Considering Adoption?
Kristin A.F. Yellin, Chief Counsel, Adoption Network Law Center
When a family has decided to pursue a private, domestic newborn adoption, the next step will be to select the right adoption entity that will support them on their adoption journey. When making this decision, there are a number of factors that need to be considered, such as: the size of the adoption entity, its national presence, longevity in business and recent history of success. Partnering with the right entity is the most important first step of the adoption journey.
When hopeful Adopting Parents have made the decision to contact Adoption Network Law Center, one of the first questions they will all ask is, “How long will it take to adopt?” On average, Adoption Network Law Center’s Adopting Parents are selected by a Birth Mother within 4-13 months.* It is important to understand that an adoption entity’s wait times are not only impacted by how successful they are in reaching Birth Mothers through advertising and outreach, but also by the Adopting Parents’ preferences.
Hopeful Adopting Parents must also research the total fees associated with private, domestic newborn adoption. Each adoption is unique, so fees will vary. It is important to be aware of all the costs involved and to verify that an adoption entity is quoting all the fees involved, not just its service fees. Adoption costs may include: adoption professionals’ service fees, marketing expenses to reach Birth Mothers, home study fees, Birth Mother expenses, legal fees and travel expenses. It is important to note that there may be financial resources and programs available to help with adoption costs. Some adoption entities may be able to direct hopeful Adopting Parents to financing programs available for adoption costs. Adopting Parents should consult their tax professionals about available federal and state tax credits and reach out to their employers about available adoption benefits. There are also various organizations that will offer adoption grants based on factors such as need, religion, location or type of adoption.
When starting the adoption process, hopeful Adopting Parents will not know who their Birth Mother will be. It will be important to find out what Birth Parent information the adoption entity will provide. Ask what information the entity is able to provide about Birth Parents’ health history, ethnicity, social background and Birth Mother prenatal medical records.
A fear many hopeful Adopting Parents have is the fear of Birth Mother scams and disrupted adoptions. There can never be a guarantee against a Birth Mother changing her mind or with an unforeseen health issue arising with the baby, but it is important to have confidence in the adoption entity’s relationships with its Birth Mothers. Adoption Network Law Center focuses on building a trusting relationship with its Birth Mothers and helping to foster a trusting relationship between the Birth Mother and her Adopting Parents. This relationship helps identify a Birth Mother’s needs and helps Adoption Network Law Center understand her commitment to her adoption plan. Adoption Network Law Center’s Birth Mothers also have access to unique peer mentoring support from Birth Mothers who have already gone through the journey of creating adoption plans. This unique support system helps a Birth Mother as she goes through her own adoption journey as well as with healing after placement.
Unfortunately, Birth Mother scams and disrupted adoptions are a reality so it will be important to also understand how the adoption entity handles these situations in the event that they occur. Find out whether the adoption entity continues to provide services at no additional cost and ask if there are circumstances where the adoption entity may even provide a refund for Birth Mother expenses paid.
After having selected an adoption entity, one of the most proactive things that hopeful Adopting Parents can do is to begin their home study process. A home study is required for every adoption. It is a written report of the finds from a social worker who has met with the hopeful Adopting Parents on several occasions. If there are other people living in the home, they will also be interviewed by the social worker. The home study highlights such items such as your relationships, interactions with children, neighborhood and childhood. A home study also requires all adults living in the home to receive an FBI fingerprint background clearance. The home study helps the courts determine if a stable environment exists for a family to receive an adoptive placement.
The adoption process can seem overwhelming at first. There are many unknowns and it requires a leap of faith. For some Adopting Parents, the journey will be a relatively straight path and for others, the journey will have some twists and turns. The support of the right adoption entity will guide Adopting Parents through this process and help them achieve the dream of parenthood.
* Testimonials, endorsements, past performance and statistical data do not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
Kristin A.F. Yellin has a degree in political science from University of California, Berkeley. She attended Pepperdine University School of Law and became licensed with the California State Bar in 1995. After several years working in the dependency and juvenile delinquency courts, Kris found her niche in the adoption arena. She and her husband currently reside in Southern California with their three daughters. Kris is active in the community, serving on the PTA, community sports boards, and working with her church’s African orphanage ministry. She is also co-captain of Team Trudy – a team of runners dedicated to raising money and awareness for pancreatic cancer research in honor of her late Mother. Kris’ hobbies include horseback riding, coaching softball and cheering on her daughters at their sporting events.