Adoption Plan vs. Adoption Process in Missouri

You’re probably searching for terms like “giving a baby up for adoption” or “Adoption Springfield, MO.” You’re also probably a little overwhelmed by all the information you’re taking in. That’s where we come in. At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we will walk you through every step of your pregnancy, adoption, and life afterward. We will answer every question you have and help you with whatever you need. Choosing adoption is one of the best decisions a birth mother can make, but it can also be the hardest. That’s why we make sure you are always fully informed and confident in your decision.

What is the adoption process in Missouri?

The adoption process begins when you start considering placing your child for adoption. When you make that first phone call to Adoption Choices of Missouri, you will be assigned an adoption specialist. This is your Birth Parent Counselor, who will be with you from pregnancy to birth and after. They will answer your questions, outline your options, and advocate for you. While we are here to help, you get to make all of the final decisions. Whatever choices you make, your Birth Parent Counselor will fight for them.

You and your Birth Parent Counselor will talk about who you want your adoptive family to be. The adoption specialist will give you adoptive family profiles based on your requirements. This might be religion, location, ethnicity, etc. You’ll choose the adoptive family from these profiles and meet with them to make sure they’re the right fit.

Adoption Choices of Missouri and the adoptive family help you get what you need during your pregnancy. This might include financial assistance, safe housing, medical care, and transportation, among other things, if eligible. After you give birth, you have 48 hours before the adoption is finalized.

Other adoption agencies in Missouri may believe the adoption process ends here, but we know it doesn’t. We continue to offer the same level of support, love, and compassion after birth. We have unlimited counseling services available to you for as long as you need. Healing is a long process, but we will be with you for all of it.

How do I create an adoption plan through Missouri adoption agencies?

Together, you and your Birth Parent Counselor will create an adoption plan. This outlines all of the decisions you’ve made regarding the adoption. An important first step is deciding the level of communication between you and the adoptive family. In an open adoption, there is full communication. A semi-open adoption has limited and confidential communication. Adoption Choices of Missouri has a secure line called ChildConnect for birth parents and adoptive families to use. A closed adoption has zero communication or identifying information.

You will also outline what kind of assistance you need during the pregnancy. This is the time for you to talk with your adoption specialist about any financial or other needs. The adoption plan lets everybody agree to expectations. One of the last steps will be your hospital birth plan, stating what you want during birth. This can include who gets to see the child and who will be in the room with you.

An unplanned pregnancy can make you feel like you’ve lost control. An adoption plan gives you back control, and your Birth Parent Counselor will make sure it stays that way. They will be with you at the hospital to make sure everything continues to go as planned.

What is the difference between the adoption process and an adoption plan?

We know there is a lot of confusing terminology in the adoption world. So far, we’ve told you about the “adoption process” and an “adoption plan,” but how’re those different?

The adoption process is the time frame that includes all of your adoption plans. We know pregnancy and choosing adoption are huge physical and emotional situations. So we also know the effects do not end after you give birth. That’s why the adoption process is your pregnancy, birth, placement of your child, and time after the adoption is finalized. This includes the resources Adoption Choices of Missouri offers long after birth.

An adoption plan is the decisions you’ve made about how the adoption will go laid out on paper. This is what your Birth Parent Counselor looks to in order to advocate for you. Everything you want and need is written out for everyone to know.

If you are pregnant and considering adoption and looking for guidance during the adoption process, we are here to help.

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 316-391-4904.