What’s the Difference Between Baby Adoption Agencies, Lawyers, and Mediators?

Usually, when facing an unplanned, unexpected, or unwanted pregnancy, it is hard to comprehend all the new and unusual terms and phrases that suddenly have to be part of your vocabulary. Some of these perplexing terms include baby adoption agencies, adoption lawyers, and adoption mediators. If you are having trouble discerning the differences between these three distinct options, Adoption Choices of Florida is here to clear up some of that confusion. Which one you choose to pursue and engage in will depend on your own individual Florida adoption process situation.

Adoption Agency

The most well-known option for private adoption, the adoption agency, is the classic choice for a birth mother who wants to pursue a personal, individualized approach to the Florida adoption process. Adoption agencies offer a wide range of services and aim to be with you every step of the way. Armed with teams of trained adoption specialists and counselors, they will be able to provide you with guidance and answers throughout your entire Florida adoption journey. They are able to provide quotes for prices upfront, education and training on confusing legal and medical aspects of adoption, and more. Most importantly, adoption agencies provide support in a time that can be very stressful and isolating when done without help. There are many agencies across the state, and you will be able to find something no matter what, whether you are interested in Tampa adoption or adoption agencies in Jacksonville.

Adoption Lawyer

Another option for birth mothers interested in looking into private adoption is an adoption lawyer or adoption attorney. Just like Florida adoption agencies, adoption lawyers come with their own positives and negatives. To start, it is possible that you can get an adoption lawyer even if you are turned down by an adoption agency. In some rare cases, it is possible to not meet the requirements to work with an adoption agency. They are able to set their own regulations since they are a private entity. For more information on additional terms for private agencies, visit Adoption Choices of Florida. While this may be an issue with some adoption agencies, adoption lawyers, on the other hand, abide by the laws and regulations of the state in which they are based and therefore do not have the additional qualifications or requirements of a private agency. Another benefit is that you may be able to get approved quicker since adoption attorneys do not have to deal with the extra paperwork provided by adoption agencies. There are still some downsides to adoption lawyers, however. For one, you will still need to hire an adoption team of professionals. While adoption agencies may provide you with workers and connect you with doctors, counselors, and other professionals, adoption attorneys do not. When working with an adoption lawyer, you will be required to find and hire your own team to help you through the process.

Adoption Mediators

Lastly, adoption mediators are a key part of any public Florida adoption process, as well as some private ones in rare cases. Mediation is a crucial part of an adoption process in which terms need to be agreed upon between the birth mother and the adoptive family or couple. Adoption mediators aim to help achieve a balance between the desires of both parties and find solutions that most benefit everybody. When working with a mediator, both sides’ viewpoints are considered, and a contract is drafted to determine things such as the level of contact between the birth mother and the child, certain arrangements for how the new family will raise them, and more. When in this process, it is crucial to remember to focus on what is best for the child, as they are the most important member of it all.

The Different Options for Adoption Support

When considering the various choices, you will have to make decisions for — whether they be public or private adoption, agencies or attorneys, or anything else — it is important to remember that everyone’s situation is different and that there is no single, prescribed “right” answer. It is what you decide is best for your own individual journey. If you are still unsure of anything or want more information on these different choices, visit Adoption Choices of Florida.

Why Choose Adoption in Florida?

If you are currently experiencing an unplanned pregnancy in Florida, Adoption Choices of Florida is here to help. There are a plethora of reasons why you should choose adoption in Florida. We help you through every step of the adoption process and strive to make the process as easy as possible for you. We are available via phone, text, or email to help you start your adoption journey today!

What Kind of Adoption Support Does Adoption Choices of Florida Provide?

We provide financial, medical, counseling, and legal support to all of our birth mothers at Adoption Choices of Florida. Although our birth mothers do not get paid to place their children for adoption, we do provide monetary support for all of your maternity needs. When creating your adoption plan, your adoption facilitator will assess your financial needs and help you develop your own financial assistance plan. Your personalized plan can consist of financial support for groceries, rent, and transportation. We want to make the adoption process as easy as possible, and you should not have to worry about basic necessities like food and shelter. 

We also ensure that you are receiving adequate medical care throughout your pregnancy. It is important that you make the very best care of yourself and your baby during your pregnancy, which is why we not only make sure that you have sufficient medical care, but we also provide transportation to and from your doctor’s appointments. Your prenatal care will also involve developing your customized birth plan. Your birth plan is a lot like your adoption plan, but it is for your labor and delivery specifically. You can decide what kind of pain management you want during labor, who you want present, where you like to give birth, and whether or not you want a vaginal birth. Much like your adoption plan, your birth plan is tailored to you. When it is time to legally give your consent to the adoption, we have lawyers to assist you with this as well. 

We know that making the choice to give up your child for adoption is a difficult one, which is why we provide supportive counseling. The purpose of the supportive counseling is to allow you to express your feelings about the adoption. Counseling sessions are confidential. We provide pre and postnatal counseling for our birth mothers for as long as you may need. 

Another reason to choose adoption in Florida is you have the opportunity to choose your child’s adoptive family. We give you a range of adoptive family profiles, and it is up to you to choose the best family for your child. We will never rush you through this process, and if you do not like the initial profiles, we will provide you with more. It is just as important to us as it is to you that you pick the right family. 

Adoption Choices of Florida adoption facilitators also help you create a comprehensive adoption plan. An adoption plan is your plan for adoption; you decide what kind of adoption you want, what kind of assistance you may need, and who will be in the room with you during labor and delivery. The type of adoption you choose will depend on how involved you want to be in your child’s life. Open adoptions involve open communication between you and the adoptive parents. You both exchange contact information, and you will receive periodic updates regarding the child’s development. In this type of adoption, you remain an active part of the child’s life. Semi-open adoptions are mediated through our adoption facilitators. Any information, like updates or photos, is disseminated by your adoption counselor. There is no communication whatsoever between you and the adoptive parents in a closed adoption. The only information the adoptive family and your child will receive about you is your medical history. 

Adoption Choices of Florida is The Best Choice

We know there are other agencies you can choose when you make the decision to place your baby for adoption, but Adoption Choices of Florida is the best place for all of your adoption needs and questions. We offer financial, legal, and counseling support for all of our birth mothers and have a no-hassle adoption process. With three offices in the state, we are the premier source for all your adoption-related needs. You already made the difficult decision to place your baby for adoption. Let us help you with the rest. 

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