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What Are the Hard Parts About Choosing Adoption in 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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Missouri Transracial Adoption in the Time of Black Lives Matter

Transracial Adoption in the Time of Black Lives Matter

Adoption can be tough, no matter what type of adoption you are engaging in. Whether it’s a closed adoption or transracial adoption, each comes with its own set of challenges. Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to help you navigate through these challenges and offer advice in your time of need. 

What is Transracial Adoption?

Transracial adoption is the adoption of a child from a different race, ethnic background, or culture from your own. There are all types of transracial adoptions: a black family with a Mexican child or an Asian family with a white child. Transracial adoptions come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. 

Black Lives Matter

Since its inception, Black Lives Matter has been a champion of justice and liberation for black people. Black Lives Matter is a global organization that “count[ers] acts of violence…inflicted on black communities.” What can you do to support BLM in your transracial adoption?

  • Donate: you can donate to BLM; all movements need funds, and BLM is no different.
  • Volunteer: find your local BLM chapter and volunteer. You can participate in protests or some form of giving back to the community.
  • Educate: educate yourself and the people around you about BLM and black people. There is a wide range of information regarding black people, their struggles, and accomplishments, especially in 2022. Read a book or watch a television show about black people, talk to someone who is black about their experiences, and share those experiences with your friends and families. The only way we can overcome race issues is to discuss them.
  • Surround: make a conscientious effort to surround yourself with black people. Befriend a colleague or join an organization like BLM to learn more about black people. Your child will benefit from being around people who look like him or her. 

Benefits of Transracial Adoption

Adoption is about love, and your child will be loved unconditionally. You are choosing adoption for your child because you love them, and you are giving an adoptive family the opportunity to start or expand their own family. Your child will learn about diversity early in their life. Your child will learn that everyone is different in their own way and embrace those differences. Diversity makes one more open-minded and appreciative of other cultures. 

Your child will also learn healthy coping skills. He or she will undoubtedly have self-esteem and identity issues because we all do, but transracial adoption in Missouri can amplify these issues. It is important that the adoptive parents be encouraging and truthful when your child asks questions about their identity. The adoptive parents should make a concerted effort to surround themselves and their child with people who share the child’s culture. It is important that we see ourselves reflected in other people. 

Open adoption can be very beneficial to transracial adoption. Open adoptions allow your child to learn their heritage from their birth parents. Open adoptions allow your child to get to know you while simultaneously learning about their own culture and heritage. It can be difficult to maneuver a transracial adoption, but Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to help you every step of the way. We specialize in all types of adoptions, and we guide all of our birth mothers through the entire adoption process. The benefits of a transracial adoption outweigh the difficulties; transracial adoptions are beautiful, despite their specific challenges. 

Contact Adoption Choices of Missouri Today!

Adoption Choices of Missouri has local adoption agencies throughout the entire state. We are the premier private adoption agency in the state. Our staff is ready and waiting to assist you with all of your adoption needs, questions, and concerts. Contact Adoption Choices of Missouri today to begin your adoption journey. You’ll be glad you did!

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

RaynaMeet the Author: Rayna Batiste is an alumna of the University of West Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. Having graduated with honors, she hopes to attend graduate school at New York University, majoring in Journalism. Rayna is also a United States Air Force veteran who enjoys watching documentaries about pretty much any subject, learning, and spending quality time with her family and friends. She is also a fitness enthusiast and an avid Peloton user.
Her hobbies include brunch (yes, brunch is a hobby), fashion, makeup, and of course, reading and writing. Rayna has a real passion for the written word and correct grammar and syntax. She enjoys manipulating sentence structure and experimenting with punctuation in her writing. She’s what you would call a “werd nerd.” She was also recently featured at the Pensacola Museum of Art for her work, entitled Triangular Geometry.

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What Services Can Private Adoption Help Me in Missouri?

How Can I Receive Adoption Help in Missouri?

If you are pregnant and considering adoption in Missouri but still have questions about how a private adoption agency can benefit you and your baby, look no further! The Adoption Choices of Missouri have put together great information about how a private adoption can benefit you. 

Financial Assistance During Pregnancy

Many women often wonder if they get paid for putting their child up for adoption. In short, the answer is no, but there’s more to the matter. Although you will not get paid for placing your child for adoption, there are opportunities to receive financial support during your pregnancy. The financial support you receive does vary depending on the state you live in. In an adoption in MO, one of the services that private adoption can help you with is providing financial assistance depending on your circumstances.

During your pregnant adoption help, you may have limited resources. Perhaps you are no longer working at the moment. Maybe you have other family members who need your care as well. This is all taken into consideration when determining if you are eligible to receive financial assistance during your Missouri adoption process. Examples of what could be covered with the financial assistance offered are certain living expenses such as rent, utilities, food and groceries, transportation, maternity clothing, etc. If you feel financial assistance is something that can benefit you during your adoption journey, reach out to Adoption Choices of Missouri.

Review Adoptive Parents

As a birth mother, one of the things that may be at the forefront of your mind is who the adoptive parents of your child will be. Thankfully you don’t have to stress and trying to find adoptive parents that will provide a great home and future for your child. When choosing adoption through a private adoption agency, one of the benefits is that your adoption specialist will take the time to discuss the type of adoptive family you want for your child. In this time, you can voice your specific wishes, and your adoption specialist will help find a family that matches those requests.

At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we will help you with just that! We know that your child’s future is something very important to you. We want to help you find the best home and adoptive parents for your baby. To give you a quick glimpse into what this process might look like, here are a few details on what to expect. When looking at prospective adoptive parents, your adoption specialist will show you parent profile books. These profile books are full of pictures, short bios, and information about the family. With those profile books, you have time to look over and review which family do you think would be the best fit for your child. This benefit, offered through private adoption, is a great way to give you peace throughout your adoption journey.

Counseling for Birth Mothers

Adoption can be a very confusing process. You may be experiencing a mix of emotions. Some may even compare it to a roller coaster ride due to the many highs and lows of the process. This may or may not be the case for you. But if you’re finding that the adoption journey is a little more taxing than you expected, don’t worry! One of the many benefits of private adoption is the counseling services provided to birth mothers just like you.

Although not every birth mother feels like they need counseling, many do. There is nothing wrong with feeling like counseling may be right for you or feeling like you can take on the adoption process with no problem. And this time, it’s important to do what is best for you to ensure the health of your baby and yourself. The most important thing that Adoption Choices of Missouri wants you to know is that you’re not alone. It’s a private adoption agency. We have the resources to help you have a successful, happy adoption journey.

Do You Need Adoption Help In Missouri? 

If this information was helpful to you, but you still have other questions, adoption choices of Missouri can help you! Our goal is to guide and support you through your adoption journey. This may be through financial assistance, through helping decide on adoptive parents, or through counseling services. We want you to know that at whatever point you are at in your pregnancy, adoption is still an option. It’s never too late to reach out and ask for help. Contact 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

Meet the Author: Natalya Castro is originally from New York but has lived in Florida for most of her life. She is currently working towards earning her bachelor’s degree in marketing at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Most people who know her would say she is outgoing and very extroverted. She is a creative person who loves to express herself through various artistic outlets such as pottery, painting, and cosmetics. When Natalya is not working on her studies, you can find her connecting with others and her loved ones, swimming in the Sunshine State’s beautiful beaches or binging shows from her favorite streaming services. Above all, Natalya is passionate about utilizing creative means to reach people and helping others. Through her writing, she hopes to help others feel supported and cared for during the present journey in their life.

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4 Ways to Celebrate National Sons and Daughters Day in Missouri Adoptions

4 Ways to Celebrate National Sons and Daughters Day in Missouri Adoptions

Adoption comes with many beautiful chances to celebrate your child or adoptive child. One important holiday day is National Sons and Daughters Day-which celebrates the love you have for your child. Our local Missouri adoption agency, Adoption Choices of Missouri, wants you to know that we know how important this day is to you as a birth mother. This holiday may hold a special place in your heart as a birth mother. Now, if you are struggling to come up with ways to let your son or daughter know how special they are to you, don’t worry; we at Adoption Choices of Missouri have listed four ways that you might want to celebrate with your child.

Four Ways to Celebrate National Sons and Daughters Day

1. Visit Museums

Art, Science, and History museums are fun ways you can celebrate this family holiday and explore your child’s interests simultaneously. Capturing these beautiful memories you make with your child, and their adoptive family is a great way to celebrate family. Visiting the local Art, Science, or History museums and learning about the different paintings or how things work will bring joy to your child. As a birth mother, you will slowly discover your child’s interests and slowly bond with them if you need any advice on searching for activities to do with your child on National Sons and Daughters Day. In that case, we at Adoption Choices of Missouri can always suggest local Missouri kid-friendly museums that your child may enjoy.

 

2. Family Picnic

Having family picnics in the park is another way to celebrate this holiday. Our adoption agency in Missouri is always happy to recommend local Missouri parks that you may all enjoy.

Sharing lunch ideas with your child’s adoptive mother is a great way to bond. Packing up a traditional family meal that you only know as a birth mother will make your picnic more special because your child will get to taste a bit of their heritage.—having a chance to form a connection. Family picnics can be a great way to celebrate your child by playing their favorite board games, having scavenger hunts, delicious food, and enjoying time with them.

 3. Arts and Crafts

Creating crafts that symbolize this day or your adoption in Missouri as a whole will help you to remember the important role that you play in your child’s life. Our adoption agency in Missouri can help you celebrate this day, by giving you a list of talented artists and shops that you could;

maybe you could create an ornament for you and your child’s adoptive mom and give both of them to your child so that your son or daughter knows that both their moms are always with them. You could also create a homemade frame that has both sets of your child’s parents’ handprints so that they know they came from hands that will forever support them as they grow up.

4. Outdoor Gardens and Zoos

Visiting family-friendly like the times when you visit the beautiful botanical gardens or the local zoos will have lush gardens and animals where you can take photos with you and your child feeding the animals or walking through a pathway of exotic flowers. Capturing these memories by taking pictures will always remind them of how loved they are; you can even create a scrapbook to put the photos in to have your child keep always to have precious moments with you and their adoptive parents.

Other Celebration Ideas for Birth Mothers

Now, if none of the previously mentioned ideas work for you as a birth mother, or if you live far away, here are some more ideas to celebrate the holiday:

  • Take a family vacation: Take a big family vacation, including your child’s biological and adoptive family, so that the child will learn about both sides of their family. Going on a trip as a family to your child’s favorite place will make your child feel important and heard. Letting your child pick the vacation spot may make them feel celebrated because this holiday is all about them.
  • Bake Cookies: Staying in and baking with your child is another great way for them to bond with you. Try new cookie recipes or stick to their favorites or a mix between both. Whichever you choose, baking cookies, telling stories, and spending some quality time with your child, is a great way to celebrate how cool your kid is.

 Advice for Birth Mothers Celebrating this Holiday:

This holiday may be a mix of emotions for you as a birth parent or birth parent, but your child will be grateful to you for spending some time with them no matter how you celebrate this day. Suppose you need any advice on searching for activities with your child on National Sons or Daughters day.

Our Missouri adoption agency, Adoption Choices of Missouri, will have the tools to guide you to make sure that you have a fun and positive experience celebrating your child on this day. Remember, at our local Missouri adoption agency, we are always there to talk, listen and suggest things that may help you, a birth mother, get through some of these holidays, which might be a bit tough for you.

If you need any advice on searching for activities to do with your child on National Sons or Daughters Day, our adoption agency is in Missouri, Adoption Choices of Missouri will make sure that you and your child build memories that will last a lifetime.

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 1-816-527-9800

Meet the Author: Samara Wiley is a published author of poetry, essays, and an environmental children’s storybook called, Waiting for the Water Fairy. She graduated from Benedictine University in 2018 with a double Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and French. She has been published in three small poetry anthologies one was called Talented.

Her other writing accomplishments include: winning a high school poetry competition and $2500 for her high school, having two out of her five novels be considered for publication, and writing movie critic reviews for her university’s newsletter.

Although she has Cerebral Palsy and has had a turbulent childhood, Samara puts these small specs of herself into her writing to personally connect with her audience. She prides herself on pushing the boundaries in her writing and in her personal life with everything she does. Samara writes with her heart and a voice of compassion and loves to pull from her top passions in life.

She currently lives in Yorkville, Illinois with her mom and two sisters.