Adoption Terms You Should Know: Practicing Positive Adoption Language

By Bruce Kong

At this stage, you have probably touched upon understanding adoption at a surface level and may have looked up a few adoption agencies in Florida. 

And well done! You’re a quarter of where you need to be in the adoption process, so before you read the rest of this blog, pat yourself on the back — you deserve it.

Adoption is a hard thing to consider, and as a broad topic, it’s a warm feeling for most.

However, this is personal for you, this is your life and your baby, and you have every right to do extensive research on adoption. 

You’ve asked yourself, “Should I give up my baby for adoption?”

It was tough, but with time and a moment to reflect, you may have thought it through and could be ready to say, “I want to adopt out my baby” or “I have more questions and may want to place my baby for adoption.”

But before you go on to make any further decisions, it would be beneficial to understand the importance of Positive Adoption Language (PAL) and a few other adoption terms. 

First, let’s give a quick rundown of what Positive Adoption Language is. 

Words evoke strong emotions in us, and PAL is a practice that aims to dismiss misconceptions. It takes away the grating, negative terms that eliminate what adoption can be. 

With that said, below are a few terms for you! 

We call these the adoption triads, and they consist of three parts: 

• Birth Parents: This is the mother who helped to conceive the child but has followed the legal steps to place the child for adoption. 
• The Adoptive Parents: The second link of the triad! They have followed the necessary steps to make a plan for full custody of the child. The full responsibility of the child will fall heavily on them. 
• The Adoptee: Last is the adoptee, who sits at the top tier of the triad. The greatest thing that will ever happen to the adoptee – is having two families who will love them unconditionally. 

These adoption options act as a gateway to understanding what is out there for your accommodations

• Open Adoption: This allows the birth parents and the adoptive parents to swap contact information and keep in touch after the adoption. Nothing is off limits, and there is an intimate relationship between you, the adoptive family, and the child.
• Semi-open Adoption: Much like the open adoption, the semi-open adoption allows both parties to have contact after the adoption process finishes. The distinction is that the agency will act as the intermediary for continuing communication.  
• Closed Adoption: Everyone is different before, during, and after the adoption process. Birth mothers choose closed adoptions to escape their grief and guilt of placing their children up for adoption. Some would describe it as a clean slate. But there are several reasons birth mothers consider this option, for example, violence and disregard from the birth mother’s family. A birth mother would likely choose to have their child stay away from those negative aspects.
• Public Adoption: These state-funded systems are usually foster care adoptions and are administered by the Department of Social Services. The aim is to restore the relationship between the birthparent and the child. However, if the child is introduced to foster care – the state or the Department of Social Services can terminate the biological parents of their parental rights over the child. Depending on the situation.
• Private Adoption: Rather than going through an agency, private adoption is a method where the birth parents select the adoptive parents and place the child under their custody. While more expensive than a public adoption, adoptive parents are inclined to be more mobile in their search for a child.  

Here are other essential adoption terms that are helpful to know!

• Adoption agencies: Every state provides agencies with a license that can serve as secular or religious, as well as profit or non-profit organizations. If unsure where to start with an agency, why not try adoption agencies in Florida? Or search for heart galleries in Florida, a project to help raise awareness about adoption and partnering with the local area.
• Relinquishment: In the adoption process, the birth parents will remove parental rights and confirm that the adoptive family will ensure the well-being of the adoptee. 
• Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC): That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? ICPC is a federal statute that is the most dreaded part of the adoption process, and for a good reason. It allows for a proper and legal adoption process, as well as the protection of the child. 

Still unsure if adoption is right for you? 

Adoption Choices of Florida is here for you when you have questions or uncertainties about adoption, and the best part, we’re open 24/7! 

As mentioned before, adoption is hard to consider; you need time to reflect when you ask yourself, “Should I give up my baby for adoption?” No woman should ever have to go through this process alone. 

If you are a pregnant woman in Florida considering adoption, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Visit us at Adoption Choices of Florida or call us at: (833) 352-3678, or text us at 904-559-1251.