Opening your heart and home to a child is a very compassionate act but this decision comes with great responsibility. We know you have a lot of questions and want to gather as much information as possible. Here is a list of some common questions and their answers that will help you understand the idea of adoption and help you make a well-informed decision.

Opening your heart and home to a child is a very compassionate act but this decision comes with great responsibility. We know you have a lot of questions and want to gather as much information as possible. Here is a list of some common questions and their answers that will help you understand the idea of adoption and help you make a well-informed decision.

WHO CAN ADOPT A CHILD?

There is no single description of people who can become prospective adoptive parents. You may be single or married, in your 20s or 50s, wealthy or with modest earning, already a parent or with no children. The only absolute requirement is the consent of all parties involved, and an approved Homestudy by an Homestudy agency.

How long will it take to be matched with a birth mother?

We cannot provide an exact time frame your family could wait. We have families who match in the first month and we have some that were with us a year plus. There are multiple factors that can affect a family’s match time. The most important one is your adoption preferences. If you are open to race, gender, drug use, social background, medical history, amount of post-placement contacts and needs of the birth mother, the more chances you will have of being matched with a birth mother because you would in turn be presenting to more expectant moms.

CAN WE SPECIFY THE GENDER OF THE CHILD?

It is ultimately your choice. However, we discourage parents from being gender specific. It is one of those variables that might increase the waiting period. Also, in some instances we are not certain of the gender at the time of matching. We always encourage adoptive parents to have an open mind. However, if you are gender specific, we will respect your choices.

How are we matched with the birth mother?

The expectant mother comes in and we meet with her. We try to get as much background information and medical records before creating a profile for Expectant Mom. Once we feel confident that we are ready to match her we will create a profile with all the most important information. We then send this profile out via email to ALL waiting families regardless of your personal preferences. If your family wants to present your book to this mom, you respond with a “yes” or “no”. Once the deadline passes and I have all the families that want to present we bring the expectant mom back in. She is given several profiles of adoptive parents and it is ultimately her decision of which one she chooses. Both the adoptive parents and the birth mothers may have certain preferences and requirements.

DO WE MEET THE BIRTH PARENTS?

It depends on individual preference. However, we encourage both parties to meet, so that they can get to know each other. Our staff member is present at the meeting, and you are allowed to exchange non-identifying information. This is a good way to develop familiarity and learn about each other. However, what you choose to disclose is your discretion. Once the meeting happens, we encourage communication between the expectant mom and the Adoptive family if she wants that.

WHAT IS A HOME STUDY AND WHY DO I NEED ONE?

Home studies are actually a very important part of the adoption process for everyone involved. Below are the main reasons why a home study is necessary.

1. To Educate. The home study is a great opportunity to learn more about adoption and ask your social worker questions. He or she will provide useful reading material and resources, as well as explain exactly how adoption works. Any concerns you have will be addressed, so you can more successfully navigate the adoption process. Think of your social worker as an adoption teacher rather than a judge.
2. To Comply with the Law. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, or what type of adoption (domestic, international, or foster care) you are planning to pursue. An adoption home study is a legal requirement. In many states and countries, the social worker who conducts the home study must also be associated with a licensed adoption agency. And, if you plan to adopt through an attorney, you’ll still need an adoption agency or independent social worker to perform a home study.
3. To Protect the Child. In any adoption, the child is the most important person. Your social worker will want to be certain that you and/or your spouse can provide a safe, loving home. This means inspecting your home for potential dangers and performing background checks to rule out criminal records or inappropriate behavior.

WHAT INFORMATION CAN WE RECEIVE ABOUT THE BIRTH PARENTS?

As part of the screening process, we will obtain as much information about the birth parents as necessary. You will receive all non-identifying information, this will include first names, social background, and medical history. We will also request blood work and drug tests from their doctors, and you will be updated on her medical reports throughout the pregnancy.

CAN THE BIRTH MOTHER CHANGE THEIR MIND?

Once the birth mother has signed the consent for adoption, she cannot revoke her decision. When the adoption is finalized, the biological mother relinquishes her parental rights and has no legal tie to the child. Under Florida law, she cannot sign the papers until 48 hours after the birth of the baby or upon discharge from the hospital, whichever happens first. However, the birth mother can choose not to place her child for adoption at any time during the adoption process, and it is a violation of Florida law to pressurize her into placing her child for adoption.

WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF THE BIRTH FATHER?

One of the most important legal steps in an adoption is the termination of the birth parents’ rights. While the birth mother typically plays an active part in planning and consenting to the adoption, the birth father’s role is not always quite so straightforward. The father has legal rights to the child being placed for adoption, and those rights must be recognized and properly terminated in order to complete the adoption.
The birth father’s consent is required, if he is married to the mother at the time of conception or birth, or if he has provided financial and emotional support during pregnancy. If he is unmarried, then he must claim his paternity with Florida’s Putative Father registry. Failure to do so will result in his consent not being required to go ahead with the adoption plan. If he wishes to retain his parental rights then he must respond within 30 days on notice of the intended adoption plan with a signed affidavit stating that he is willing to help with the child’s care, pay child support and help to pay the mothers maternity and delivery expenses. If the birth father cannot be located and a diligent search to find him is conducted without any results, his parental rights are terminated.

WILL OUR INSURANCE COVER THE BABY’S MEDICAL BILLS?

Most insurance policies provide coverage for adoptive children’s medical expenses from the date of the child’s legal placement. However, you should contact your insurance company to clarify whether the coverage begins at birth or at placement and other requirements for coverage of an adopted child. If the birth mother does not have medical insurance, we will apply for Medicaid to cover the pre-natal medical expenses.

HOW IS THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE MADE?

When the child is born, an original birth certificate (OBC) is made, that shows the date of birth, time, and the names of the birth parents. When the adoption has been finalized, an amended birth certificate (ABC) is issued in which the birth parents name is changed with those of adoptive parents and the child’s name is changed to the one given by the adoptive parents. It takes 4 to 8 weeks after the finalization to receive the amended birth certificate.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ADOPT A CHILD IN FLORIDA?

Our Agency Fee’s stay one set price and that covers everything from Match to Finalization. Birth mom living expenses can cause an adoption to go above our agency fee’s. Private adoptions can cost upwards to $60,000 in Florida. Average adoptions with heartfelt cost generally in the mid $40’s range. We can help provide you with resources to help your family with the financial aspect. Just ask us.

IS IT HARD TO ADOPT IN FLORIDA?

There are only a few things that will prevent you from adopting a child in Florida: a felony criminal record, homicide, manslaughter, or mistreatment of a child, the elderly, or a disabled person. To adopt, you can be of any age, single or married, own a house, or rent an apartment, be financially comfortable or well-off. The fact is there is no one description of who can adopt a child in Florida. All it takes, is the ability to provide a healthy, loving environment, daily essentials of childcare, and the realization that you are making a lifelong commitment to love, cherish, care for, and educate this child.

WHAT TYPE OF ADOPTION IS MOST COMMON IN FLORIDA?

There are two types of adoption that are most common in the state of Florida. 1) Stepchild Adoption, when a stepmother or stepfather assumes legal and financial responsibility for the child of their spouse, and 2) Grandparent or Relative Adoption, when a child’s biological parents are not available or are not suited to raise their child for one reason or another. In this case, the adoption grants designated family members full legal parental rights.