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You are here: Home > For Professionals Working in Adoption > For Professionals Who Work With Families > Supporting Expectant Birth Parents
Supporting Expectant Birth Parents
Information on applicable laws and other resources to help professionals
working with expectant parents during the decision-making process and beyond. The information on this page is arranged into the following categories: Understanding the Options, Understanding the Legal Issues, Understanding the Impact of Adoption, Help for Expectant Birth Parents.
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Openness in Adoption: A Fact Sheet for Families
This factsheet describes the benefits of postadoption contact with birth parents and reviews considerations for determining the degree of openness that is most appropriate for the child. It suggests that adoptive parents consult Internet websites, books, counselors, and other parents when making decisions about open adoption. The factsheet includes a chart of the advantages and disadvantages of confidential adoptions, mediated adoptions, and open adoptions.
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State Child Welfare Agency and Photolisting Webpages
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National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (DHHS)
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| Availability: |
View Publication
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| Year Published: |
2002 - 6 pages |
This resource listing provides website addresses for State child welfare agencies and webpage links to information regarding adoption, foster care, adoption exchange, and photo listing services. All 50 States and the District of Columbia are included.
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American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
National membership organization of attorneys with expertise in adoption, including a directory with referrals to adoption attorneys in all 50 States.
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Collection of Family Information About Adopted Persons, Birth Parents, and Adoptive Parents
Requirements regarding collection of information about those involved in an adoption differ from State to State. Each State establishes its own guidelines regarding who can collect information and what kinds of information may be collected regarding the child to be adopted, the birth parents, and the adoptive parents. This document, current through July 2003, summarizes these State statutes.
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Consent to Adoption
This briefing reviews State laws regarding consent to adoption. Statutes dealing with who must consent, consent of minors, when parental consent is not needed, when and how consent can be executed, and revocation of consent are identified for each State, the District of Columbia, and five territories. The print version of this resource is current through December 31, 2002.
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Cooperative Adoptions: Contact Between Adoptive and Birth Families After Finalization
This resource discusses guidelines for legislation allowing adoption with contact agreements, statutes permitting enforceable contracts, and other State laws. It then presents citations and text of State laws related to formalized open adoption agreements. The print version is current through September 2003.
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Parties to an Adoption
This briefing reviews State laws regarding parties to an adoption. General information dealing with who may adopt, who may be adopted, and who may place a child for adoption is identified. Gay and lesbian adoption is addressed briefly. The print version of this resource is current through March 2004.
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Placement of Children with Relatives
In order for States to receive Federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance, Federal law requires that they "consider giving preference to an adult relative over a non-related caregiver when determining placement for a child, provided that the relative caregiver meets all relevant State child protection standards." Several States require relatives to undergo a criminal background check that may include all adult members of the household, and several States have established "kinship care" or "relative caregiver" programs by statute to provide relatives with benefits to offset the cost of caring for a placed child. Current through June 30, 2003, ...
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Presumed (Putative) Fathers
This briefing reviews State laws regarding putative father registries. Statutes dealing with registry/paternity requirements to receive notice of termination of parental rights or adoption proceedings, information contained in aregistry/claim, revocation of information, and access to information are identified for each State, the District of Columbia, and five territories. The print version of this resource is current through December 31, 2002.
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Resources for State Adoption Statutes
This briefing provides information on how to obtain full-text copies of pertinent State adoption statutes, including legal citations, contact information and fees to order print copies, and, when available, web site addresses for specific State statutes online. Information is provided for all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and 4 territories.
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Standby Guardianship
This briefing reviews State laws regarding standby guardianship. Statutes dealing with how to establish a standby guardian, who can nominate a standby guardian, how the guardian's authority is activated, the involvement of the non-custodial parent, the relationship between authority of the parent and the standby, and withdrawing guardianship are identified for each State, the District of Columbia, and five territories. The print version of this resource is current through May 31, 2003.
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State Regulation of Adoption Expenses
This briefing reviews State laws regarding the regulation of adoption expenses. Regulations for birth parent expenses, payments for arranging adoptions, payments for relinquishing a child, fees charged by a department or adoption agency, and accounting of expenses required by the court are identified for each State, the District of Columbia, and five territories. The print version of this resource is current through December 31, 2002. 1 table.
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Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placements
All States permit the placement of children for adoption by agencies, either publicly sponsored agencies, such as a department of the State government, or private child- placing agencies that have been licensed by the State. These placements are known as agency adoptions. Many people choose to adopt without the involvement of an agency; these placements are known as private placements or independent adoptions. The challenge for prospective adoptive parents in a private placement is locating a child who is appropriate for their family or finding birth parents willing to place their child for adoption. Some parents choose to advertise their ...
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Impact of Adoption on Adopted Persons: A Factsheet for Families
As discussion of the adoption process becomes more open and accepted in American society, and as more Americans have experience with adoption, there is also more attention focused on those involved in adoption -- the adopted person, the birth parents, and the adoptive parents (often referred to as the adoption triad or, more recently, the adoption constellation). People who have experienced adoption firsthand are coming forward to talk or write about their experiences, and researchers are conducting scientific studies to find out about the impact of adoption on all members of the adoption triad. This factsheet examines the impact of ...
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Impact of Adoption on Birth Parents: A Factsheet for Families
This factsheet discusses some of the emotional issues that parents face after making the decision to place an infant for adoption, in surrendering the child, and in handling the feelings that often persist afterwards. In addition, it addresses some of the emotional issues of parents whose children are permanently removed from them and whose parental rights are terminated. This factsheet may be a helpful resource for birth parents, as well as family members, friends, and others who want to support birth parents. It may also provide some insight to adopted persons and adoptive parents who want to understand the struggles ...
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Lifelong Issues in Adoption
Discusses how adoption is a lifelong, intergenerational process that unites the triad of birth families, adoptees, and adoptive families.
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Abortion Alternative Services
Resources for women facing an unplanned pregnancy.
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Children with Disabilities/Special Needs
This directory lists organizations that maintain information about resources for parents and caregivers on children with disabilities/special needs. The groups provide direct service or referrals for technical assistance, professional training, respite care, educational issues, and advocacy. E-mail and Web address are provided when available.
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Concerned United Birth Parents
A national organization serving those touched by adoption, with a focus on birthparents.
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Tips on Selecting an Adoption Therapist
This information sheet outlines considerations for selecting a mental health service provider to address adoption issues. Sources of referrals, interview questions, and typical policies are discussed. The paper also includes tips for working with a therapist.
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A Service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
For more information, contact:
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20447
Phone: (703) 352-3488 or (888) 251-0075
Fax: (703) 385-3206
E-mail: naic@caliber.com
Updated on October 25, 2004 by webmaster_naic@caliber.com.
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