Creating an Adoption Plan:
What You Need To Know
The decision to create an adoption plan is never an easy one. It’s a selfless act of love that deserves to be treated with care and thoughtfulness. If you’re considering adoption, there steps you’ll need to take to ensure that your baby ends up in a safe, loving home.
Choose an Adoption Agency
The first step is to choose an adoption agency such as Adoption by Shepherd Care. This is a crucial decision, as the agency will aid in finding the perfect family for your baby.
Create a Pregnancy Plan
A pregnancy plan will outline your wishes for the adoption, including who you want to adopt your baby and what type of contact (if any) you want to have with them after the adoption takes place. Creating a pregnancy plan gives you some control over the situation and helps to ensure that your baby ends up in a home that meets your standards.
Find the Perfect Family
Once you’ve chosen an adoption agency and created a pregnancy plan, it’s time to find the perfect family for your baby. The agency will work with you to find a family that you feel comfortable with. They will also provide support and guidance throughout the entire process, from finding the right family to signing the adoption papers.
Sign the Adoption Papers
Signing the adoption papers officially transfers custody of your baby to the adoptive family. Once the papers are signed, you will no longer have any legal rights or responsibilities regarding the child. However, depending on your arrangement with the adoptive family, you may still stay in contact with them and receive updates on your child’s life if you so desire.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are here to guide you through the entire process.
Mothers sign adoption consents 48 hours after the birth of the baby or on the day they are discharged from a licensed hospital or birthing center. Fathers can sign an affidavit before the birth of the baby, or adoption consents any time after the birth of the baby.
Yes, the Florida Safe Haven law allows a parent to bring a child within 7 days of birth to a hospital or fire station for the purpose of adoption. You have the right to remain anonymous and no questions will be asked.
It is never too late to make an adoption plan. We can work with you to create a plan for a baby or child.
Yes, Florida law allows you to choose a private adoption for your child(ren). We will file a Motion to Intervene so we can advocate for you. Through private adoption, you can choose and meet the adoptive family and receive pictures and letters throughout your child’s growing up years.
Yes, most moms choosing adoption want to choose the family that they feel will be best suited to parent their child. We have many wonderful families waiting to be chosen.
Yes, this is your adoption plan and your wishes will be honored.
Florida adoption statutes give us the tools to properly and timely address the birth father’s legal rights. We respect his role in adoption planning and will discuss the best way to work through this process with him.
There is no cost to the mom or dad placing their child for adoption.
Florida law allows us to assist the mother of the baby with reasonable living expenses during the pregnancy and for 6 weeks post-partum. This assistance comes from the adoptive family, through the agency.
Please call ASC and one of our counselors will be happy to talk with you about your specific situation. You may also choose to register on the Florida Adoption Reunion Registry.
