What is the adoption process for placing a baby for adoption in Florida?
You have discovered you are pregnant, and you don’t think that parenting your baby is what is best for you or your baby. If you are struggling, seeking information on the Florida adoption process is a brave and loving thing to do for your child. One of the most frequently asked adoption questions we hear is ‘How do I put a baby up for adoption in Florida?’ Placing a child for adoption in Florida is a process that we can help you with. It all just starts with a phone call or text.
Mardie Caldwell founded our company because of the adoption experience she had when adopting her son. The experience was difficult, and it left her with a need to help others through their adoption journey. The process left her with a huge amount of respect for expectant mothers, so treating expectant mothers with kindness, understanding, and support during pregnancy and after placement is of the utmost importance to her and our staff.
So, what are the steps for placing a child for adoption in Florida?
1. Decide if adoption is the right choice for you and your baby.
Choosing adoption for your baby is an emotional decision. Speaking to an adoption coordinator, professional counselor, or peer counselor can be very helpful. It is not always easy to look realistically at your own life and the circumstances you are currently in. There may be resources you did not know were available to help you parent, or you may see that adoption gives you and your baby a brighter future. At Lifetime, you will not be pressured to choose adoption. You will be given all the information you need to make the right choice for you.
There are many, many different reasons for a woman to choose adoption. The one common reason is that she loves her baby and wants him to have the best life possible. You probably have a ton of questions, and you should have all those questions answered. In a modern, open adoption, you are in the driver’s seat. You will choose the parents for your baby and will receive updates, even visits if that is what you want.
2. Create an adoption plan.
Working with your adoption coordinator, you will come up with what resources you need during your pregnancy, and you will choose a family to adopt your baby. Your adoption plan will include how much contact you have with the adoptive family during pregnancy, what will happen at the hospital when you give birth, and what kind of contact you will have after placement. Your adoption coordinator will help you sort through what is important to you in a family and how you would like that relationship to develop.
3. Choose an adoptive family.
Once you have an idea of what kind of family you would like your baby to grow up in, you can start looking for that family that is meant for your baby. You may want one that lives near you or maybe a state away. Perhaps you dream of your child growing up by the ocean or in the mountains. Would you prefer a certain religion or ethnicity?
You can feel very sure that any of the families you choose through Lifetime have been fully qualified to adopt a baby. They have completed extensive home studies that include background and financial checks, interviews from social workers and have been required to attend classes.
Once you choose a family, your coordinator will help you get to know them. You can call, text, or visit if you live close enough. Some birth mothers like to have the adoptive couples go to doctor’s appointments with them, while others prefer to keep a little distance. It is up to you, and there is no right or wrong way. You do what is comfortable to you, and all you need to do is let your wishes be known to your adoption coordinator.
4. Finalize the Adoption
When it is time to deliver your baby, you will already have a hospital plan in place. Your coordinator will make sure that the hospital staff and the adoptive parents are aware of your wishes. You will be provided legal representation, and all of the paperwork and court filings will be handled for you. Your attorney will make sure you understand your rights and make sure that you are sure of your decision.
This can be a difficult time, and to feel sadness, relief, joy, sorrow, and grief are all normal. You may also feel joy in seeing the adoptive parent’s dreams for a baby coming true and knowing that you are placing your baby with a family that is going to love and care for your child and provide a bright future.