By Veronica Wiley

An unplanned pregnancy can be difficult, and we know you must have a lot going through your mind.  There is a lot to consider with an unplanned pregnancy, including what your next step is.  Adoption Choices of Nevada is here for you as a local private adoption agency.  We’ll do our best to help you with the information you need.  If you’ve made it to this article, you must be curious about the adoption option.  

When thinking about adoption for your baby, one of the topics to consider is who may be adopting your baby and why.  Adoption involves three parties: the birth mother, the adoptive family, and the child.   Adoptive families, like birth mothers, choose whether they would like an open, semi-open, or closed adoption.  This allows teams at adoption agencies to provide a harmonious adoption for the birth mother, the child, and the adoptive family.  The adoption process for the birth mother is different than for the adoptive family.  To continue learning what the process would be like for the family adopting your baby, continue reading.

 Adoption Adoption for My Baby: The Adoptive  Parents

Prospective adoptive parents are the people or families who are actively looking to adopt a child.  These families can be of any race or religion or have no religious beliefs at all.  They may be a single person, a married couple, or a same-sex couple.  An adoptive family may rent or own their home, have high or low income, and some children or no children.  This sounds like a pretty wide variety of people who can apply to adopt a child, but there are some guidelines that families need to follow.  Some of the guidelines Adoption Choices of Nevada and our adoption agencies in Nevada include for their adoptive families are:

• For a person to apply, they must be over the age of 21.
• If the couple is married, both parties must participate in the entire screening and adoption process.
• All members of the household must be free from criminal activity.
• Must be financially able to support a child.

Adoptive Parents Thinking About Adoption

Many families choose adoption for various reasons.  Sometimes a single man or woman wants to have a baby but chooses to stay unmarried.  Often same-sex couples would like to raise a child but are unable or unwilling to get pregnant.  Many married couples feel convicted to not have a biological child when there is another child in need of a loving family.  Some families who have biological children feel the tug on their hearts to open their homes for adoption.  The most common reason people choose to adopt is infertility.  Many people who have gone through strenuous fertility treatments are still unable to conceive.  Their hearts ache to raise a baby and adoption is a rewarding option for them. 

FAQs About the Adoption Process with Adoptive Parents

• How does the adoptive family start the process?
  Each adoptive family must fill out an adoption application.   In this application, they provide information about their family, the home they are offering, and activities.  These often include their daily routine, yearly celebrations, or annual trips they take.  This will be added to their adoption profile for you to view later.  Within this application, we also ask them to provide references from people who know them well.
• What screening process do adoptive families have to go through?
  Each prospective adoptive family must undergo a detailed screening process.  This includes a background check, home study, interviews, reference checks, and physical exams of each household member. 
• What choices does the adoptive family have when it comes to selecting a child?
  The adoptive family can select the preferred age, ethnic background, gender, and number of children they’d like to adopt.  This includes if they are open to adopting twins or siblings.  However, the more selective they are, the longer wait they may have before they finally meet their new baby.
• How much of my baby’s background will the adoptive family be privy to?
  Just like you, the adoptive family can decide if they want an open, semi-open, or closed adoption.  As part of your adoption plan, if you have decided you want a closed adoption, we will not match your baby with a family who wants an open adoption.  If you have decided you want a closed adoption, only limited information about your child’s history will be shared with their adoptive family.
• When is the adoption finalized?
  Each adoptive family must undergo a six-month post-placement supervision and support period.  This allows us to ensure that the child is thriving with its adoptive family.  After the six-month supervision period, all adoption documents will be finalized.

If You Are Considering Adoption

Each state has its own laws governing adoption that can change how adoption works for each party member.  Adoption Choices of Nevada encourages you to investigate the adoption laws in your state, as some of these may not apply to you.  If you are ready for the next step in your adoption journey, or if you have questions regarding the adoption process, click here.  We’d love to talk with you.