Choosing Adoption in Difficult Circumstances

If you’re worried adoption isn’t an option for you because you’re struggling with:

• Addiction

• Incarceration

• Homelessness

• Or anything else,

we’re here to assure you that you can always choose adoption. No matter what your situation is, American Adoptions will be there to support you, free of judgment.

Your current situation may feel overwhelming and scary. Adoption is a way to regain control, find support and feel hopeful about the future. With over 30 years of adoption experience, our adoption specialists have worked with thousands of women from all backgrounds and in various unique situations. No matter what you’re going through, you can still give your child the best life possible with a loving adoptive family.

This article will outline various situations and what the adoption process will look like for you. To get more information now, contact us online or call 1-800- ADOPTION.

Pregnant and Homeless in Missouri [Is Adoption Possible?]

Facing homelessness and pregnancy at the same time can feel impossible. It might leave you asking:

“I’m pregnant and homeless, what can I do?”

“I’m pregnant and homeless, can I still choose adoption?”

Of course you can. Whether you’re pregnant and homeless or pregnant and about to be homeless, adoption is always an option for you.

We’ve worked with many pregnant women in your situation, and we are eager to help you just the same. An unplanned pregnancy can be a lot to process. If you’re not in a living situation that you feel is viable to raise a child in, adoption could be the best choice you make. 

We understand that you may be experiencing feelings of shame because of your situation, but we assure you there is nothing to be ashamed of. Many women have been in your shoes before. Adoption is an opportunity to give yourself and your baby the chance to have a better future, as well as make things easier on you. Adoption is always an option for you if you’re pregnant and homeless, and you will never experience any judgment from the staff at American Adoptions.

Adoption is a brave and selfless choice to give your baby the best life possible. When you choose adoption through American Adoptions and the help for pregnant homeless women that is available to you:

• Financial assistance. As an expectant birth mother, adoption is completely free to you. On top of that, you won’t have to worry about affording pregnancy expenses, because we offer adoption financial assistance. Our financial aid can help you with rent, utilities, groceries, medical bills, and even birth mother housing in Missouri.

• You create your adoption plan. This is your baby and your adoption, so it only makes sense that you call the shots. You will get to create your own adoption plan and make all your own decisions. You’ll even be able to choose the adoptive family so that you can know that your child is being raised in a safe, stable environment with parents who have been waiting for him or her.  

• Post-placement contact. By choosing open adoption, you can still have a lifelong relationship with your child and his or her adoptive parents. Our adoption professionals are happy to help mediate or provide guidance with post-placement contact.

Candice, a birth mother who worked with American Adoptions, looks back on her adoption process and knows that she did the right thing.

“Jeff and Amanda are wonderful, and I am so thankful I could give them such a gift,” said Candice. “We still email and I get pictures. Our little boy is so handsome. They are amazing parents, and I know my son has a huge family who loves and cares so much for him. I am forever thankful for that. Jeff and Amanda saved my baby’s life!”

We cannot stress enough that we will do everything we can to provide you with the resources you need to have a safe pregnancy and a successful adoption. From 24/7 counseling to helping you find safe housing, we have your back every step of the way. We admire your decision to choose adoption for your baby and will help you find the perfect family for your baby. If you’re homeless and pregnant, we’re here for you.

Considering Adoption in Jail [What this Looks Like in Missouri]

If you’re unexpectedly pregnant in jail, adoption is still an option for you. If you’re wondering if the adoption process will be different for you or if there are adoption agencies for prisoners in Missouri, American Adoptions has you covered.

If you’re pregnant and in jail, adoption in Missouri will look almost exactly the same for you as it does for any other woman. American Adoptions has worked with women in all sorts of situations, including facilitating adoption for expectant mothers in jail, and we are more than happy to help you find the perfect family for your baby.

Below you can find the five-step to the prison adoption process:

Step 1: Choose Adoption

Adoption is a chance to give your child the best life possible, but it is a big decision to make. Being pregnant in jail will likely be a major factor in your decision, of course, but it may not completely limit your options, either.

Talk to your prison caseworker about the options that are available to you, and what happens when you have a baby in jail. They can also probably refer you to a counselor who can help you work through the thoughts and emotions you’re experiencing at this point. Nobody can make this choice for you.  Only you can know what’s best for you and your child.

Step 2: Get Connected with an Adoption Professional

If you’ve decided that choosing adoption in jail is right for you, American Adoptions can help you find the support you need when you are pregnant in prison, including finding a loving family for your baby.

Depending on the regulations of where you’re incarcerated, you may or may not be able to work directly with your adoption specialist. Your caseworker may act as a go-between and walk you through the prison adoption program themselves. No matter what, you always have the right to choose your preferred adoption professional so that you can make an adoption plan that you are comfortable with.

Step 3: Choose the Perfect Family

Pregnant inmates have the right to choose the parents for their baby that they feel are best. Unlike most prospective birth mothers, you probably won’t be able to meet the family before the adoption or talk to them directly due to prison visitor restrictions. However, your adoption professional and your caseworker will make sure that you’re able to find a waiting adoptive family who matches what you’re looking for in an ideal family for your baby.

Whether you’re looking for a family that you can share an open adoption with after you’re released, a family that lives in a certain area of the U.S., or who has a particular faith or family makeup, we can show you profiles of families that best match what you’re looking for.

Depending on the rules of your prison, you may be able to exchange letters and phone calls with the adoptive family while you’re still in prison. We’ll help facilitate contact between you and the adoptive family however we can, both while you’re incarcerated and after you’ve been released.

Step 4: Give your Consent

When your due date arrives, you’ll usually be moved to a nearby hospital where you will deliver your baby. Options for incarcerated women can be more limited than other prospective birth mothers, depending on the restrictions of your prison and the hospital. But, you’ll usually be able to decide how much time you spend with your baby, and you may be able to meet the adoptive family and more.

At the hospital, you’ll wait a state-mandated waiting period of 48 hours before signing your adoption consent forms. While most women can take their time in signing these papers, you may have a more limited time to sign your consent forms.

Step 5. Maintain Post-Placement Contact

Adjusting to being separated from your baby can be a lot to take in. Fortunately, there’s open adoption.  When you work with American Adoptions, you’ll be able to stay in touch with your child and their adoptive family through open adoption. Every adoptive family we work with must be okay with having some form of contact with you post-placement. What this contact will look like will depend upon what you and the adoptive parents agree upon.

Choosing Adoption in Jail is Always an Option in Missouri

If you’re worried about the legal consequences of placing your baby for adoption in jail, we can assure you that this will never be an issue. Adoption is always a legal option for you in Missouri, regardless of whether you are pregnant in jail or if you’re choosing adoption when the father is in jail. American Adoptions will always be happy to help you with your adoption from start to finish.

By making an adoption plan with our agency, you can avoid potential legal consequences like child abandonment, endangerment or neglect, which are serious charges that women have faced when they’ve found out they were unable to care for their child. Adoption is always an option whether or not you’re pregnant and in jail in Missouri.

Can I Choose Adoption in Missouri if I’m Pregnant and Addicted to Drugs?

Yes, if you’re dealing with a drug addiction while pregnant, you can still place your baby for adoption free of judgment. American Adoptions has helped many expectant mothers addicted to drugs while pregnant create an adoption plan that meets their needs. We will help you find the perfect adoptive family for your baby, regardless of any substance abuse issues.

How we Help Women Who are Pregnant and Addicted to Drugs    

Every hopeful adoptive family who works with American Adoptions fills out an Adoption Planning Questionnaire (APQ). In their APQ, they will be given the opportunity to indicate which substances they are comfortable with a prospective birth mother potentially using throughout her pregnancy. The adoption profiles of prospective adoptive families that align with your situation and match the preferences you are looking for your baby’s future family will be presented to you to look through until you find the perfect match.

The adoption specialists are compassionate professionals, who will never judge you or your situation, and neither do the hopeful adoptive families we work with. These prospective adoptive parents understand that addiction is difficult and not a reflection of your character. They respect the difficult decision you’re making and want to give your baby a life full of love and opportunity.

How we Offer Assistance for Pregnant Addicts in Missouri

If you’re addicted and pregnant, we can offer you free help. Adoption is a brave and selfless decision that you should be proud of. You’re giving your baby the chance to have an amazing life with a loving family, and American Adoptions will be by your side every step of the way:

• Financial assistance. Adoption will never cost you a dime. Not only that, but our financial assistance will cover your living expenses such as on rent, maternity clothes, utilities, groceries, health expenses and more when you choose to pursue adoption. This can include any medical treatment you need to address addiction during pregnancy.

• Choosing your child’s adoptive family. An adoption specialist will help create an adoption plan where you’ll be able to determine exactly the kind of life you imagine for your child and will ensure that you find a family who is capable of providing just that.

• Staying in contact. By choosing open adoption, you’ll be able to watch your child grow up with a loving family, and you can have as much contact with him or her as the two of you wish, according to the adoption plan you create. This contact can look like phone calls, texts, emails and even in-person visits.

Women from all walks of life have experienced the benefits of adoption for their unique situations. Sara, a birth mother who worked with American Adoptions, is one of these women.

“I knew I had done what was best for Theodore. I gave him the best possible future, filled with unconditional love, financial stability, education and so much more,” Sara about her adoption experience. “He has a mommy and daddy who love him more than anything. He has so many family members who can’t get enough of him. The love this child will always know is outrageous.”

Putting a Child up for Adoption Without U.S. Citizenship

“Can you give a child up for adoption even if you are an immigrant?” This is a question we get a lot, and the answer is always yes. And we can help.

American Adoption is dedicated to helping expectant mothers of all backgrounds and circumstances.  As long as your child was born within the United States, American Adoptions can help you find a loving adoptive family for your baby. Regardless of your citizenship status, you deserve to give your baby the best life possible.

Finding People who Want to Adopt Undocumented Kids in Missouri

Putting a child up for adoption without U.S. citizenship in Missouri will always be a viable option for and will not result in legal consequences. When you “give a child up” for adoption your information will always be kept confidential. Your information will never be released to immigration or government authorities without your consent. There will be no public record of your adoption process.

Whether you are undocumented or have a visa to live in the United States, your child born in the United States can be placed for adoption with a loving family. There are many people who want to adopt undocumented kids in Missouri, and you will have a right to a post-adoption contact relationship with them and your child through open adoption as any documented immigrant or American citizen.

While your adoption specialist will ask for your citizenship status as part of your social and medical history, that information will never be released outside of our agency and it will never prevent you from finding a loving family to adopt your child.

The Benefits of Adoption

While you might hear phrases like “giving your baby up,” adoption is never giving up. You are giving your baby the gift of a loving and supportive family. Many adoptees appreciate the choice their birth mother made over time and feel thankful to have the love of their adoptive family and of you as their birth mother.

It may be hard to believe that now, but it’s true. Tonya, a birth mother who worked with American Adoptions, feels this way as she considers her adoption process.

“I can honestly say I have no regrets dealing with this whole process. I encourage any young woman to not look over adoption as an option because it might just be the best decision you’ve ever made,” said Tonya. “I had such a great experience working with American Adoptions. I absolutely love that they are always there and willing to help anytime if you need it. As for the family I chose, I love and cherish them very much. I am glad to say that I made them ‘whole.’”

When you work with American Adoptions to complete your adoption, you will have access to our numerous benefits:

• Financial assistance. As an expectant birth mother, adoption is completely free to you. You have enough to think about without worrying about affording pregnancy expenses, which is why we offer adoption financial assistance. Our financial aid can help you with rent, utilities, groceries, medical bills, etc.

• You create your adoption plan. This is your baby and your adoption, so it only makes sense that you call the shots. You will get to create your own adoption plan and make all your own decisions. You’ll even be able to choose the adoptive family so that you can know that your child is being raised in a safe, stable environment with parents who have been waiting for him or her.  

• Post-placement contact. By choosing open adoption, you can still have a lifelong relationship with your child and his or her adoptive parents. Our adoption professionals are happy to help mediate or provide guidance with post-placement contact.

• Translation services.  If you feel more comfortable speaking a different language, we can provide you with a translator throughout your adoption process.

• And more.

No matter what your status is here in the U.S. you have a right to give your baby the best life possible. Your adoption records will always be kept confidential and your information will never be disclosed. To get more information on putting a child up for adoption without U.S. citizenship with American Adoptions, contact us online or at 1-800-ADOPTION.

Do I Have The Right To Adopt My Child Out When There Is A CPS Case Involved?

It depends. If there is an ongoing Child Protective Services (CPS) case with one of your children, then you can still choose to give one of your other child a better life through adoption. If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and there is an open CPS case involving one of your other children or if your children are in the custody of CPS, American Adoptions can help you create an adoption plan at any point in your pregnancy.

However, once a child enters CPS custody, you cannot remove them from custody by choosing private adoption. Private adoption for a child can only happen before CPS becomes involved with that specific child. This is why it is important to be proactive if you believe that adoption is the right choice for your baby.

Choosing to place a baby for adoption can also prevent your choices from being eliminated by CPS intervention. When you contact an adoption agency like American Adoptions and voluntarily place a baby for adoption, you make all the choices throughout the adoption process, including selecting the adoptive parents and deciding how much you’d like to stay in touch after the adoption.

Choosing to place your baby for adoption is a difficult decision. But it’s a loving one that can give them a wonderful life full of opportunities and it can help you to reunite with your older children who may currently be in CPS custody.

You Can Always Choose Adoption

No matter what your situation is, adoption is always an option for you. There are no difficult circumstances that will prevent you from giving yourself and your baby a better future. American Adoptions would be honored to help make this dream a reality. To get more information on the resources available to you when you choose American Adoptions, contact us today.

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