Choosing to place your child for adoption is not an easy decision, and it shouldn’t be. You love your child and want the best for them, but it’s that same love that makes this one of the hardest decisions you will ever make. You need to understand this choice fully. Although we are not a licensed child-placing agency, we can provide referrals to adoption specialists who can give you more information.
What Does Adoption Look Like?
The process of adoption looks very different today than it did just a few decades ago. Today, the birth mother (and, if available, the birth father) makes all the decisions. They choose the adoptive couple and the future they want their child to have.
Adoption is not the same as co-parenting or foster care. It is a legal process that transfers all rights and responsibilities for raising a child from the biological parents to the adoptive parents. It is a permanent decision.
What Does It Cost to Place My Child?
It costs the birth parents nothing to place a child for adoption. In Michigan, a birth mother placing her child for adoption can receive compensation for the following:
- The medical, hospital, nursing, or pharmaceutical expenses incurred by the birth mother or child in connection with the birth, if not covered by the birth parent’s private healthcare or Medicaid.
- Travel expenses associated with the adoption.
- Counseling services.
- Living expenses of a mother before the birth of the child and for no more than 6 weeks after the birth.
- Legal fees.
Adoption Plans to Choose From
When you make an adoption plan, you have choices. Not only can you choose the adoptive parents who raise your child, but you can also determine the amount of contact you wish to have with them afterward.
There are three adoption plans:
Open Adoption
You and the adoptive couple exchange some identifying information, such as full names, addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses. Together, you decide how and when you want to contact one another. As your relationship develops, you may exchange more information and arrange to meet in person.
Semi-Open Adoption
A semi-open plan provides more privacy, but you still have contact with your child and their adoptive family. Instead of exchanging information directly, all communication first goes through your adoption specialist. As you learn about one another and your relationship grows, you can provide more information.
Closed Adoption
For complete anonymity, choose a closed adoption plan—you and the adoptive family exchange no information. The courts seal all adoption records, and you have no contact with one another.
Choosing adoption requires strength, counseling, and a lot of love. Make sure you select a specialist who has your best interests at heart and will ensure you receive the care and services you need to make an informed decision. For referrals, schedule an appointment today.
