THE MAINE CHILDREN'S HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS
Birth Parent Support Services

ARE YOU PREGNANT
OR FEELING OVERWHELMED WITH PARENTING,
AND IN NEED OF SUPPORT?

WE, AT THE MAINE CHILDREN'S HOME CAN HELP YOU!

A warm, caring, supportive birthparent counselor will assist you in exploring all of your options in order for you to make an informed decision that is best for you and your baby.

Birth Parent Counseling will:

• Help to clarify your choices, whether it be parenting or adoption
• Help you communicate your feelings
• Provide you with a safe environment for making your choice
• Offer you support in your decision
• Answer any questions you might have

We offer confidential counseling services, which are provided free of charge and without obligation to you, the birthparent(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.

An unplanned pregnancy can be a source of tremendous stress. To those who are considering an adoptive plan for their child, these are responses to some commonly asked questions about adoption:

• 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 couples and select a family that best fits for you and your child, or you can opt to allow the Agency to select a family for you from our approved Adoptive Applicants who 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 birth and/or just after 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 directly through letters, phone calls, and visits.

• 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 the Agency with annual progress updates on the child upon the occasion of each birthday until he/she reaches the age of 18. If you desire these updates on your child, the Agency will forward them on to you. If you prefer, the updates can also be kept on file at the Agency, and can be made available to you, the birthparent(s), if requested. We will also assist you in determining what kind of a relationship you would like to have with your child's adoptive parents.

• What if I am unsure about the plan I chose, can I change my mind?

YES. Most of the people that 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. Birthparent Counselors will provide you with information and answer any questions that you might have about your options. 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 surpassed. Beyond the third day, your decision is final and irrevocable. The Surrender and Release, however, can not be signed until after the birth of your child.

• Can my baby go directly home from the hospital with the adoptive parents?

YES. You have the option of having your child placed with the adoptive couple upon discharge from the hospital. This type of a 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 and decide to parent. If you were 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 birthfather be involved in making a plan?

YES. If the birthfather would like to be involved in the plan, he is more than welcome. We have experience helping birthfathers as well as birthmothers. If you and the birthfather are not in agreement regarding the plan, there are counselors available to work individually with you and the birthfather to guide you both towards a decision you can feel comfortable with. We will also discuss your legal and parental rights, as well as the birthfather's rights. If you have not told the birthfather 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 still available to me after I place my baby for adoption?

YES. Birthparent Counselors will continue to provide counseling services to you and/or the birthfather following the placement of your child for 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.

We at the Maine Children's Home, are proud of the caring, professional and experienced staff in our adoption unit. We have been providing adoption services for over 100 years. Feel free to contact us by phone, mail or e-mail if you have any questions or want more information.

Interested in our Adoption Services? Contact Us Here.