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Here are some frequently asked questions that birthparents ask.
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What happens after my first phone call?
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An agency social worker will contact you within 24 hours of your first call.
The social worker will ask you some general questions and make an appointment
to meet with you at a mutually acceptable place and time. The purpose of this
meeting is to assess your needs and to tell you more about our program. At this
time you will be asked to complete some beginning paperwork. |
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Can I choose a family or are there other options?
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You are welcome to choose a family by looking at various family profiles, or
you can have the agency choose a family for you . whatever makes you more
comfortable.
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What are open and closed adoptions?
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After meetings or talks with your social worker, you will need to decide
whether you want an "open" or "closed" adoption. In an open adoption, you may
talk with the adoptive family on the phone, meet them in person, receive
letters and pictures after the baby is placed with the new family, and in
general form a relationship with appropriate boundaries. In a close adoption,
there is no contact with the child or the adoptive family.
Adoption-Link supports both open and closed adoptions, and we will match you
with a family who shares your preference. We encourage you to discuss this with
your worker and if you wish Adoption-Link can put you in touch with other
birthparents who can help you with these and other questions.
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Do I have to pay legal or medical expenses?
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You will NOT be responsible for legal or medical expenses. Your
insurance or public aid card, however, may cover your hospital stay. If you do
not have a medical card, Adoption-Link can assist you in obtaining one. In
those instances when there are medical expenses for the baby, we receive a
medical bill from the hospital and make application for public aid. All legal
and court costs will be covered by the adoptive family.
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What about financial assistance for myself as a birthmother?
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There are strict laws affecting financial assistance. The categories for which
assistance can be given are: housing, utilities, medical expenses (usually
covered), food, and clothing. You and your social worker will make a
determination of needs and then ask the adoptive family if they would be able
to assist financially. Legally, we are allowed to help only after the fourth
month of pregnancy and up to two months after delivery of the baby.
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What happens to my baby during and after delivery?
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Please notify your social worker when you go into labor. Your worker will try
to come and see you in the hospital and confirm the adoption plan. Some
birthmothers like to have contact with their babies in the hospital, and other
prefer not to see the babies. Your worker will pick up the baby at discharge
and take him/her to a licensed home where he/she will be very well cared for
until surrenders are signed and the adoptive family comes to pick up the baby.
The adoptive family will not come to the hospital.
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What happens to the birth certificate?
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The day after the baby is born, you will be asked to fill out an original birth
certificate. You can name the baby if you choose. This birth certificate will
be filed with the county. The adoptive family will probably rename the baby and
a new birth certificate will be issued in about six months. Sometimes both the
biological parents and the adoptive family consult with each other on the
baby's name.
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What happens after I am discharged from the hospital?
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Your social worker will set a time to meet with you at a place and time of your
convenience to sign the final and irrevocable surrenders. By law, this cannot
be done until 72 hours after the birth of the baby. There will be another
person there to witness your signatures. It is important that you have
carefully considered all of your options before signing your consent to the
adoption. Once you sign your surrenders, the adoption is final and cannot be
changed or undone for any reason.
Ideally, birthparents make this decision together. In many cases, however, the
birthfather is absent and cannot be located. Then the adoptive family's
attorney will take steps to terminate the father's legal rights to the child.
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What counseling is available after my child has been placed for adoption?
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Your social worker will remain available to you as long as you would need
counseling. If you prefer and it is more convenient, a referral can be given to
a counseling resource near your residential community.
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How is communication handled with the adoptive family and my child if I have
chosen an open adoption?
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This depends on your comfort level and desire for information about your child.
You can exchange letters and pictures and communicate with the family as agreed
upon before placement. Most often letters and pictures are sent to the agency
for forwarding. The agency will forward any articles to you as long as you keep
your address current with us. The agency will also facilitate an agreed-upon
meeting with your adoptive family. There is no current legislation requiring an
adoptive family to communicate with the child's biological family, so it is
wise to plan ahead and talk with the adoptive family and your worker about
expectations and boundaries. You are also encouraged to register with the
Illinois Adoption Registry in Springfield to facilitate being contact by a
pertinent registered party in the future.
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