Birthfathers have rights, but the extent of those rights varies according to the state where the baby is born. It is essential to find out what the law is in the state where the child is born.
In most states, a birthfather that is married to the birthmother has equal rights to the child. What this means is that he must agree to the adoption plan or there is no adoption. This is true even if he is not the biological father.
An unmarried birthfather may or may not have legal rights to his biological child. In some states, he has the same rights as a married birthfather. In other states, his rights depend on the actions he takes or does not take to claim paternity. Every state has different rules for how an unmarried birthfather declares paternity.
Continue reading »
You adopted this beautiful little girl with hair so different from your own. You want to take good care of it and maintain it in a way that is respectful of the child and of her heritage, but you’re not quite sure where to start. Relax. You can do this. Here are a few tips that will help you.
Continue reading »
Almost everyone who participates in an adoption will have contact with a social worker. Social workers play an important role in all adoptions.
As most people know, a home study is the first step in an adoption for potential adoptive parents. Most, but not all, states require that a home study be completed by a social worker who has a Masters in Social Work (MSW). Most home studies are completed by social workers employed by an adoption agency. Adoption attorneys usually refer their clients to adoption agencies to complete their home study.
Continue reading »
Imagine that, in their excitement before the birth of the baby, adoptive parents tell the birthmother “Get in touch anytime.” They are thinking about receiving a few emails while she interprets “anytime” to mean monthly visits. These very different ideas about open adoption can cause anger and disappointment on both sides.
It is scenarios like this that point to the need for written agreements, which provide concrete expectations and boundaries. Contact agreements are legally binding in many states. But, even in states where these agreements are not technically binding, some courts enforce them anyway. As a result, families need to think carefully about what they agree to and be sure that it is something they can live with for the next 18+ years. An adoption cannot be overturned because of either party’s failure to comply. However, if mediation becomes necessary, families have the right to say whether compliance with any of the conditions in the agreement is in the best interest of their child.
Continue reading »
People will sometimes ask how many babies are available for adoption. The short answer is that the number of birthparents and adoptive parents at the IAC is about equal. There is no way to know if this is true nationally, but we can give you the information we have about our intakes.
First, let me clarify that I am referring to newborn adoptions. Unfortunately, there are many older children in the foster care system with few families willing or able to parent them. The Independent Adoption Center (IAC) only places infants for adoptions when voluntarily relinquished by their birthparents. As part of an open adoption process, birthparents chose the adoptive parents who will parent their child, and have contact with the family and child after placement.
Continue reading »
Adoptive parent profiles are written and visual autobiographies that families who are waiting to adopt create in order to introduce themselves to a pregnant woman considering placing her child for adoption.
In a recent interview Guylaine Hubbard-Brosmer, MSW (the IAC’s Co-Branch Director in LA) and another adoption professional (Vicky) discuss: “How to Prepare an Adoptive Parent Profile for Domestic Adoption”. The interview sheds light on some tips and tricks adoption agencies use to guide their families on the road to success in domestic open adoption by helping them put together an effective adoptive parent profile. The interview was conducted by Dawn Davenport who hosts a radio talk show sponsored by Creating a Family, a nonprofit organization that provides education and resources for infertility and adoption. You can listen to the interview here.
Continue reading »
A new study published in Pediatrics: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics shows children raised by lesbian mothers have better adjustment than children raised in heterosexual homes. You can download the study at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/peds.2009-3153v1.
This study is significant because it shows that children raised with lesbian parents are not at any higher risk for behavior and other problems than children who grow up with heterosexual parents are. In fact, the researchers state, “According to their mothers’ reports, the 17-year-old daughters and sons of lesbian mothers were rated significantly higher in social, school/academic and total competence and significantly lower in social problems, rule-breaking, aggressive, and externalizing problem behavior than their age-matched counterparts.”
Continue reading »
Adopting parents frequently tell us that their extended family members are negative or anxious about the idea of an open adoption. How do you help them get on board?
It’s important to remember that your parents are from a different generation where closed adoption and secrecy were the norm. In the past birthmothers were typically viewed negatively for being pregnant out of wedlock and for “giving away” or “abandoning” their children.
Continue reading »
Many people worry that they will not make the right choice when deciding what agency to work with on their adoption. This is an understandable concern but if you follow a few guidelines, you will make the right choice.
First, to narrow down your options make sure the agency has a license from the Dept. of Social Services or the equivalent state agency in your state. Ask what states and counties they have a license to operate. Some agencies may only work in one or a few counties of the state(s) where they are licensed. The Independent Adoption Center (IAC) is a full-service agency with a license to operate in every county in California, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, and North Carolina. We also have limited licenses to operate in New York and Connecticut.
Continue reading »
A child’s understanding of adoption increases during the school age years. Assuming that parents introduced the subject of adoption and talked openly about it (in a simple manner) during the pre-school years, now they can focus on the circumstances of why the birthparents made an adoption plan. As in the pre-school years, they should use concrete examples.
This age group struggles to understand why they were placed for adoption, and there is a tendency to blame themselves. For example, “I was an ugly baby, “I cried too much” and so on.
Continue reading »
