Can I Choose An Open Adoption at My Local Adoption Agency in MO?

March 24, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Can I Choose An Open Adoption at My Local Adoption Agency in MO?

By Allie Nowak

If you’re experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, know that you have options. It’s essential to know that open adoption has increasingly become one of the most common choices in Missouri. Adoption Choices of Missouri has representatives who are more than happy to walk you through choosing open adoption and what it will entail if you feel it is the best choice for you.

What is open adoption?

Open adoption is when you can still have contact and establish a relationship with your child after the adoption process. Adoptive families and the birth mother will exchange information and stay in touch after the child is born. This looks different for every individual, as some women have very open relationships with the child and adoptive family. As the birth mother, it will be essential for you to decide how much communication you want with your child. Therefore it is essential to express this with the adoptive parents and your local adoption agency to create boundaries everyone agrees on.

Some birth mothers write letters, set up times for phone calls, video chat, or plan visits with their child. The important thing is that you can remain present in your child’s life if you wish to and have the opportunity to establish a healthy and happy relationship with them.

How much control do I have in an adoption?

The most important thing to remember is that you are in control. If you feel that adoption is the best choice for you, and you want to be still able to remain a part of your child’s life, representatives from adoption agencies will work with you to find an adoptive family that suits your needs and desires best. First, you determine how much you want to be able to see your child. Then, the right adoptive family will happily involve you in the child’s life and ensure that you feel comfortable with your choices regarding your adoption.

What does the adoption process look like in Missouri?

For the open adoption process in Missouri, it is crucial that you speak with adoption agency representatives right away. Our website offers contact information to get in touch with professionals who can walk you through the entire process and support you through every decision you make. Remember, you are in control of your pregnancy and your adoption in Missouri. Together, you and a representative will work on finding an adoptive family that fits what you want out of your open adoption. From there, you will be able to meet and discuss with the family what your expectations are, how involved you would like to be in the child’s life, and when/how you will be able to contact them.

After a family is chosen and contact information is shared, Adoption Choices of Missouri offers support through counseling, financial assistance, setting up doctor appointments, and ensuring that you have a safe and comfortable pregnancy.

Choosing to stay connected with your child after they are adopted can be beautiful. Do not feel that you can’t be in your child’s life because you are unable to parent. Open adoption is becoming more common because people see the positivity in birth mothers establishing relationships with their child. Go to our website to find out more information and contact representatives to find out more information on open 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

How to Choose an Adoption Agency in Missouri

March 2, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

How to Choose an Adoption Agency in Missouri

Choosing the right type of adoption can be a long and overwhelming process. There’s a huge misconception that when you, as the birth mother, decide to place your child up for adoption, the baby is taken away immediately after birth, and that’s all that happens. However, it’s important to acknowledge that there are many different types of agencies, types of adoptions, and involvement during the process that differs for each individual. Adoption Choices of Missouri wants expecting mothers who are considering adoption to have all the knowledge they need to help make decisions less stressful and more comfortable. Here is how to choose an adoption agency in Missouri.

What are the differences for adoption agencies?

Adoption agencies differ in how involved the birth mother will be in the adoption process, what input the birth mother gets, and how a child is placed into an adoptive family. Private adoption also referred to as domestic adoption, is when you are willingly working with a local adoption agency to place your child with an adoptive family. There are smaller details through private adoption, such as open or closed adoption, which changes how involved you will be with the process. The second option is public adoption. This is also commonly known as foster care. Public adoption is when the birth mother is not seen as fit to be a caretaker for a child, and the government will take the child and place them into an adoption setting regardless of the birth mother’s desires. This is commonly due to the birth mother not being stable financially, environmentally, legally, mentally, or physically. There are legalities that follow this option, but most importantly, this is a result of wanting to make sure the baby is in a safe environment and is being properly cared for. The third option is international adoption. This is when the baby is placed for adoption in another country. Often, the adoption process works faster when the baby is placed internationally as opposed to waiting longer to find their family in the states.

What are the different types of adoption?

As stated above, when you choose to go with the private adoption route, as the birth mother, you are able to decide how involved you would like to be in the process through what is called open adoption or closed adoption. In an open adoption scenario, you are able to help decide which family your child is placed with, have contact with the adoptive family, and remain in contact with the child throughout their life. This is a great option if you still wish to be a part of the child’s life and establish a relationship with them but feel you aren’t ready to be a mother. In a closed adoption scenario, you have no contact with the adoptive family, they have no information about you, and you are involved as little as possible. This option is great for women who don’t feel comfortable knowing the adoptive family or having contact with the child for personal reasons.

How can I get adoption support?

The most important thing to know is that support is always available, and you should never feel alone throughout your adoption journey. Adoption Choices of Missouri’s website offers representatives that you can get in contact with at any time to discuss your options. There are counseling, support groups, informative articles, blogs, and testimonial stories accessible to help you feel comfortable and confident in your 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

Meet the Author: Allie Nowak is in her senior year of undergrad at Illinois State University studying public relations, with a minor in health & wellness coaching. She is extremely passionate about writing, digital content creating, and all things related to lifestyle & wellness. In her free time, she enjoys serving as editor-in-chief and publishing articles for her university’s chapter of Her Campus, the nation’s largest media platform for college women. You can also find her spending time with friends and family, traveling, reading, and walking her two golden doodles. She currently lives in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago where she was born and raised.

Birth Mother Blog

Why You Should Consider An Adoptive Family Of A Different Race

February 25, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Why You Should Consider An Adoptive Family Of A Different Race

Adoption Choices of Missouri understands that there is a lot of stress and uncertainty regarding choosing the right form of adoption. It can seem like the options are endless from open adoption, closed adoption, single-parent adoption, or multiracial adoption. Each choice comes with its own joys and obstacles to face. However, if you are reading this as a birth mother looking to put your child up for adoption, considering a multiracial adoption scenario can offer so many benefits that are not often discussed. Here is why you should consider placing your child into a multiracial adoptive family.

Encourage A Diverse Household Through Multiracial Adoption

The thought of placing your child in a household that has a family of another race can seem intimidating, especially if you are a minority race considering a predominantly white household. As the birth mother, you may fear that your child will have their racial identity be ignored or forgotten. You may also worry that a family of another race won’t understand your child in the same way as someone who comes from the same racial or cultural background. These are normal worries, and it’s okay to have concerns when considering a multiracial adoption. Having your child be raised in a multiracial setting can be a beautiful opportunity for the encouragement of diversity. This starts with exploring the possibilities and benefits of adoption in Missouri.

Get Support From Adoption Choices of Missouri

Adoption Choices of Missouri is a local adoption agency that has representatives who are ready to assist you throughout the entire adoption process, from beginning pregnancy stages all the way to post-birth. Choosing the right adoptive family can be hard, especially when you are considering transracial adoption. You want to pick a family that is ready to welcome a child of another race and cultural background, acknowledge and represent the child’s diversity, and have people who accept a multiracial family. Representatives can help ensure your child is placed with the best family. If you’re in an open adoption scenario, representatives can help prepare you by having you meet and discuss with potential adoptive families what you want for your child in a multiracial adoption. You can discuss the importance of the child having his racial identity, acknowledging their diversity, and having them be surrounded by a community that encourages their differences. You can also use this time to educate the adoptive family about appropriately implementing and educating the child’s culture into their family.

Be Open To All Adoptive Families

Trying to limit your adoptive family options to only families of the same race can create a limiting experience and can take away opportunities to give your child the most ideal home. There are so many families who are ready to expand, care for, and love a child regardless of their race. Family does not need to be defined by skin color or blood, but rather by people who accept and love everybody’s differences.

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

transracial interracial adoption Missouri

Birth Mother Blog

Seeing Color: Why it Matters for Birth Parents and Adoptive Families

February 4, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Seeing Color: Why it Matters for Birth Parents and Adoptive Families

A common misconception when it comes to creating a safe environment centered around diversity is to act as if everyone is the same and that the color of their skin doesn’t matter. While the old mindset of “I don’t see color” is well-intentioned, it can be just as damaging as discrimination. For birth mothers and adoptive parents who are in an open adoption situation, acknowledgment, representation, and acceptance are the best things to incorporate into a child’s life when they are a part of transracial open adoption. Adoption Choices of Missouri understands the challenges that come for both birth mothers and adoptive families when deciding to make their home multiracial and have the tools to help them make the child feel safe, seen, and loved.

1. Acknowledgment

Suppose you, as the birth mother, decide to place your baby into a home with a family from a different racial or cultural background. In that case, this can make the adoption process even more overwhelming as you are preparing to have your biological child raised in a home of people who don’t share the same background, experiences, or biases in society. This may make you feel doubtful, but acknowledging you and your child’s racial differences right off the bat can open up an educational and impactful conversation that will make you, your child, and the adoptive family more comfortable and confident. While you, as the birth mother, will probably have a lot of questions or concerns, the adoptive family most likely has just as many in return.

Acknowledging the fact that there are clear differences between your child and the adoptive family and how that may impact the child or adoptive family’s future might not be the easiest conversation, but pretending as though the color doesn’t matter will only cause greater obstacles later on. Adoption Choices of Missouri, offers family, group, and individual counseling to work through challenges that arise in transracial adoption and how to make the process less overwhelming for both the birth mother and adoptive family.

2. Representation

Do not feel that you need to completely neglect yourself and your child’s individuality because you are placing your child with a family of different skin color or cultural background. If you are in an open adoption setting, communicate with the adoptive family ahead of time to let them know your experience being a different race, what you think is important for them to know for the child, cultural traditions that they can implement to honor the child’s background, and how to represent the child’s diversity in an appropriate way.

Some adoptive families may have traditions of their own that they want the adoptive child to participate in as they raise them. Working together to create an environment that represents and celebrates both racial and cultural differences will encourage the child to embrace their diversity and not ignore it or feel ashamed of it.

3. Acceptance

The most significant aspect of being in a transracial adoption is accepting that you will have physical, emotional, spiritual, or societal differences when you come from a different racial or cultural background. Acknowledging, representing, and accepting all of them is the best way to create a loving and healthy multiracial household.

As both the birth mother and adoptive family, before accepting a transracial adoption, ask yourself if you are ready to take on the role of constantly educating yourself, creating a safe environment for your child, having conversations with them about diversity, and are willing to look beyond your own skin color and culture to help the child navigate growing up in a multiracial household. This includes conversations with your own household, family, friends and making sure they will grow up in an environment where they feel seen, loved, and accepted for their differences. Color matters and Adoption Choices of Missouri offers contact information, blogs, counseling, and informational tabs on how to begin the journey and start a conversation for your transracial 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

Can You Put Your Child Up For Adoption In The Military?

January 21, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Can You Put Your Child Up For Adoption In The Military?

Unplanned pregnancies can happen at any time. Suppose you are a woman who is actively serving or is planning to serve in the military and have recently discovered you are unexpectedly pregnant. In that case, you may be wondering what your options are. Pregnancy can be stressful and overwhelming, but having it be unplanned while being abroad and serving in the military or while being on active duty can add a lot more uncertainty. Adoption Choices of Missouri wants you to know if adoption is the route you feel is the best choice. You can still have complete control and receive support for making decisions in the adoption process.

The first thing to remember is that you still are allowed all of the same options and control over your pregnancy, as well as the adoption process. So even though the specifics for every adoption process are uniquely designed for each individual to fit their own obstacles, challenges, and desires, the process as a whole looks very similar and will be the same for women in the military.

Reach Out

The first step is always to reach out and get help and advice from professional resources. On our website, you will find a number and email to get in touch with representatives who can help you throughout the entire adoption process, from early pregnancy all the way to post-birth support. Finding out as much information as you can about the adoption process and all of the things to consider when deciding what you want is a crucial first step, but can also quickly become overwhelming, which leaves women often feeling pressured, stressed, and unsure of what to do. Reaching out to get professional help is the best way to ensure that you are getting the correct information and are on the right path to choosing the best adoption route for you and your baby. You can also read the tabs on our website, which provide information regarding what to do after immediately finding out you’re pregnant, how to make an adoption plan, different types of adoptions, choosing the right family, what to do when the baby arrives, and getting support after the baby is born.

Choose A Type of Adoption

After being paired with an adoption representative to help you create an adoption plan, the next step is to research and decide on what type of adoption you want. A common misconception with adoption is that you give the child away once you have the baby and never see the baby again. Many people don’t know that that’s one of many adoption routes to take. Suppose you feel that you do not want any contact with the baby or adoptive family in a closed adoption. In that case, you can remain anonymous and have no relationship with the baby or family at any point in the pregnancy and after giving birth. On the other hand, if you decide that you would like to establish a relationship with your baby and keep in contact with the adoptive family, you may go with open adoption. This way, the family knows who you are and is able to keep in contact with you after the baby is born. Relationships between the birth mother and adoptive family vary as some are very close and keep in touch often, whereas others work together to create set boundaries and times where the birth mother can see the baby.

Choose A Family

After choosing what type of adoption you feel most comfortable with, the next step is to choose an adoptive family. There are so many different types of women, men, or couples who are eagerly awaiting to adopt a child, each of them having their own individual reasons for giving your baby up for adoption, background, family scenarios, and more to definitely consider when choosing the family you want to place your child with. If you are opting for open adoption, this is a very important decision as you will be in contact and build some level of a relationship with the family as you still get to have updates, pictures, or even visits with the baby. You want to choose a family you feel comfortable with and feel will give your child the best life possible. This is a decision that requires a lot of thought and cannot be rushed. It can also be a very emotional decision as the adoption process starts to begin more real.

Have Support

Lastly, and very importantly, make sure you are setting yourself with a strong support system throughout and after the adoption process. While it may be the best decision for you, it can still be very emotional and draining. Pregnancy comes with a lot of hardships, and adding adoption into the mix can make things even more challenging. Having friends and family around you that are helpful, listen, non-judgemental, supportive, and considerate is very important. Adoption Choices of Missouri can also connect you with counseling to give you professional support during the process. You can also look on our website at blogs and testimonials to read about women who share similar experiences and their journey with adoption to feel less alone and more empowered in your decision.

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

Not Ready to Parent unplanned Pregnancy Options adoption Missouri

Birth Mother Blog

I Am Not Ready to Parent What Are My Unplanned Pregnancy Options?

January 17, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

I Am Not Ready to Parent What Are My Unplanned Pregnancy Options?

You have just found out you’re pregnant and are unsure of your next steps. If you are looking for Unplanned pregnancy options, you may be feeling terrified, alone, and overwhelmed. Adoption Choices of Missouri is here to ensure that no woman feels alone while navigating their options and feelings. If you don’t feel that terminating your pregnancy is the best personal option for you, but you know you are not ready to become a mother. Adoption is an option, and Adoption Choices of Missouri is ready to help you through the adoption process.

What Does Adoption Entail?

If you decide that adoption in MO is the choice for you or want to know more about it, our website offers questions, advice, blogs, and forums for every possible question you may have. If there’s a question that you can’t find that you want to be answered, you can always contact our representatives via phone call or email. They are happy to help. Adoption means that you are terminating your parental rights to your child and allowing someone else to claim full custody over them. Adopting is a great choice if you feel that you are not in a place mentally, physically, environmentally, or financially, or you just don’t feel that you are meant to be a mother. Adoption is not as simple as the media makes it out to be either. Every situation is unique and will be treated as such. In some cases, the birth mother may choose a closed adoption in which the adoptive family or child has no contact or information about her. In other cases, the birth mother may choose an open adoption, where she establishes an agreement with the adoptive family to have a relationship with the child and opportunities to see the child after they are born. Some women want to remain a part of their child’s lives, while other women don’t feel comfortable with that. Either choice is completely okay and is entirely up to the birth mother herself to decide. From there, the birth mother can decide what type of family she wants to place her child with.

Is It Bad To Put My Child Up For Adoption?

Absolutely not. Unfortunately, there are a lot of stigmas around women putting their children up for adoption. However, recognizing that you are not ready to be a mother or give your child quality of life, but want to give them that opportunity with another family, is a brave and mature decision to make. You are not a bad person, lazy, careless, or neglectful for deciding you are not ready to raise a child. When you choose to put a child up for adoption, you allow a family to make their family feel more whole, whether you are assisting an LGBTQ+ couple, a single parent, or a couple who has struggled to conceive. There is no shame to place your child up for adoption, and you also do not owe anyone an explanation as to why you felt it was the best choice for you.

What If I Need Support During My MO Adoption?

While adoption is a great option if you decide you are not ready to care for a child, it can still be a scary process to go through, especially if you’re on your own. Adoption Choices of Missouri offers support every step of the way. From finding out you’re pregnant, discussing adoption choices, choosing an adoptive family, counseling support, financial support, and after-birth support. While it’s also very helpful to lean on family, friends, and loved ones who show you unconditional support when looking for your unplanned pregnancy options. Our adoption specialists are ready to assist you with making complicated decisions that can help make things less overwhelming and make you feel more confident in your decision.

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

Private Adoption in MO: What To Know

January 5, 2022 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Private Adoption in MO: What To Know

One common misconception towards private adoption in MO is that a birth mother gives up their baby to an agency, and that is it. Most people don’t understand that adoption is like one big umbrella, with numerous options, terms, and agreements that are unique to each adoption process. No adoption process looks the same. Every individual or couple has their own unique story of why they are putting their child up for adoption and the type of adoption they are looking for. While there are many emotional aspects when deciding on an adoption process, there are also a lot of logistical considerations such as legalities and financial status, and the stability of the birth mother in terms of being a suitable role in what happens to their child. These are important factors that play a big role in if adoption is public or private. In some situations, the person giving up their child gets no say in what happens, while in other cases, the person gets a full say. Adoption Choices of Missouri and other local adoption agencies in Missouri offer in-depth advice on all of the options available for unplanned pregnancies and all of the outcomes. One option for the adoption process is a private adoption, or in some cases referred to as an independent adoption. This article will be going over everything you need to know for private adoption.

So What Exactly is a Private Adoption?

This applies to domestic adoption and international adoption. When you choose a private adoption, you are choosing to work alongside a private adoption agency in Missouri to help you find a family to adopt your child. Unlike foster care, where a majority of the children have been put into their system due to circumstances that are out of the birth mother’s control and were forced (homelessness, abuse, substance abuse, etc.) Instead, private adoption means that you are voluntarily willing to place your child up for adoption and want to have a say in what happens to your child and the relationship you will or will not choose to have with them.

Through private adoption agencies, you will have much more freedom throughout the entire process. You can choose to have an open adoption, where you will still have a relationship with your child once they are adopted by a family and can still have contact/access to see them. You can also choose a closed adoption, which means the child and adoptive family will have no contact or information about you as the birth mother. Some agencies will even allow you to have some control over which family your child is placed with. This way, you can feel confident, comfortable, and content with where your baby ends up.

On the other hand, public adoptions are a funded system that works to relocate children out of dangerous or unfit households and are placed into a foster care system without any say from the birth parents. If you go with public adoption, you will likely have no contact between the birth mother and adoptive parents. While this option for people looking to adopt a child is often more affordable, it can be a more difficult process. These children have already built a relationship with their birth parents and are being forced away from them.

Private adoption can be a long process and more costly, but you will often be given a child who has been in the agency since birth.

Both public and private adoption choices are wonderful opportunities to give a child a chance to have a family that is loving and caring, but knowing the difference between them, what to expect out of each process, and doing your research beforehand on what type of adoption you prefer- whether you’re the one putting your child up for adoption or looking to adopt, is very important. Adoption Choices of Missouri’s website is a private adoption agency in MO that offers an abundance of support for birth mothers or people looking to adopt a child. You can get in touch with a representative via phone or email to begin your process and have the best insight into the knowledge and support you are looking for.

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

Merry Christmas from Adoption Choices of Missouri

December 24, 2021 Adoption Choices of Missouri

Merry Christmas from Adoption Choices of Missouri

Merry Christmas from Adoption Choices of Missouri! However you choose to celebrate the holidays this year, Adoption Choices of Missouri hopes you and your loved ones are happy, healthy, and can celebrate together. If you are going through this holiday season with an unplanned pregnancy or in the middle of an adoption process, please know that adoption agencies in Missouri like Adoption Choices of Missouri are here to support you in any way we can.

We understand the hardships that can come with being in the midst of a pregnancy you weren’t prepared for, deciding to put your baby up for adoption, or possibly adopting a baby yourself. These are all things that shouldn’t spark controversy but often can, especially around family and friends. Whether you come from a family that upholds traditional family planning values, does not support adoption, or has put pressure on you and your partner to naturally conceive a child, this can make conversations around these topics difficult to share.

Putting Your Child Up for Adoption During the Holidays

If you have an unplanned pregnancy, it can be a lot for you as the birth mother to process and even harder for other people to understand. However, it’s important to remember that their opinions and thoughts are merely their own and hold no truth or value over you as a person. Fortunately, if you have friends and family who you know will support you no matter what, it can be easier to share the news with them. Unfortunately, though, this can make the holidays much harder for those of you who have family or friends who will choose judgment over acceptance. You may choose not to attend the holidays altogether as you navigate your pregnancy and this overwhelming time, or if you do choose to go, you can be prepared to answer questions people may have or simply tell them you’d prefer not to talk about it at this occasion. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you are around people who can respect your boundaries and make you feel comfortable, as you deserve to enjoy the holidays too!

Suppose you are choosing to either place your baby up for adoption or adopt a baby yourself or with your partner. In that case, this is a significant decision that, again, can spark controversy amongst family or friends. We can only hope for unconditional support. However, if your family does decide to give their input on you choosing what you think is the best future for your baby, or wanting to adopt instead of conceiving, it’s incredibly fair to point out that their opinions aren’t up for discussion, and that it is a decision to be made and talked about for yourself, or between you and your partner. If you feel that you are not getting the respect or support you need during this emotional time, it’s okay to refrain from holiday gatherings and be with people who do support you or even start new traditions! It can be difficult to receive negativity or judgment from loved ones, but when it comes to your body, your future, and your child’s future, no one else’s opinion on what they believe is right or wrong needs to be brought to light.

Happy Holidays from Adoption Choices of Missouri

Adoption Choices of Missouri’s website offers a variety of support and ways to reach out to professionals who can help you navigate this holiday season, no matter what stage of pregnancy or adoption you are in. We have counselors who can offer guidance, support groups, related articles to topics that may be relevant to what you need, and a phone number/email to contact with other questions or concerns you may have.

The holidays are meant to be a cheerful and happy time for everyone. Gatherings where we see family, friends, and loved ones can be exciting but also fearful for women who are navigating pregnancy or adoption. The last thing you should feel is judged, isolated, or unworthy. Remember that it is okay to shut down conversations you don’t want to have, speak up about your decision for you and your baby, skip the holiday gatherings altogether this year, or go in with the expectations of respect and see what is given to you. Feeling supported and confident in your choices throughout your journey for you and your baby is the most important thing to us here at AC. Take care of yourself, build your boundaries, and most importantly, surround yourself with people who make the holidays brighter.

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