Birth Parent Services
Birth Parent Services
Are you pregnant or feeling overwhelmed with parenting and in need of support? We are here to help you.
A warm, caring, supportive birthparent counselor will assist you in exploring all options so you can make the informed decision that is best for you and your baby.
Birth Parent Counseling will:
- Help to clarify your options
- Help you communicate your feelings
- Provide you with a safe environment for making your choice
- Offer you support in your decision
- Answer all of your questions
How We Help
We offer confidential counseling services free of charge and without obligation to you, the birth parent(s). Our focus is to provide support, assistance, and information to aid you in creating a positive plan that best suits you and your child's needs. The decision is ultimately yours to make. If you decide to parent, we will assist you in finding support services and community resources to help you carry out your plan. If you find yourself unprepared or unable to parent, we can help you make an adoption plan for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be involved in selecting an adoptive family for my child?
YES. You decide what level of involvement you want to have in the selection process. You can choose to view profiles of waiting parents and select a family that provides the best fit for you and your child, or you can opt to allow The Maine Children's Home to select a family for you from our list of approved adoptive applicants, all of whom have been through an extensive adoptive home study. If you have already identified a family privately, we can still offer you counseling services. It is your choice.
Can I meet the adoptive parents?
YES. If you are interested in meeting the adoptive couple that you selected, you may do so prior to the birth and/or just after the birth. You also have the option of writing letters or having telephone conversations with the adoptive family throughout your pregnancy. In some instances, you and the adoptive family may even agree to stay in touch through letters, phone calls and visits after the adoption. We can assist you in determining what kind of relationship you would like to have with your child's adoptive parents.
Will I be able to know how my child is doing throughout the years?
YES. The Maine Children's Home requests that all adoptive parents provide us with annual progress updates on the child until he or she reaches the age of 18. If you would like, we will forward them on to you. If you prefer, the updates can also be kept on file at The Maine Children's Home and can be made available to you, the birth parent(s), upon request.
If I am unsure about the plan I chose, can I change my mind?
YES. Most of the people we talk with about adoption haven't made up their minds when they first contact us. That's OK, and it's part of what we work on together. You are entitled to change your mind at any time throughout the adoption process, until the Surrender and Release has been signed and the three-day waiting period has passed. Beyond the third day, your decision is final and irrevocable. The Surrender and Release cannot be signed until after the birth of your child.
Can my baby go home from the hospital with the adoptive parents?
YES. You may have the option of having your child placed with the adoptive couple upon discharge from the hospital. This type of placement is identified as a legal-at-risk placement, as there is some risk involved for the adoptive couple in that you could change your mind prior to the Surrender and Release hearing. If you are uncomfortable with a legal-at-risk placement or are unsure about your decision to place, you also have the option of placing your child, temporarily, with a licensed foster family, through The Maine Children's Home.
Can the birth father be involved in making a plan?
YES. If the birth father would like to be involved in the plan, he is more than welcome. If you and the birth father are not in agreement regarding the plan, there are counselors available to work individually with each of you to guide you toward a decision you both can feel comfortable with. We will also discuss your legal and parental rights as well as the birth father's rights. If you have not told the birth father about the pregnancy, we can help you contact the father and talk with him about your plan, or we can talk to him for you. Again, it's your choice.
Are counseling services available to me after my baby is adopted?
YES. Birth parent counselors will continue to provide counseling services to you and/or the birth father following the adoption if you so desire. We recognize that support is very important throughout the entire process, especially after placement, as this is a time when many begin to experience grief and loss issues.
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