Domestic infant adoption is when the adoptive family is chosen by the birth mother, usually before the baby is born or in some cases, right after delivery. The child is usually discharged to the adoptive family from the hospital for the purposes of adoption.

We are strong advocates of open adoption and believe that it is the right of every child to know about his or her medical and social history. We expect families to come to us initially with a certain amount of unease about open adoption; it is our pleasure to help families gain understanding and comfort with how open adoptions benefit adoptive parents, birth families and most of all, adoptees. This program is only open to residents of California and Hawaii.

Domestic Adoption Services

• Adoption Home Study

• Outreach. ADOPT’s experts will give you a one on one in-depth class on how to make your “Dear Birth Mom” Letters and profile books. We will provide you with real examples to borrow ideas from and we will also help you edit your photos and text in detail. With 29+ years of experience, we really know what works.

• Birth Parent Intake and Assessment. We gather personal information and, medical history and medical records and will share the information with you as we get it. We help you evaluate the risk of any situation, and help you to use all your resources to make informed decisions about any adoption.

• Gathering Medical History and Records. Adoptive parents are entitled to medical history, prenatal and labor and delivery records. We will request all available records and forward them to you immediately. You will have as much information as is available.

• Counseling. As an agency, we are legally able to represent birth parents and adoptive families alike. It is our pleasure to support and help women in making the decision that is right for them, whether adoption or parenting. We help connect birth parents to long-term therapy when she is ready, and our agency is always here to offer support in other ways, whether she just needs to talk, wants peer counselors, to be referred to support groups, or ever needs our help with life-long issues (i.e. how to include a new boy friend, future children).

• Hospital Coordination and Preparation. We will coordinate with the hospital staff to make sure everyone is aware of your adoption plan and the birth mom’s preferences for her delivery. This will be an intensely emotional and amazing experience, and we will help make sure everything runs smoothly.

• Organizing and Connecting You to an Agency Out of State. If you are chosen by a birth parent(s) in a different state, we will help you locate and hire a local agency to work closely with the birth parent(s).

• ICPC (Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children) Assistance and Approval. If your child is born in another state, we will work directly with your out-of-state agency to get permission for your child to leave the one state and enter the other. In California, agencies act as there own ICPC office, eliminating one step, so the process is quicker. We give ICPC our highest priority, so you are never stuck waiting while paperwork sits on someone’s desk.

• Relinquishment Services.Birth parents sign relinquishment (a.k.a “consents” or “surrendors”), which are generally legally binding within several days or weeks, depending on the state in which she lives. As a fully licensed agency, we have the legal ability to take relinquishments (unlike attorney’s or facilitators) and we have the highest ethical standards in taking any relinquishment from a birth parent. We have the utmost respect for our birth parents and provide them with the emotional and educational support needed in making such a monumental life-changing decision.

• Post Adoption Contact Agreements (in California). Birth parent(s) have the choice to ask for a legally binding post adoption contact agreement to be filed with the court. This is always done with the best interest of the child as our main concern, incorporating the needs of both birth and adoptive parents.

• Network With Other Agencies, Facilitators or Attorneys. It is not uncommon for birth parents and adoptive parents to be connected to different agencies or adoption professionals. In this case we help coordinate with the other organization involved.

• Post Placement Supervision. State law requires that you have meetings with a social worker after your child is in your home. We take this opportunity to provide support, education and guidance in making your child’s transition and attachment as healthy as possible. As the end of the supervision, your social worker provides a recommendation to the courts to finalize the adoption.

• Finalization. Once you’ve completed your post placement visits, you are ready to finalize your adoption in court. We will walk you through how to file the right court documents, compile all of your adoption documents and write a recommendation to the judge so that you can receive your final Adoption Decree and a new birth certificate that reflects you as the parent/s.

• Post Adoption Support for Both Birth and Adoptive Families. Just as our social workers provide support to adoptive families, we keep in contact with our birth mothers to make sure they are managing. We are available to birth parents 24/7, whether they just need to talk or are needing more in-depth services or referrals.