All about adoption agencies

October 31, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

All about adoption agencies

An unplanned pregnancy can be a source of great uncertainty. This news can potentially change your life’s course in an instant. The lifelong responsibility of caring for a child can bring your emotions to the forefront. Because of the unexpected nature of the pregnancy, your options may appear to be limited at first. It is normal to be filled with apprehension. This period is fraught with difficulties and life-altering decisions. You have the option of working with Missouri adoption agencies near you. And, of all your options, Adoption Choices of Missouri will be the most helpful to you during this difficult time.

Your options for adoption

When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, remember that you have options that matter. Important decisions must be made when deciding what to do with your child. One initial thought might be to raise the child. This option considers your child’s well-being but may not put you in the best possible position. Raising a child is a costly and time-consuming endeavor. Parenthood requires you to be completely prepared. In addition, it is a lifelong responsibility that may place you in a position that limits your opportunities. Raising a child, for example, can make it more difficult to advance your career or finish school on time.

Turn to private adoption agencies if you want a solution that will benefit both you and your child. You can choose the family who will raise your child through private adoption. Choosing your child’s adoptive family ensures that your child will grow up in a loving family. All of the families we present to you have been pre-screened and interviewed to ensure your peace of mind when deciding to put your baby up for adoption.

All adoption decisions in Missouri are yours and yours alone. We will give you the most opportunities to give your child a good start in life. On the other hand, you get to make all the important decisions throughout adoption in Missouri. We will assist you, but we will not make your decisions for you. We respect your choices at any stage of pregnancy.

Resources for private adoption

Adoption Choices of Missouri will provide you with the resources you may require during your pregnancy. Medical coverage, financial assistance, adequate housing, and emotional support are among the services provided. We will provide you with the best possible care, from physical resources to counseling with our caring staff. We work hard to ensure that you are properly cared for and supported. Because pregnancy can be a time of financial insecurity, we are here to help you and your baby. It can also be an intensely emotional time, so we are here to help you with your mental health. Your pregnancy should be as easy as possible, and we are here to help make that happen.

When considering adoption, keep in mind that private adoption service provides you with more control than public adoption. You can make important decisions about your baby through private adoption. We can help you if you are dealing with a mentally or physically abusive birth father. When the birth father is abusive, he usually has little to no say in what happens to your child. You will have the option of placing your baby for adoption. Depending on the situation with the birth father, an attorney may be required. Our adoption specialist will guide you through the process and cover any fees in such cases. Every adoption situation is unique, but we are here to help you in any way we can.

Adoption Choices of Missouri is one of the adoption agencies in Missouri that will assist you at every stage. We will be there to help you regardless of the circumstances surrounding your pregnancy. We are here to support your decisions, from financial assistance to the creation of an adoption plan. Our adoption specialist will assist you in planning your baby’s adoption, but you have the final say in all decisions. We have decades of experience and can help you find the answers you’re looking for about private 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.

Birth Mother Blog Putting baby up for adoption

Celebrating National Adoption Month!

October 27, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Celebrating National Adoption Month!

By Tyra Watts

November is National Adoption Month. We at Adoption Choices of Missouri recognize the value of adoption and the roles that the birth mother, child, adoptive family, and adoption agencies near you play in making adoption possible. The meaning of adoption, its origins, the significance of adoption, and its advantages will all be covered in this article. Every adoption journey is unique, and we are always available to support you. We are the adoption agency for birth mothers who are interested in placing their child for adoption.

What Exactly Is Adoption, and Why Celebrate National Adoption Month?

Adoption is a widespread practice in the United States. It is the procedure through which a birth mother agrees to give up her baby in the hopes that a family would adopt and nurture the child as if it were their own. When you put your baby up for adoption, you relinquish parental rights and give the adoptive family responsibility for nurturing the baby.

The adoption process varies by state. To begin an adoption in Missouri, you, the birth mother, need to contact a local adoption agency. Then, you’ll set up a meeting to discuss your case and sign the paperwork. Then, Adoption Choices of Missouri will help you get financial assistance and other services if needed. Following that, depending on the kind of adoption (open, closed, or semi-open), you will be matched with an adoptive family and may meet the adoptive family. You’d have completed your birth plan by the time you reached your due date. When the baby is delivered, he or she will be taken home by an adoptive family. A date will be set after birth for you to relinquish your parental rights. If counseling and support are needed, our adoption agencies in Missouri will continue to provide it.

What Is the History of Adoption?

Adoption has a long history in the United States, dating back to the 1800s. Because churches usually took in children, they would play a role in these adoptions as an adoption agency. By the mid-twentieth century, legislation had been put in place to make adoption lawful and much easier to complete. Adoption has become far more frequent in the United States. Many children are placed in loving and safe homes with supportive adoptive families.

What Is the Importance of Adoption?

Adoption is significant for a number of reasons. One reason for this is that it is one of three options available to birth mothers, the other two being the termination of pregnancy and parenting. For a variety of reasons, not all birth mothers have the option of termination of pregnancy or raising the kid (it is important to remember that any reason why a woman does not want a child is a valid reason). Another reason why adoption is significant is that it helps to form new relationships between the birth mother and the adoptive family, as well as between the child and the adoptive family. Adoption holds birth mothers and children to a higher standard as well.
Having control over the adoption process for the birth mothers. The right of the birth mother to select one of three alternatives for their regency entitles her to influence the adoption strategy. They make several decisions, including the birth plan, the adoptive family, and the kind of adoption.
There are different types of adoption options to pick from. As previously stated, three types of adoption plans are available: open, closed, and semi-open. You can pick the family who will adopt your child through open adoption. An adoption agency manages closed adoptions, and you cannot interact with the adoptive family or vice versa. When there is communication between the birth mother and the adoptive family, the adoption is considered semi-open.

Celebrating National Adoption Month and Why it is Important

Adoption is significant for a wide range of reasons. One reason for this is that it is one of three options available to birth mothers, the other two being the termination of pregnancy and parenting. For various reasons, not all birth mothers have the option of terminating the pregnancy or raising the child (it is important to remember that any reason why a woman does not want a child is a valid reason). Another reason adoption is significant is that it helps to form new relationships between the birth mother and the adoptive family and between the child and the adoptive family. Adoption holds birth mothers and children to a higher standard as well.

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.

Will adoptive family tell child conceived through rape

Birth Mother Blog

My Child was Conceived Through Rape: Will the Adoptive Family Tell Them?

October 24, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

My Child was Conceived Through Rape: Will the Adoptive Family Tell Them?

By Wendy Swisher

Experiencing sexual assault and finding out it resulted in pregnancy is overwhelming. Because of everything you have gone through, you are not happy about being pregnant. Keeping the baby is not an option for you, but neither is terminating the pregnancy. The baby is a constant reminder of everything you have endured. You feel loss and despair when you think about the pregnancy. Those are valid feelings, and you should not feel bad for them. They are understandable after everything you have been through.

Keep in mind that Adoption in Missouri makes you brave because you are doing what you need to do to heal. A question you may have is whether the adoptive family will tell the baby they were conceived through sexual assault. You can ask them not to disclose it to the child, but ultimately It is up to you whether you divulge how your baby was conceived to the adoptive family. Even if the adoptive parents are aware of the origin of their conception, they most likely will not burden the child with this information because they do not want the information to affect the child in a negative manner.

As the birth mother, you are wondering how to give a baby up for adoption. You can start by looking up Adoption agencies in Missouri. Find one where birthmothers are treated with respect and dignity, like Adoption Choices of Missouri.

Adoption after Sexual assault

If you’re pregnant and considering adoption, the first step in the adoption process is to call us today, and we will connect you with one of our birth parent counselors. At the first initial meeting, the birth parent counselor will go through all of the paperwork with you and help you get any services you may need, whether that help is mental or physical health. For example, finding a prenatal doctor to make sure you and your baby are healthy. Also, if you are finding that working through your emotions is too difficult after the sexual assault, one of the services we can offer is counseling. A counselor can help you understand what you are feeling and how to cope with it in a healthy way.

Counseling will be available to you not only during the pregnancy but after as well. Your birth parent counselor is there to help you have a positive adoption journey by guiding you through the adoption process step each step of the way. Another resource offered if eligible is financial support. What this means is there may be help to cover your bills and basic needs, like groceries, rent, utilities, phone, and gas.

Choosing the Right Adoption Plan

After you have figured out the services, you need an adoption plan can be formed. The great thing about adoption is you get to make choices every step of the way. Important choices like the type of adoption you want; closed, open, or semi-open. The type of adoption you choose depends on the level of contact you want to have with the adoptive family. With open adoption, you get to receive updates from the adoptive family, and sometimes visits can be arranged. Again this is all decided between you and the adoptive parents.

Semi-open is where your updates and any contact go through the adoption agency. The third type is close. Sometimes this is easiest on the birth parents. Closed adoptions are where the birth parents and adoptive parents have no contact or exchange no important contact information. The next step is to pick the adoptive family. Your birth parent counselor will provide you with potential adoptive families. Also, during this time, a birth plan will be formed for the hospital when you give birth. The birth parent counselor assigned to you will be there with you to help advocate for your needs when you can’t.

How Adoption Choices of Missouri can Help You

Since the unplanned pregnancy was a result of a sexual assault, you can list the father as unknown. Since the birth father is unknown, most adoptions can proceed without his consent. This varies state by state. An adoption attorney can let you know for sure what steps need to be taken for your situation. Our agency can help connect you with an adoption attorney. We are here for you to ensure the safety and well-being of you and your baby.

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption, then call us today. 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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2022 Adoption Tax Credit

October 21, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

2022 Adoption Tax Credit

The 2022 tax filing season is upon us! The Internal Revenue Service recommends taxpayers take time to determine if they are eligible for important tax credits. Many of our adoptive families will be applying for the Adoption Tax Credit. With that in mind, we have compiled some basic information about the 2022 adoption tax credit.

Adoption Tax Credit 101 – for 2022 adoptions (claimed in early 2023)

If you have done any research into adoption financing, you’ve probably heard about the Federal Adoption Tax Credit. But what exactly is this credit, and how does it work?

The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit that helps families offset the costs of qualifying adoption expenses. Families who paid qualifying adoption expenses in 2022, and owe taxes, may be eligible to benefit from this credit. For adoptions finalized in 2022, there is a federal adoption tax credit of up to $14,890 per child. The 2022 adoption tax credit is NOT refundable, which means taxpayers can only use the credit if they have federal income tax liability.

Parents who are adopting from the U.S. and claiming qualified adoption expenses can claim the credit the year of finalization or the year after they spent the funds. Parents who adopt a child with special needs and are not basing their request on expenses should claim the credit the year of finalization. Parents who adopt internationally cannot claim the credit until the year of finalization.

The credit applies one time for each adopted child and should be claimed when taxpayers file taxes for 2022.

To be eligible for the credit, parents must:

Have adopted a child other than a stepchild — A child must be either under 18 or be physically or mentally unable to take care of him or herself.
Be within the income limits — Income affects how much of the credit parents can claim. The credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) in excess of $223,410, and it’s completely phased out at $263,410 or more.

According to the IRS, “qualified adoption expenses” can include items like:

Reasonable and necessary adoption fees
Court costs and attorney fees
Traveling expenses related to adoption
Other expenses that are directly related to and for the principal purpose of the legal adoption of an eligible child

If you’re not sure whether you are eligible to use the adoption tax credit or if you paid qualifying adoption expenses in 2022, a tax professional will be able to provide more information.

How Much is the 2022 Adoption Tax Credit?

The amount families are eligible to receive from the Federal Adoption Tax Credit depends on a number of factors and will vary based on their unique situation. Families who finalize the adoption of a child with special needs in 2022 and fulfill the eligibility requirements above, can claim the full credit of $14,890 whether or not they had any expenses.

Other adopters can claim a credit based on their qualified adoption expenses, which are the reasonable and necessary expenses paid to complete the adoption that have not been reimbursed by anyone else. If the expenses are less than $14,890, the adopters claim only the amount of those expenses. However, if the expenses exceed $14,890, the adopters can claim up to, but no more than, $14,890, per child.

The Adoption Tax Credit limit is based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and is recalculated each year based on current cost of living. Income affects how much of the credit parents can claim. For the 2022 Adoption Tax Credit, families with a MAGI below $223,410 can claim full credit. The credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) in excess of $223,410, and it’s completely phased out at $263,410 or more.

Adoption and taxes can be complicated, and you will likely have questions about the tax benefits available in your specific situation. While we hope you find the information in this post helpful, keep in mind that Adoption Choices does not offer tax advice. Talk to a tax professional for more specific information about how the Adoption Tax Credit can benefit your family.

Future: 2023 Adoption Tax Credit – If you adopt a child in 2023, the credit maximum amount will be $15,950 with an AGI phaseout threshold of $239,230 to $279,230.

Present: 2022 Adoption Tax Credit – If you adopt a child in 2022, the credit maximum amount will be $14,890 with an AGI phaseout threshold of $223,410 to $263,410.

Past: 2021 Adoption Tax Credit – for the past tax year 2021, the maximum adoption credit was $14,440 per child with a phaseout range of $216,660 – $256,660.

Interaction with the Child Tax Credit

The Child Tax Credit changed in 2018, there was also a temporary change in 2021. The amount is now $2,000 per child, but only $1,400 of it can become the refundable additional child tax credit (dependent on the family’s earned income), with the remaining $600 a non-refundable Child Tax Credit. This credit will supersede the adoption tax credit when reducing the tax liability.

To determine the amount of the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit a family uses, a family must complete the Child Tax Credit Worksheet in IRS Publication 972. Software and tax preparers will automatically calculate these amounts.

Taxpayers who can answer “Yes” on the last line of the Child Tax Credit Worksheet may be eligible for the Additional Child Tax Credit, which is a refundable credit (meaning they can claim the credit regardless of their tax liability). To claim the Additional Child Tax Credit, parents must complete IRS Schedule 8812.

How Much Taxpayers Will Benefit

How much, if any, of the adoption tax credit a parent will receive depends on their federal income tax liability in 2022 (and the next five years). In one year, taxpayers can use as much of the credit as the full amount of their federal income tax liability, which is the amount on line 11 of the Form 1040 less certain other credits (see Child Tax Credit above). Even those who normally get a refund may still have tax liability and could get a larger refund with the adoption tax credit. Taxpayers have six years (the year they first claimed the credit plus five additional years) to use the credit.

People who do not have federal income tax liability will not benefit this year. We encourage them to claim the credit and carry it forward to future years since the credit may become refundable again in the future.

Claiming the Adoption Tax Credit

To claim the credit, taxpayers will complete a 2022 version of IRS Form 8839 (available at irs.gov) and submit it with their Form 1040 when they file their 2022 taxes. Most tax software will create this form for you. Before filing, taxpayers should review 2022 Form 8839 instructions (will also be available at www.irs.gov) very carefully to be sure that they apply for the credit correctly and to see if anything has changed. The instructions are needed to calculate how much of the credit will be used.

When claiming the adoption tax credit, you’ll want to be ready with documents such as:

The final adoption decree
A placement agreement from an authorized agency
Court documents
A state’s determination for special-needs children, if applicable

This is a lot of information, and you probably have more questions about the tax credit for adopting a child in your specific situation. Adoption Choices does not offer tax advice and recommends that you talk to your tax professional for specific information on how the Adoption Tax Credit can benefit your family.

Birth Mother Blog

You can Choose Adoption in Missouri

October 20, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

You can Choose Adoption in Missouri

By Manuel Serritos

Finding out about an unplanned pregnancy can be unwelcome, especially depending on where you are. This news can happen at a time when a pregnancy is the last thing you would have expected to happen. You may have found out when you are still in school or progressing towards your career. Furthering yourself when facing the possibility of becoming a parent might make things more difficult. Becoming a parent is something many people might just not be ready for due to the events going on in their life. If you are at this point, know you have options with Adoption Choices of Missouri.

Deciding to choose adoption

“How far along in my pregnancy do I have to be to consider adoption?” This might be one initial question you may have when searching for how to give a baby up for adoption. For adoptions in Missouri, working with an adoption agency near you can be considered any time you are pregnant. As long as the child has not been delivered, an adoption plan can still be set in place. The only limitation that comes with adoption agencies in Missouri is if your child has already been delivered.

In cases where delivery has happened, a birth mother is given 72 hours to give their baby up for adoption. Birth mothers have the right to do this as it is protected under the Safe Baby Haven Law. If this option is considered, Adoption Choices of Missouri will come to meet you to pick up the baby. This process leaves you 100% confidential, and no questions are asked. Birth mothers are treated with respect and dignity, as giving up their child for adoption is an act of love.

Only if you feel comfortable can you even help set up an adoption plan for your baby. Parenting a newborn might be a responsibility you realize you are not ready for until it happens. If that is the case, we are here to help support your decision. Deciding to become a parent is not a simple decision. This decision can be made even more tangible once the reality of the situation sets in with the newborn.

Aside from adoptions that take place after delivery, you get to choose the adoption process that works best for you. Choosing Adoption Choices of Missouri in the early stages of pregnancy can help birth mothers with various resources.

Resources and choices are given when choosing adoption

If you are considering adoption in Missouri and what it can do to help you know we are there to help you. No matter the stage of your pregnancy, assistance will be given to any birth mother in need. We will provide you with any resources you may need during the initial stages of the adoption process. Some of the resources include food, rent, clothing, phone service, and financial and medical assistance. An unplanned pregnancy can be something you are not financially prepared for, but we can help make this time easier.

Your choices are at the heart of choosing an adoption plan. When deciding what option is best with your adoption counselor, you make the important choices. Depending on how comfortable you are, you may choose to have a role in your child’s life after adoption. We offer open adoptions if you want to go down this route. With open adoptions, you will get to choose your child’s new adopted family. This option lets you know your child will be raised by a verified family you trust. Open adoptions even allow you to have contact with your child through occasional meet-ups and status updates. This choice will allow you to have a set role in your child’s life without the responsibility of being a parent.

Choosing adoption in Missouri

For some birth mothers, seeing their child with another family may be a situation that might be too painful to experience. In this case, we do also offer semi-open and closed adoptions. With these forms of adoption, you will only get limited to no information about your child and their family. This option allows you to create distance from the pregnancy experience if needed.

If you are pregnant and considering adoption, know that your pregnancy can be an opportunity for both you and your child. Private adoption is not just giving up your child. It gives them a loving start with their adopted family they might not be able to get otherwise. It can provide you with the resources you need to continue furthering yourself. Adoption Choices of Missouri can give you and your baby a solid start. Choosing adoption is an act of love for all those involved, regardless of when it happens.

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

Gave My Baby Up for Adoption, What Now?

October 17, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Gave My Baby Up for Adoption, What Now?

By David Seamonson

You have done an amazing thing by giving your baby up for adoption. We know that every birth mother comes from a different place and whether you did not know if you could support your baby or if you came to us because of an unplanned pregnancy, we are here to help you. You have entered into the adoption process, and there are many ways things that you have gone through to get to where you are now. We also know that you might not ever be back to what you used to be after you gave your baby up for adoption. But we offer our private adoption service so that when you feel like you are ready to try and move on, it is a possibility.

Deal with your emotions during your adoption journey

Knowing in your mind why you have chosen adoption is a lot different than understanding why you feel the way you do. There is a multitude of emotions that you might be feeling due to your decision to give your baby up for adoption. By coming to an adoption agency, you are able to use any of the resources that they have while you are in the adoption process or even after your adoption plan has been completed. The best way to understand yourself is to talk to other people, which is why we offer you counselors 24/7. Your mental health is a top priority, and you have done something that is very emotionally taxing.

Set goals for how you want your adoption to look like

Before the adoption process began, you were probably planning on doing a lot of things that now seem pretty

far-fetched. Write them down because they are not out of reach anymore. Since you are going through the adoption process, you are opening up your future to many different options. Set goals for things that mean a lot to you. List them by importance to you and how much you want to experience them. Getting from day to day can be difficult, and that is why setting long-term goals that you want to achieve as well as smaller goals. The smaller goals lead to rewards for making it from one day to the next, while your larger goals give you something to look forward to in the future.

Explore your dreams after your adoption

Moving on comes with the knowledge that what you did in your past with your unplanned pregnancy will not affect how your future plays out. When it comes to adoption, it is about your future, and it is about understanding what makes you who you are. Your life is still yours, and you need to look to the future to see what will make you happy. Whether this is furthering your career or if it is rebuilding a family on your own time, the future is all yours.

Know you did all you could for your baby

The way that the adoption process is done is so that you take part in every step. This is so that when you are going through it, you make every decision yourself. The adoption specialists are available to help you find the best fit for you, and you are able to see all of the resources they do for those families. You chose the type of adoption that you feel will benefit both you and your baby, and you decided the best way for you to return to normal life.

Where you came from before the adoption process is something that you should reflect on so you can realize how it will benefit you in the future. You will not have to worry about your baby. Another family that you choose will be taking care of them, supporting them financially, and loving them unconditionally.

Gave My Baby Up for Adoption How Can Adoption Choices of Missouri Help?

What we do at Adoption Choices of Missouri is provide you with a way to feel confident with your decision to adopt. Adoption is a very difficult decision to come to, and so when your adoption plan is completed, we still offer a majority of our services. Your health is a primary concern, and it might affect you at very different times, which is why it is open 24/7. You took part in each part of the adoption process so that you can look back at it and say that your decisions placed both you and your baby in a better place. We want to encourage you to chase your dreams, set your goals, and see that what you did for you and your baby placed both of you in great places.

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

pregnant in bad relationship choose adoption

Birth Mother Blog

I’m pregnant and in a bad relationship, can I choose adoption?

October 13, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

I’m Pregnant and in a Bad Relationship, Can I Choose Adoption?

By Manuel Serritos

Bad relationships are far too common than they should be. A relationship you are in might have started off fine, but for one reason or another, things can change. This change often can make the relationship more toxic in comparison to when it was started. The change can be seen in a lack of communication, increased arguments, and even physical or mental abuse. Experiencing any of these problems for an extended period of time can destroy a relationship and a household.

If a child is added to the relationship because of an unplanned pregnancy, it can make things even more complicated. It is difficult for a child to receive proper development when they are living in an unstable household. No child deserves a bad start to life that will place them in an unfavorable living situation. If you are in a bad relationship while pregnant, know you have options for your child. One of those options is Adoption Choices of Missouri.

Initial Steps to Take When Choosing Adoption

Before even searching “how to give a baby up for adoption,” you need to take a look at your relationship. “Is the birth father abusive?” “Has he been supportive?” “Will my child be able to be raised properly by the birth father?” These are all questions you need to ask yourself. Depending on your answers, adoption in Missouri can be a viable route in supporting your child with a loving home.

A bad relationship can create an unstable living environment, but adoption can give your baby the start they need. With adoption agencies in Missouri, we will strive to help you find a loving family for your child. All of the families that are being considered to be adoptive parents are screened with extensive background checks. They are also required to meet with social workers for interviews prior while providing multiple forms of identification. Most importantly, you get to choose the family when creating an adoption plan. The choice of the family your baby, goes to is yours and yours alone. You have complete agency in the decisions made while we provide you with options for adopted parents and resources. Your choices will be supported by our care.

Adoption Support Given to You

Regardless of the stage of pregnancy, you are at, Adoption Choices of Missouri is there to help you. Depending on the support you need, we will provide you with any necessities needed during pregnancy. Some of what we provide includes rent, food, transportation, clothing, phone service, and groceries. Pregnancy can be a time when expenses add up quickly, but we are here to help you out. Although you do not get paid directly for adoption, financial assistance may also be provided by the state. If considering adoption, an Adoption Counselor will help determine and allocate any assistance you may need depending on your situation.

Even with the help, we provide during your pregnancy, giving up your child for adoption can still be a painful decision. While support during pregnancy is much needed, care after delivery is just as essential. Giving up your child is not an easy choice, even if you get to know the adopted family. It can be an experience you can never be fully prepared for until it actually happens. But we are there to support you every step of the way post-pregnancy. The main support we provide after delivery consists of support counseling. This counseling is with trained professionals who understand any feelings you might have after delivery. They will be there to show you compassion and guide you on how an adoption is an act of love.

Handling the Birth Father

Every adoption is a unique situation. Depending on the role of the birth father in your life currently, your baby can be placed for adoption without his consent. This is mainly possible in cases where the birth father is abusive or uninvolved. If there is a history of abuse with the birth father, your child deserves better. You have the right to decide what option is best for your child and if adoption is that decision. When you are creating an adoption plan, our team will discuss the choices you have. Just because things may seem bleak with the birth father, it does not mean your child will be affected.

If you are pregnant and considering adoption while in a bad relationship, please know you are not alone. You have support, and the status of the relationship does not define how your child will do. Adoption can help provide your baby with a loving family and a new beginning.

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

Is Adoption an Option After a Sexual Assault?

October 10, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Is Adoption an Option After a Sexual Assault?

By Anna Keller

Are you feeling discouraged and upset after a sexual assault resulting in an unplanned pregnancy? Wondering if you should keep your baby after your body is taken advantage of? Maybe you want to know if adoption is an option after a sexual assault. Uncertain about the future, confused, angry, and worried about your health? Furthermore, what about the health of your baby? You are well within your right to feel that way after a traumatic event like sexual assault.

On top of that, you may feel like your baby represents something that you do not want to hold onto, that your baby represents violence and cruelty. However, it’s important to remember that you still control what happens next. If you decide to create an adoption plan, then that is an admirable decision. It is nothing to be ashamed of. It is easy to get lost in the vast ocean of self-deprecation and internalize the violence that was inflicted upon you. However, it is important to remain level-headed and remember that this is not your fault.

If you are pregnant, considering adoption, and wondering how to give a baby up for adoption, then keep on reading. You may want to know if you’ll automatically feel better once you have started the adoption process. The truth is that there is no one way to answer that question. Everyone processes trauma differently, and as a result, where some people feel weakened, others feel empowered. The reverse is also true. But we at Adoption agencies in Missouri can tell you that you are not weak about what happened to you. And furthermore, you are strong in choosing adoption.

Is His Consent Needed to Proceed with the Adoption?

Adoption agencies in Missouri, like Adoption Choices of Missouri, are here to help you process your trauma. Their job is not to simply walk you through the adoption process. Rather, they will provide you with the tools you need to steer the engine yourself. Adoption in Missouri consists of kind, helpful people who want to see you prosper during your pregnancy.

Now you may want to know exactly what this process looks like. The beginning is simple and straightforward: contact someone by phone or email. You do not have to immediately disclose that you have been assaulted unless you want to. Another question you might have is whether the birth father has to be involved. If you are a victim of rape and prove your case to court, then the birth father’s consent is voided. You do not have to subject yourself to waiting for an answer from the last person you want to hear one from.

Types of Adoption Support Available

You may also be wondering what type of emotional support is available to you during your pregnancy. If you connect with an agency in Missouri, then you have several different options. You can connect with someone to talk one-on-one, or you can do group sessions with other birth mothers. You, again, do not have to disclose if you have been assaulted. But you may be able to find a specific group that panders to that precise situation. If so, then you can process your trauma that way as well.

Additionally, are in charge of every step of this process. You decide which family selects your baby. You choose which type of adoption you want- open, semi-open, or closed. Also, you can decide if you want the adoptive family in the delivery room with you if your hospital allows it. This is, no doubt about it, a really scary time. But you are not alone. You have a myriad of resources that can support you along the way.

Why Your Decision Matters in the Adoption Process

Furthermore, we urge you not to let sexual assault interfere in your decision to adopt your baby. While the last thing you may want to do right now carries your baby to term, at least think about it. Adoption on the end of the birth mother is an honorable, brave thing, and you may feel gratified afterward.

On top of all this, one phone call or email is not a final, binding decision. You are allowed to look into adoption and then decide to bow out. If it is not for you, then it is not for you. But it is important to gather all the information you can before making a decision. Unfortunately, many stigmas about adoption still permeate the narrative of pregnancy. They taint it, transforming it into something irrevocably uncomfortable. And pregnancy is uncomfortable. But it is not a death sentence, so it’s important to keep a level perspective while you gather information. And once you have made up your mind, that decision is yours, and yours alone.

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 are my unexpected pregnancy options in Missouri?

October 6, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

What are my unexpected pregnancy options in Missouri?

By Melissa Camacho

If you are a birth mother experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and want to pursue an adoption in Missouri, we can help. It’s not easy for a birth mother to plan an adoption placement without any professional help. Adoption Choices of Missouri is a licensed private adoption specializing in local and domestic adoption across Missouri. We want you to know how crucial it is for all birth mothers to learn about their adoption options. Exploring your options is the backbone of your adoption journey.

When you reach out to our adoption agencies in Missouri, you will meet with an adoption specialist to create an adoption plan. You will learn about options you can choose from to place your baby with a suitable adoptive family. In addition, you will be offered additional resources to help you move through the adoption process. Our adoption team will first guide you towards taking enough time to consider your options.

Updated Information on Parenting and Termination of Pregnancy as Unexpected Pregnancy Options

You may be wondering if adoption is the best choice when you may still be able to consider parenting. We recommend you take your time to evaluate your circumstances, such as balancing life-changing events while parenting. There is no pressure, criticism, or judgment that our licensed adoption professionals will pass on to birth mothers who eventually prefer parenting.

Our job is to primarily guide all birth mothers on how our adoption options and resources can help you. Now that constitutional rights on termination of pregnancy are affected and no longer legalized in Missouri, adoption remains a legal option for birth moms. Contact our adoption agencies in Missouri to learn about local adoption laws if you still want to pursue adoption. We are a responsive and trusting agency to work with.

Types of Adoption Options for Birth Mothers Considering Adoption in Missouri

As a leading private adoption agency, we assist our birth mothers in choosing the best adoption option that meets their needs and preferences. It’s one of the first things to discuss with your adoption specialist. The type of adoption you choose will define your relationship with the adoptive family and your child. Whichever option you choose is your choice. You are in control of your adoption plan. If you are pregnant and considering adoption, there are three types of adoption you can choose:

Open adoption

Open adoption is widely considered among birth mothers to be able to have a large amount of contact with the adoptive family. You can communicate with the adoptive family through phone calls, mail, social media, and family visits. As part of your adoption plan, the adoptive family can be present during your labor date. It’s a great opportunity to learn who the adoptive parents are. Having open-adoption lets, you keep track of your child’s progress with the adoptive parents.

Semi-adoption

Semi-adoption is part of open adoption. You can communicate with the adoptive family through a third party or adoption agency. As opposed to open adoption, no personal contact or personal information will be exchanged. This is a more mediated, private, and secure way of communicating with the adoptive family. However, family photos and letters can still be shared to learn about your child’s development.

Closed adoption

If you wish to move on from your adoption journey and not have any contact with the adoptive family, closed adoption may be your best choice.

We will not judge or discriminate against any options you choose to manage your pregnancy and adoption plan. Keep in mind that after you sign the adoption paperwork, your adoption is finalized and cannot be revoked. The process of finalizing your adoption means you are relinquishing your parental rights. Once the adoption is approved, a new birth certificate will be printed with the adoptive family’s legal name and your child’s legal name. For more information, contact your adoption specialist, or you can request to speak with an attorney.

More Adoption Options for Birth Mothers in Missouri

The advantages of private adoption are not only the option to create an open adoption but to provide of financial and emotional support. When you meet one-on-one with your adoption specialist, you can discuss the options for your financial needs. We offer financial assistance to help you pay for utilities, housing, food, medical, maternity clothing, and transportation. In addition, we can assist you with searching for affordable housing if you need a safe and comfortable home to stay in Missouri. If you are feeling emotionally overwhelmed by the grief and anxiety of placing your baby for adoption, feel free to join our counseling support services.

An adoption counselor can connect with you and offer therapy sessions to help you cope with feelings associated with stress, depression, and anxiety. Experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and putting up your baby for adoption takes some time to think through and recover from.

Learn More About Your Adoption Options and Benefits Today

Adoption Choices of Missouri helps the mom with various resources if she is pregnant and considering adoption. We work together as a team to assess your needs as a birth mother. Our adoption options are designed to fulfill the needs of birth moms in all sorts of situations. All birth mothers have different priorities, backgrounds, and cultures; we embrace diversity in the adoption community. It’s not an easy choice to choose adoption in Missouri, but the outcomes of your adoption journey can make your circumstances less challenging. If you need assistance on how to give a baby up for adoption, reach out to our adoption agencies in Missouri today!

The more adoption options a birth mother sees, the more her self-confidence grows in pursuing a Missouri 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

Birth Mother Blog

Choosing Private Adoption in Missouri

October 3, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Choosing Private Adoption in MO

By Anna Keller

Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy in the state of Missouri and are unsure of your next steps? Is choosing private adoption in MO right for me? 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? 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. Adoption agencies in Missouri like this one are geared toward helping you navigate all the possible challenges ahead. If you are considering adoption, you may be thinking about 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. You will be guided from how to give a baby up for adoption to what financial assistance you are eligible for. If you are pregnant and considering adoption, then these are all relevant questions that will be answered.

What does the Adoption Process Look 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 an assessment of financial needs. 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 Private Adoption in MO

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 Post-Adoption?

Once your baby is born, they 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; you will have been changed. And it’s only natural to feel displaced after this change. That is why adoption resources are available to guide you through your postpartum period. Additionally, you will have already named your baby and given your final adoptive consent.

This is not a permanent goodbye by any means. If you select open adoption or semi-open, 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