Steps to Choose an Adoption Plan in FL

Choosing an adoptive family during theFlorida adoption process can be a hard decision. You may not know where to start. We, asbaby adoption agencies, will be your support with every step. Through the adoption process, you will learn what adoption plan is right for you. If you are married, a single parent, or ateen who is pregnant, adoption is an option that is available to you. When you are searching for the right adoptive family, you need to follow these steps before you start your adoption journey. 

Step 1: Decide on an Adoption Agency

The first thing you do is contact Adoption Choices of Florida. We have four locations in the Florida area. We have anadoption agency Jacksonville,Miami adoption, Orlando, andTampa adoption agency. Wherever you are in Florida, make sure that you choose the closest Florida adoption agency near you. 

Step 2: Choose a Type of Adoption

There are three commontypes of adoption to choose from. No matter which adoption type you decide, you are choosing the correct choice. 

An open adoption plan is when you and the adoptive family you choose meet and get to know each other. All questions will be answered regarding medical history, background, and personal inquiries. This gives an opportunity to know the type of people you will be placing your child into. You can really know a person based on their impression, not just on their profile information. 

In a closed adoption, no information will be exchanged from anybody. The only information you could request is medical information if there is a certain medical emergency with the child or if the child wants to know the medical history of their birth parents. Having a closed adoption means that the boundaries are set, everything is confidential. You do not have to know anything personal about the adoptive family you choose

A semi-open adoption is when you exchange letters, emails, pictures, and calls with the adoptive family. As the birth mother, you can find out information about your child’s upbringing and development. These communications will be sent through the Adoption Choices of Florida. A mediator will be present for calls and will send pictures or letters through the agency. 

Step 3: Choose an Adoptive Family that Meets Your Needs

When calling to apply to our adoption agency, we will set you up with an adoption specialist or caseworkers to see adoptive family profiles. It’s your job to choose what family is right for your child to be in. You will be provided with information (depending on which type adoption you choose) to help you make a decision. Your adoptive family will have all legal requirements (local/federal) met through a completed home study. Once you are keen on an adoptive family, we begin the matching and communication process. 

Step 4: Financial and Medical Assistance

You will meet with your adoption counselor to create a budget plan for yourself. Financial assistance can be used to pay rent, transportation, phone services, maternity clothes, groceries, and other expenses. If you are a teen and need help paying for rental expenses, then financial aid will be provided and cover most of the cost. Transportation and phone services are also other financial assistant. You may need to call loved ones, adoptive family, and our agency. You may need transportation to get places, including medical checkups. Maternity clothes and groceries are the other expenses financial aid can cover. Being healthy means taking care of your body. How much you eat and what you wear can put you in a great state of mind. When the body is healthy, the mind also is. This can lead to a great productive adoption process. The adoptive family you choose can assist in helping pay for these important needs. It’s okay to ask for help, but it is your adoption journey. You have the final say. 

Medical assistance can be of use when going for medical checkups and taking care of yourself during pregnancy. You are not alone in this. Adoption Choices of Florida will provide care and services 24/7 to make sure you and your child are healthy. 

Step 5: Post Placement Support

Our counseling services will provide extra support after the birth, and parental rights are complete. You are not alone once the adoption journey is complete. We are here for you to lend an ear and financial support. There is aftermath and you, the birth mother, need to get back on your feet and process what happened. It may be the most beautiful and heartbreaking thing you have to do. With a big decision, it can weigh heavy on your shoulders. We at Adoption Choices of Florida will help you carry that weight. Talking about your decision is important for your emotional and physical journey. After your decision has been made, it’s great to have an ear to hear how you feel during this time. We at Adoption Choices of Florida are here for you in any capacity. Check out our locations for more details on the care you need before and after your adoption process. For more information about supportive counseling, click here.

If you are a pregnant woman in Florida considering adoption and have any questions or concerns about the adoption process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. For more information on adoption, visit us at Adoption Choices of Florida or call us at: (833) 352-3678 or text us at 904-559-1251

Meet the Author: Gabrielle Willis is a lover of writing and knowledge, which shows in her everyday life. She graduated with a Bachelors in English in 2013, and recently graduated with a Masters in Creative Writing. She has also worked in the education sector for over 10 years, recently becoming a Literacy Tutor. At her core, her passion is reading and writing, and she loves sharing that with others.

She enjoys helping those considering adoption or going through the adoption process any way she can. This internship opportunity truly resonated with her and she hopes that her words will connect and inspire everyone who reads them.