Pregnant and Considering Adoption?

Pregnant and Considering Adoption for your child?  I just posted an adoption video on YouTube about Alliance for Children, the private adoption agency experts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc3VkBkqEvw

Alliance for Children is a non-profit adoption agency licensed in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida.  Alliance is available to assist with options counseling, hospital and adoption planning and matching assistance with loving adoptive families.  Working with Alliance for Children, birth parents receive personalized care and attention.  Your counselor will provide you with all of the resources and information you will need so that you can make the best decision possible for your child.

If you would like to learn more about Alliance for Children, please contact birth parent coordinator Nancy for immediate assistance at 877-402-3678.

Pregnant and Considering Adoption? The Adoption Choice: Adoption as an Alternative to Safe Haven Infant Pr...

Pregnant and Considering Adoption? The Adoption Choice: Adoption as an Alternative to Safe Haven Infant Pr...: Adoption is an Alternative to Safe Haven Infant Protection. Safe Haven Infant Protection In New Jersey, and throughou...

Adoption as an Alternative to Safe Haven Infant Protection

Adoption is an Alternative to Safe Haven Infant Protection.

Safe Haven Infant Protection

In New Jersey, and throughout the country, the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act serves and an anonymous drop off for infant safely, legally and anonymously.  The purpose of Safe Haven is to protect unwanted babies from being hurt or death  as a result of unsafe abandonment.  

Under this Act, parents or someone acting on their behalf may anonymously surrender a newborn baby at any hospital emergency room or police station in the state.  If the infant appears to be 30 days old or less, and free of any abuse or neglect, the baby should be accepted with no questions asked.  While the parent or representative is not required to tell anything when dropping off the baby, the hospital personnel or police will record any information that the parent or representative is willing to share (e.g., the child's health, race, date of birth, place of birth or medical history of parents).  They may be answered anonymously or on a medical questionnaire available at the drop off location.  Ultimately, this information is helpful in providing proper care for the child.

Significantly, if a woman voluntarily provides her personal identifying information to hospital staff while delivering her baby at the hospital or upon hospital admission, her anonymity may no longer be protected under the NJ Safe Haven Law and the State may search for and contact the infant's father and/or any relatives.

What happens once a baby is dropped off at a Safe Haven location?  The baby will be examined and given any needed medical treatment.  The Division of Child Protection and Permanency of the State will take the child into custody and place the infant in a foster or pre-adoptive home.  After 21 days, the State will proceed with the permanent adoption of the baby.

Adoption as an Alternative 

If the baby is not at risk of being hurt or death and/or is not in immediate danger, an alternative to anonymous drop off is making an adoption plan privately through a licensed NJ adoption agency.  Working with a reputable, private adoption agency, parents are able to choose from pre-screened, loving adoptive families for the child.  In doing so, the parents may have greater peace of mind in selecting a family and knowing who will be raising the child.

There are different types of adoption plans.  If the parents would like the adoption to be confidential, the adoption agency will serve as an intermediary and the adoption may be anonymous.  It is beneficial for the parents to fill out medical history information for the benefit of the child.  Under a confidential adoption, the agency will be provide the adoptive family with medical history information but will not provide any identifying information about the parents.  The parents information will remain private.

Other types of adoption plans are available as well.  For example, the parents may receive pictures and letter updates about the baby through the agency.  The parents information will remain private.  This is called a semi-open adoption plan.  

If the parents would like to visit with the child, an open adoption arrangement may be made.

If you would like to learn more about private agency adoption in NJ, please contact Alliance for Children at 877-402-3678 or www.allforchildren.org.  Ask for Nancy.  All calls are free and confidential.

Pregnant and Considering Adoption? The Adoption Choice: Pregnant and Planning Adoption? Understand Your Re...

Pregnant and Considering Adoption? The Adoption Choice: Pregnant and Planning Adoption? Understand Your Re...: "Will my maternity- related expenses while pregnant be reimbursed when making an adoption plan?"   State adoption laws vary on the subj...

Pregnant and Planning Adoption? Understand Your Reimbursement of Maternity Related Expenses

"Will my maternity- related expenses while pregnant be reimbursed when making an adoption plan?"  

State adoption laws vary on the subject of birth parent expense reimbursement for maternity related expenses.  In many states, a birth mother may be eligible for reimbursement of expenses incurred for a period of time prior to and after the birth of her child.  Let's discuss.

When working with an adoption agency, a birth mother should understand her eligibility for expense reimbursement under applicable state law (the state where she resides and baby is born, or possibly the state where the intended adoptive parents reside).  

Some states, like New Jersey, Massachusetts and Texas, allow reimbursement for  maternity-related expenses:

·      Medical, hospital, counseling, or other similar expenses incurred in connection with the birth of the child

·        Reasonable living expenses of the mother of the child during her pregnancy, including the payments for food, clothing, medical expenses, shelter, and religious, psychological, vocational, or similar counseling services

·      Reasonable attorney fees and costs for legal services

Other states, such as Pennsylvania, allow reimbursement for medical, counseling and attorney-related expenses; however, they do not allow reimbursement for living expenses.

Many states place monetary caps on the amount payable to a birth mother.  For example, one state may set the cap at $1,000.  Any additional funding needed would be given upon court approval.  Other states do not have monetary caps and simply require that the reimbursement be reasonable.

Further, state law may limit the duration of time for which reimbursement may be recovered. For example, reimbursement may only take place for a certain number of months prior to delivery of a baby and/or for a certain number of weeks after a baby's birth.

Given the variation in state laws on this issue, it is important for a birth mother to ask the questions: 

• "What form of expense reimbursement is available to me under applicable state law?" 
• "If my child is being adopted by a family residing out of state, what would be the expense reimbursement available to me if I chose to apply that state law?"

One last point worth mentioning here: A BIRTH MOTHER SHOULD NOT BE EMBARRASSED TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS.  People often make adoption plans because they are not able to parent for economic reasons.  They select a loving adoptive family that is well-equipped to provide their child with a life of stability and opportunity, because they are unable to do so.  Under the circumstances, many state laws recognize the need to assist birth mothers in recovering expenses relating to the pregnancy.  

Procedure for Birth Parent Reimbursement For Maternity-Related Expenses in Adoption:  How Does it Work?

Agencies have different reimbursement policies; a reputable agency will clearly outline its reimbursement procedure to you.  In general, a reimbursement policy will be explained by a birth parent counselor or coordinator, who will also review the birth mother's expenses and explain what is or is not reimbursable.  

Save receipts!  Reimbursement may be made upon a showing of bills and receipts indicating the exact nature of each expense.

If a birth mother is being offered the moon, it should raise a red flag of concern.  Make sure to work with a trustworthy agency!

What if I Choose to Parent?

A birth mother accepting financial assistance with the good faith intention to make an adoption plan is not obligated to go through with a placement. She should in no way feel threatened or pressured into making an adoption plan.

Understand Your Adoption Options

If you are considering adoption, understand your options!  Ask about your rights and responsibilities when working with your adoption professional. Knowledge will lead to better decision making, which is essential.

Are you considering adoption?  To speak with a birth parent counselor at Alliance for Children, please contact Nancy at 1-877-40-ADOPT (877-402-3678) or info@allforchildren.org.

Pregnant and Considering Adoption? The Adoption Choice: Unplanned Pregnancy? Considering Adoption?

Pregnant and Considering Adoption? The Adoption Choice: Unplanned Pregnancy? Considering Adoption?: Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption?  You are not alone.  Many women and teens are in the same boat, experienci...

Unplanned Pregnancy? Considering Adoption?

Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption?  You are not alone.  Many women and teens are in the same boat, experiencing similar emotions, questions and concerns about adoption.  Talking with a reputable counselor, who offers crisis pregnancy and pregnancy support services, is a good first step.

Options counseling addresses the fundamental question of whether or not you are able to parent.  Learning about available resources may be an important consideration when making this decision.  Your counselor should explore this with you.  If, after reviewing your resources, you are still contemplating adoption, below are some questions to ask yourself when pregnant and considering adoption:

• How would you describe your overall sense of personal and physical safety? 
• Are you able to access the resources you need such as food, housing and medical care?  
• How would you describe your current living situation? 
• Do you feel safe and/or comfortable with your current living situation? 
• How do you feel about this pregnancy? 
• Who in your life do you consider to be a source of support? 
• What are your goals for the future?
• What are your hopes for your child’s future?
• How does considering adoption for your baby make you feel?
• Does anyone close to you know about your pregnancy?  
• If the father of the child is aware of the pregnancy,  how does he feels about your pregnancy?
• If no, what would you imagine the father might feel about your pregnancy?
• If the father of the child is aware of the pregnancy,  how does considering adoption for the baby make him feel?

If you would like to speak with a counselor about the adoption option, please contact Alliance for Children and ask for Nancy:  877-402-3678.  All calls are confidential and at no cost.