Adoption Terms You Must Know When Searching for Adoption in Missouri

By Wendy Swisher

An unplanned pregnancy causes a lot of emotions to rise up. You are not ready to be a parent and wonder how to put your baby up for adoption. Seeking pregnant adoption help can be overwhelming, especially understanding all the terms. The best thing to do is research adoption agencies near me or Adoption in Missouri and find an agency that will put the needs of you and your child first, like, Adoption Choices of Missouri. Our birth parent counselors will walk you through the adoption process and help you understand the adoption terms.

Positive Adoption Language

It is important to use Positive Adoption Language (PAL) during your adoption journey. The reason for this is the words we choose to use can have either a positive or negative effect on us. Words have power. They can make people angry, sad, happy, or frightened. Instead of saying adopt out my baby or giving my baby up for adoption, you can say placing your baby/child for adoption.

For example, using place baby instead of giving up for adoption gives a more positive outlook on the adoption. When negative words are used, they can take away from the meaning and experience of the adoption journey, and that is not acceptable. Using PAL takes power away from any people who choose to promote negativity towards adoption.

We need to start having honest conversations about the adoption experience and why it is such an amazing opportunity for not only the adoptive parents but the birth parents as well. Knowing adoption terms can help with the use of PAL. Below are some of the adoption terms you may hear and what they mean:

Missouri Birth Parent Adoption Terms

Birth mother – the person who gave birth to the child and is placing the baby or adoption
Birth Father – this is the biological father of the baby
Expectant mother – This is someone who is still pregnant and considering adoption

Adoptive Parent Adoption Terms

HAP – is an acronym for Hopeful Adoptive Parents. This is someone who is waiting to be matched or has been matched, but they are waiting for the placement of the child to go through.
Home Study – This is a process that the prospective adoptive parents go through and are informed about adoption and assessed to see if they are suitable to adopt a child
ICPC – Is an acronym for Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, which is a law that enforces uniform administrative and legal procedures that control the adoption of children between states in the United States.

Adoption Terms for Openness

Open adoption – This is where there is ongoing contact between the birth parents and adoptive family. Whether it is a meeting, letter, pictures, or phone call. The birth parents are able to get updates on their baby.
Semi-Open adoption – this is the middle between an open adoption and a closed adoption. Usually, no identifying information is given about either party, and all communication is done between a third party.
Closed adoption – This is where no identifying information is shared between the birth parents or adoptive parents. They never meet and will receive no updates on the welfare of their child.
Identifying information – this is information that can disclose the adoptive parent or birth parents’ identities.

Adoption Placement Terms

Relinquishment – Willingly terminating your parental rights
Revocation – The birth mother has a set time period in which she can revoke the adoption and gain custody of her child back. Now, this varies from state to state, and some states do not even have it. Usually, the birth mother has thirty days for revocation.
Decree of adoption – the finalization of adoption by a legal order

This may seem like an overload of adoption terms and a lot to process, but it will help you when you create your adoption plan. It will make the process a little less overwhelming and maybe make it a little less stressful. You have control of all decisions made for you and your child, down to what family gets the honor of loving your baby.

Adoption with Licensed Adoption Agency in Missouri

The adoption experience is special. You are choosing to give your baby opportunities that you may not have been able to provide.

If you are pregnant and considering adoption but need more information. 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

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