The most common form of adoption before 1970 was the practice of closed adoption. A closed adoption or an adoption with sealed records was believed to protect the privacy of all the parties involved. The parties rarely met or talked prior to the adoption process.

In the early 1980's, as adoptees from previous generations, became more aware of a need to know more about the birthfamilies for various reasons, the adoption process began changing. The primary change was to allow for openness in the adoption process so that the parties to the adoption process had additional choices in the effects on the lives of each.

Adoption Insight would like to talk with BirthMothers/Parents about the process today and answer any questions or misconceptions about the adoption process and plans that are possible in our system today.

 Below are some of the more commonly asked questions:

1. Why do some women contemplate placing their baby/child for adoption?

The reasons are many that cause some expectant mothers to choose adoption. An expectant mother or someone who has been mothering for a short time may feel too inexperienced for parenting or to young to want to be someone's mother. Many pregnant women have career and educational goals, which they feel need their full attention.  They may be concerned about the added distraction form their goals by supporting and caring for a child. Some BirthMothers believe adoption for their child will provide a more fulfilling and happy life with two parents.  Some BirthMothers feel an adopting couple will unconditionally want, love, and be ready to care for a child. It's important to realize women choosing adoption for their child, love their children very much.  In some cases they too want to have and raise children one day. Sometimes a young single mother will become overwhelmed by the statistics of her current situation and out of concern for her child make decisions she feels is best for the future of that child or children.

2. What judgments are placed on women who choose adoption?

Some people are critical because of a lack of understanding of the complete circumstances. Others will understand that adoption is chosen out of great love. The desire for a child to be raised in a loving, caring, stable, family group motivates most decisions to place a child for adoption.  At the end of the day the decision is with the woman desiring the best possible outcome for the life of a child.  Most significant, is the judgment a woman places with herself.  The woman must absolutely know within herself she has made a complicated but noble decision.

3. What role does the baby's father have in the need to know about the pregnancy or consent to the adoption?

The law stipulates a father must be informed of his child. If telling the father about the child is a difficult process or there is uncertainty about the identity of the father, Adoption Insight can assist you with this process. Adoption Insight encourages the birthparents to discuss the process together with the professionals they are considering working with.  We encourage both BirthParents to be involved in making the choice about who will adopt their child when possible. It is frequently best to have the father's cooperation throughout the process. Birthmothers who are finding the process of telling the father about his child difficult may want the legal and emotional support of counseling by a counselor and an attorney.

4. If we are under the age of legal consent will we need our parents' consent to place a child for adoption?

California BirthParents do not need parental consent at any age to make an adoption plan. The parents of the child, regardless of age, are considered an adult for the purposes of making decisions about their pregnancy. Many birthparents will want to seek out the council of their parents' support for their pregnancy and adoption Plans.  Some parents may be hurt or upset about the pregnancy or the choices you wish to make. It is important to have the love and support of parents' when making decisions that affect the family at large. Adoption Insight will assist you with professional referrals as necessary in making your decisions while guarding the confidentiality of your decisions. Adoption will still be your legal decision.

5. What types of people are wanting to adopt?

The types and reasons couples or individuals choose to adopt are as diversified as the reasons a BirthMother or BirthParents make the choice for adoption. Most adopting couples have a burning desire to share their lives and resources with a child. Many couples have gone through years of trying to conceive a baby: miscarriages, medical treatments, surgeries etc. These couples or individuals are stable in terms of careers and finances.  Many of them have been preparing for children for several years. The couples or individuals have gone through a homestudy and been reviewed for their fitness and abilities to raise a child. These are people who are committed and excited about the tasks and responsibilities of parenting.

6. How are adoptive parents chosen?

Adoption Insight first discusses the desires of the BirthMother/Parents with each and presents them with many possible options. After some decisions have been made by the BirthMother/Parents, profiles of prospective adopting couples are presented for each to read and assess.  Next there is a phone conference time scheduled with couples who's profiles have been chosen by the BirthMother/Parents.  The BirthMother/Parents are able to ask any questions they need to and there is an informal interviewing process that progresses between the couple or individual wanting to adopt and the BirthParents over a period of time.  The process that takes place after the phone conference is discussed between Adoption Insight and the BirthMother/Parents until everyone is comfortable with the decisions and the plan for adoption.

7. Are there any guarantees to the birthparents the baby/child will have a good home?

Adoption Insight insures the birthparents choose the couple for their child.  In Addition, California law requires all adopting couples or individuals to complete a home study, before an adoption can be finalized. All agency and independent adoptions through facilitation or attorneys require prospective adopting parents to provide a complete history before a homestudy can be finalized. Adopting couples or individuals are fingerprinted and screened for criminal background checks. Local State Social Service agents make several unannounced visits to the home of the prospective adoption as a part of the screening process to insure everything is as it is represented to them and will be represented to you. The birthmothers/parents choose the adopting parents for her/their child after meeting them. (If you have chosen to meet in your adoption plan)  BirthMothers/parents must be completely comfortable in all the decisions for the adoption plan. For example; A family can be chosen that shares a chosen faith and values and/or meets ideals, such as matching interests/hobbies.

8. What happens if a Birth Mother has second thoughts?

Birthmothers, must by law, be advised of their legal rights in advance of an adoption by a social worker, who is again by law, the unbiased advocate of the BirthMother/Parent. BirthMothers/Parents do not sign adoption relinquishments until after the birth. The placement agreement is permanent after 30 days. Most BirthMothers/Parents have thought painstakingly about adoption and the process during the pregnancy and have made a solid decision. Rarely do BirthMothers/Parents change their mind after birth. Generally there has been time prior to the birth to form trusting and lasting bonds between the BirthMother/parents and the adoptiong parents.  The bonds of trust and the commitment between the parents is a strong and serious commitment for the benefit of the child.

9. What financial help is available for BirthMothers?

The law is clear in that it does not allow for the payment of a child.  California law allows for the adopting parents to pay legal, medical, counseling, and other expenses directly related to the pregnancy through an agency, facilitator or attorney. All allowable expenses must be recorded and reported to the courts before an adoption can be finalized.

Adoption Insight does business exclusively as an adoption Facilitation Service as defined by the California State Family Code. Adoption Insight is not a California Adoption Agency.