need. Here we’ll explain what it means to become a birth mother in Missouri. As well as how to give a baby up for adoption. And what that will mean for you and your baby’s future.

Getting Started with the Adoption Process

You’ll begin your adoption journey by talking to one of our office staff, who can help answer your questions. Then, decide for yourself if adoption is right for you. There are no wrong choices, and Adoption Choices of Missouri will honor your decision regardless. If you do decide to stick with adoption, tell our office staff. They’ll connect you to an adoption specialist who will help you through the first few steps of your adoption. This may include some basic information about what will happen during the adoption process. As well as some paperwork you will need to fill out for documentation, which includes signing over your parental rights. All birth mothers go through this process, and our staff is committed to helping you through this journey. After the initial documentation, it’s time for the adoption plan to be set into motion.

The Adoption Plan

While it may sound like a strict schedule initially, in reality, the adoption plan is quite the opposite. Adoption Choices of Missouri believes that all birth mothers should have power over their adoption as we believe this is the best way for them to be satisfied with their decisions. And feel like they have power over their adoption process.

The adoption plan starts when your adoption specialist lays out different care options. This can include various forms of care and therapy, which are provided so birth mothers have a chance to talk to counselors and work out things during the adoption, as well as various forms of financial care that can cover things like food and rent. Teen mothers may experience different forms of this kind of care, however. So be sure to ask your adoption specialist for what you qualify for since every birth mother’s needs differ due to varying backgrounds or other factors.

Post-Placement and Openness

So, you go through your entire adoption plan and arrive at the end with your baby’s birth. Your adoption specialist may have asked you what kind of adoption you like before this. Putting a baby up for adoption comes with a degree of ‘openness.’ And for teen mothers, this choice is usually no different. Openness refers to how many contacts a birth mother will have with their baby after birth. And this decision will be made at your discretion based on what you want for your baby. Do you still want to see your baby? Open adoption may be for you. Would you rather not see your child in the future? A closed adoption protects your privacy from both your baby and their adoptive parents.

And if you thought care stops after birth, think again. Your adoption in Missouri continues past the baby’s birth with post-placement care. Where you may spend a few more months under our adoption agencies’ care, this will include another round of counseling or medical care like your adoption plan. We do this to ensure that you’re alright and can get back on your feet. Since recovering from afterbirth can take some time. And we want you to be cared for as you’re recuperating from birth. Once you do, you’ll be right as rain, and your adoption journey will be over.

Adoption Choices of Missouri takes in all kinds of birth mothers, no matter their background. We believe that all birth mothers, no matter their age, deserve the choice of considering adoption. And we hope that after taking the plunge, you’ll come out as happy with your experience as others before you. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800

Birth Mother Blog

What is a Private Adoption in Missouri?

September 8, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

What is a Private Adoption in Missouri?

By Melissa Camacho

If you are a birth mother who is pregnant and considering adoption and want to know more about private adoption, we can help. Choosing adoption in Missouri can be challenging as you go through an unplanned pregnancy. Private adoption agencies are regulated by adoption laws and regulations. Adoption Choices of Missouri is a licensed private adoption agency that secures your rights in the adoption process. Our honest, caring, and trustworthy adoption professionals will assist you.

Private adoption allows you to voluntarily place your child for adoption instead of a foster care system. In doing so, you are instantly offered an opportunity to create a customizable adoption plan. We at Adoption Choices of Missouri will guide you through the necessary steps to create an adoption plan.

Creating an Adoption Plan with Adoption Choices of Missouri

Learning how to give a baby up for adoption takes time to grasp through. It’s a journey you take one day at a time. Finding the right agency and resources will equip you to safely place your child for adoption. First, contact our adoption agencies in Missouri to connect with an adoption specialist. You will meet one-on-one with an adoption specialist to discuss your needs and make arrangements for adoption. Things you can discuss are:

Finding a family to adopt your child
People who you may or may not want to be involved in the adoption process
Ways you can keep track of your child’s progress
Status of your parental rights
Financial hardships with paying for housing, transportation, medical bills, and food

We offer financial assistance to help you cover housing, medical, transportation, and food costs. The adoptive family will cover medical costs for your child’s health. If this is a concern, you don’t need to worry. Plus, a caseworker will conduct a home study to do background screenings, family interviews and review financial statements. The purpose of a home study is to see if the adoptive family is qualified to take care of your child and meets your preferences. You can visit our waiting families profile page to view an inclusive list of waiting families that include:

Married couples
Single parents
LGBTQ+ couples

Choosing Between an Open-adoption, Semi-adoption, and Closed-adoption

There are three types of adoption: open adoption, semi-adoption, and closed adoption. You must choose one of these adoption options to determine the type of relationship you want with the adoptive family. For instance, you can have any amount of contact you want with the adoptive family after your adoption is finalized.

Open Adoption

Open adoption will allow you to communicate with the adoptive family through emails, phone calls, video chats, family visits, or social media. The adoptive family can also be present at the hospital on your birth delivery date. You can take photos and videos of the adoptive family with your child. Throughout the open-adoption plan, you can also show how much you love and care for your child. Once you arrange visits with the adoptive family, take some time to communicate with your child.

Semi-Open Adoption

If you want to communicate with the adoptive with a limited amount of open communication, a semi-adoption is the way to go. Through a semi-adoption, you can communicate with the adoptive family through a more secure connection. This means you can communicate through a third party or adoption agency. To terminate your communication with the adoptive family after the adoption is finalized, you may want a closed adoption. With a closed adoption, your information, the adoptive family, and your child will not be disclosed.

Closed Adoption

Keep in mind that once your adoption is finalized, your parental rights are handed over to the adoptive family as the legal guardians. You are no longer parenting your child. When the court approves the adoption, a new birth certificate will be printed with your child’s name and the adoptive parents as your child’s parents. This applies to any type of adoption you choose. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact your adoption specialist, or you can request to speak with an attorney.

Get More Out of Private Adoption with Our Post-Placement Support Services

After you reach the final stage of your adoption journey, you might ask yourself, Can I still get support after I put my baby up for adoption? It takes time for birth mothers to recover after their child is placed with the adoptive family. That’s why we offer extended support services to help our birth mothers with their needs. You can join our Post-Placement support services if you need more time to settle and get your finances together.

You may still qualify for up to six more financial assistance for monthly expenses, such as housing, food, and utilities. In addition, we still offer counseling to help our birth mothers manage overwhelming emotions that interfere with your mental health. Getting mental health support is vital to help you resume daily activities and other future plans.

Begin Your Adoption Journey in Missouri Today!

If you are considering adoption due to unexpected circumstances, contact our adoption team to help you get settled. Adoption may not be an easy choice, but adoption in Missouri works towards your benefit and your child’s benefit. Rather than giving up, you can place your child with an adoptive family that is equipped to provide for your child’s well-being. Adoption Choices of Missouri is a responsive and trusting agency to work with. All birth mothers are treated with respect and dignity regardless of their differences and situations. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our adoption agencies in Missouri to learn more!

Our private adoption services are built to encourage birth mothers not to give up on their rights to choose adoption. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800

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What Are the Hard Parts About Choosing Adoption in Missouri?

September 5, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

What Are the Hard Parts About Choosing Adoption in Missouri?

By Hannah Wells

Are you pregnant and want to learn more about the adoption process? Sorting through adoption agencies in Missouri to find one that fits you can be exhausting and overwhelming. Here at Adoption Choices of Missouri, we can help you determine the best route for you and your baby. We understand that you may face hardships as a birth mother who chooses adoption. However, we must make this process as smooth as possible for you. We are a private adoption agency, so you have more freedom to make the final decisions. If you are a birth mother and have decided to put your baby up for adoption, we are here to help. Keep reading to learn more about the adoption process, the obstacles you may face, and the benefits of private adoption.

What is the Adoption Process When Choosing Adoption in Missouri?

Trying to figure out how to give a baby up for adoption can be stressful and confusing. You may become overwhelmed or simply not know where to even begin. This is where Adoption Choices of Missouri comes in. If you are considering adoption, the first step is to reach out to our agency, and we will schedule a time to meet with you. During this meeting, we will get to know you and your situation and guide you through the next steps. One of our Birth Parent Counselors will help you develop an adoption plan to put you at ease.

From here, you will discuss any financial needs and the importance of finding a prenatal doctor for regular checkups. The next step is finding an adoptive family. You will be provided a list of families to sort through to find the best match for your baby. After that, it is up to you whether or not you want to communicate with the adoptive parents. Now, you decide who you want with you at the hospital when you are giving birth. The baby will leave with the adoptive family, and your Birth Parent Counselor will be there to help things run smoothly. After the baby is born, you will receive support for up to 6 weeks. After that, the level of communication between you and the adoptive parents will be agreed upon by both parties.

Hardships a Birth Mother May Experience

No matter the situation you are in, Adoption Choices of Missouri can help. We’ll be here whether financial struggles, an abusive situation, or emotional turmoil. Choosing adoption is a hard decision, and you may experience a range of emotions. However, it shows your resilience and awareness as a birth mother. Adoption Choices of MO offers counseling to help you work through your feelings of grief, loss, and more. If you are experiencing negative emotions about giving your baby up for adoption, one of our Birth Mother Counselors will listen.

Many birth mothers experience grief and depression before, during, or after the adoption. It is important to know you are not alone. Women meet grief at different phases throughout this time. Healing is not a linear process. Instead, it comes with many ups and downs that can be unpredictable, but our counselors are here to help. Depression is an all-consuming illness, and it is important to address it head-on as soon as possible. It can be paired with loneliness, hopelessness, or other negative feelings. If these are things you are facing, Adoption Choices of Missouri offers these counseling sessions to help you.

Benefits of Private Adoption

When a child is placed in foster care, your decisions as a birth mother are limited. However, private adoption in Missouri is a great way to ensure your baby is provided with a good home. You have full control over what happens throughout this process and the family your baby is placed with. You can choose between two types of adoptions: open and closed. With open adoption, you’ll be able to keep in touch with them and their adoptive parents. A closed adoption means all contact between you and the adoptive family will be disconnected. It is completely up to you which route you choose to take.

In addition to having full control over each decision, Adoption Choices of Missouri provides the birth mother with various resources. We will ensure you are taken care of if you need financial assistance. Do you require emotional support or guidance? We’ll be here to listen without judgment. Are you struggling to find an affordable place to stay? There are homes out there we can help you find. Our Birth Parent Counselors can help you with private adoption to ensure you have a stress-free pregnancy.

Is Choosing Adoption in Missouri Right For You?

The adoption process can be long and overwhelming, so we are here to make it easier for you. As a birth mother, we believe you should be able to make decisions that benefit you and your baby. Forming an adoption plan with one of our Birth Parent Counselors is the best way to guarantee a satisfactory outcome. We know this is not easy, and there are situations you may face that will be tough. However, if you choose private adoption, you will have more access to resources and control over final decisions. Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800.

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Birth Mother Blog

5 Reasons Birth Mothers Decline an Adoptive Parent Match

September 1, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

5 Reasons Birth Mothers Decline an Adoptive Parent Match

By Carl Roth

If you’re a birth mother considering Adoption in Missouri, several key aspects of the private adoption process are worth considering ahead of time. One such consideration is your criteria for a suitable adoptive family. This is perhaps the single most important choice birth mothers will make. Therefore, they have every right to be particular. Who you choose to trust with your child’s care will shape their development as a person. With Adoption Choices of Missouri, every waiting family is screened extensively before and after placement, but not all will appeal to every birth mother. Some have a concrete idea of the family they want their child to be in, while others have more abstract preferences. Regardless, declinations of potential adoptive family matches are a regular adoption process. There might be several reasons birth mothers decline an adoptive parent. There’s nothing wrong with saying no, and you should seek to find the family that suits your desires most effectively.

Piece of mind is important when choosing to put your baby up for adoption. Selecting a family that will raise your child in accordance with your wishes can make all the difference. Adoption Choices of Missouri will see that you have a range of options regarding family selection. Each has unique love and nourishment to offer your child, so they will always have strong roots. It can help to speak with loved ones and your adoption specialist to figure out what your baby’s ideal adoptive family looks like.

Reasons Birth Mothers Decline

#1 Parenting Philosophies

Even if all parents read the same child development books, they would still have different ideas on how to properly raise their children. Parents’ feelings on child-rearing matters like discipline, positive vs. negative reinforcement, motivation, and freedom all impact their child’s development. If you have strong opinions on these types of parenting styles, they should be prioritized when analyzing adoptive families. Parents with a stricter philosophy may not appeal to mothers who desire greater independence for their growing child. On the flip side, an expectant birth mother who values rigid structures may oppose a long-leash parenting style. Take time to consider the kind of person you want your child to become and what parenting philosophies will facilitate that.

#2 Size of the Adoptive Family

This family characteristic is often forgotten when thinking of potential adoptive families. Many birth mothers would assume that their choices are largely limited to childless parents, but this often isn’t the case. Plenty of potential adoptive families already have children of their own or have adopted children previously. Some even choose to adopt before having their own children later on. This can mean you’re choosing between families of all sizes, anywhere from one to a dozen. You may feel that it’s important for your baby to receive their undivided attention as their first or only child. Perhaps you are hoping for siblings for your baby to grow up and bond with. Whatever your choices are, you can feel confident with the control you have over your child’s fate all throughout your adoption plan.

#3 Geographical Location

The physical environment your child grows up in can be a significant factor in your selection of potential adoptive families. If you hoped your child would grow up in a more rural environment, a city condo-dwelling family could make you think twice. Maybe you’ve imagined that suburban life would be ideal for your child’s healthy growth into adulthood. Your own past often plays a big role in your preference for your child’s immediate environment. Take into account the experiences you had growing up and the way they’ve influenced your idea of a perfect home. Adoption agencies in Missouri recognize the wide range of living situations the state has to offer. Fortunately, adoptive families come from all corners and walks of life, meaning you have heightened powers of choice during an unplanned pregnancy.

#4 Ages of the Adoptive Parents

When you’re still searching for how to give a baby up for adoption, the age bracket of the adoptive parents probably doesn’t cross your mind. This is another overlooked family characteristic that can have a great impact on the type of childhood your baby has. For example, a couple in their 40s often has different parental values to offer a child than a couple in their 20s. While an older couple may have more physical limitations, they are more likely to have a stable financial situation. Younger parents often have the advantage of greater energy capacity and flexibility. The pros and cons of different parent age brackets should be taken into consideration. Every detail can have an impact on the kind of childhood your baby experiences.

#5 Preference for Specific Types of Adoptive Parent(s)

How would you feel about your child being adopted by a single man or woman? What about an LGBTQ+ couple? More and more traditionally “atypical” families are being formed through adoption than ever before. There’s a good chance that your potential family choices will include more than just married man/woman couples. Modern loving families take all sorts of shapes, and we encourage open-mindedness for birth mothers considering adoption. You may approach your decision with preconceived notions only to have them altered when considering the value different families offer. At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we value and celebrate having a wide variety of family types for birth mothers to consider. You may end up deciding that a specific type of family places your child in a developmentally advantageous position.

Finding the Missouri Adoption that Works for You

There is no lack of influence over future proceedings for any woman who is pregnant and considering adoption. Taking the private adoption route means that your needs and concerns for your pregnancy and child’s future are front and center. There is an opportunity for adoption in Missouri that will be the perfect outcome for your child. Adoption Choices of Missouri not only sees to your child’s successful and appropriate placement but also your continued care. Medical expenses, necessary financial aid, and counseling support are all available free of charge for birth mothers who partner with us. You and your baby’s health matter most, so we ensure that everything else is taken care of to allow for a satisfying experience. Adoption won’t be an easy journey but having the right ally to guide you can help make the best of a challenging ordeal.

Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond. Please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri, call or text us at 816-527-9800