Pregnant and considering adoption?

Are Pregnant and Considering Adoption?

Adoption Minnesota is a licensed adoption agency in Minnesota. We work with women who are pregnant and considering adoption. We encourage you to make all the key decisions about your pregnancy, your baby, and your adoption. We are there to help you during the pregnancy, birth and for as long after the adoption as you want.

Adoption Minnesota wants you to know that if you are pregnant and considering adoption, we are here to support you through this process. If you would like to learn more about how we can help either fill out an info form or call us at 612-333-0593.

Birth Mother’s Day!

Birth Mother’s Day

 May 8, 2021!

At Adoption Minnesota we cherish and honor those of you who have bravely made an adoption plan for your child. Giving your baby up for adoption can be one of the hardest decisions you may ever have to make, and we want to make sure you know that you are thought of, admired, and respected. Your love, strength and courage for your child is one that they will always know of. We hope that you are celebrated and shown the love and compassion that you deserve. Happy Birth Mother’s Day!

If you are thinking about giving your baby up/placing your child for adoption and want more information, please reach out to Adoption Minnesota at info@adoptionmn.com or at 612-333-0593. We are here to help you through this very difficult time.

Is It Too Late To Give My Baby Up For Adoption After I Have Brought The Baby Home From The Hospital?

 

 

Adoption, Adoption Plan, placing my baby for adoption, Adoption in Minnesota

No, it is never too late to place your baby or child for adoption. Adoption Minnesota has worked with many women through the years that have decided to place their baby for adoption after taking the baby home from the hospital. In many, but not all, of those situations, the birth mother thought about adoption before leaving the hospital with the baby but decided to parent instead – often with promises of emotional, financial, and parenting support from friends and family. Some birth mothers, who later reconsidered adoption, discovered that such promises, while well-intended, didn’t materialize or were not consistent enough to enable the birth mother to parent the child.

Whether you are still in the hospital or have left the hospital with the baby, if you are not confident of your ability to parent the child Adoption Minnesota is here for you. We can explain the process and answer any of your questions. Talking to, or meeting with, Adoption Minnesota does not obligate you to proceed with an adoption. We will treat you will kindness and respect, never pressure you to proceed with adoption, or judge you.

Adoption Minnesota has many wonderful, married, single, gay, lesbian and transgender families to choose from. They have all gone through training and have been carefully screened.

Adoption Minnesota is here to provide you with choices, support and assistance throughout the adoption process. Our goal is to make the adoption process a positive and fulfilling experience for everyone involved. We are here to answer any questions you may have or set up a time to meet in person. We are open everyday of the week and holidays too. Call us at 612-333-0593 or Text at 612-616-4564.

 

I am Pregnant and thinking about placing my baby for adoption.

I am Pregnant and thinking about placing my baby for adoption. What does the adoption process look like if I work with Adoption Minnesota?

Adoption Minnesota is a private adoption agency and we understand that this is a very hard time and decision for you. We are here to help you create an adoption plan that fits your needs. We have helped thousands of pregnant women in Minnesota, over the last 30+ years find loving, happy wonderful homes for their babies. Here is what we will do for you:

First you meet with an adoption MN counselor

Our counselors are willing to meet you wherever and whenever it’s convenient for you. No matter where you live in MN, a counselor could meet you in your home, out in the community, or in our office. We will talk with you about your individual situation, answer questions, and discuss the adoption process.

Then you move on to finding a family

Adoption MN has many adoptive parent families for you to choose from. All of our families have been carefully screened and competed background checks. We work with married, single, gay, lesbian and transgender families. After you decide which family you are interested in, you can proceed however you’d like. You may call, email or meet with adoptive parents, or you can communicate your plan directly through your adoption counselor. browse waiting families»

We help you create an adoption plan

Adoption MN can help you create an adoption plan that fits your needs. Your counselor will assist you in planning your hospital stay. You can decide on spending time with your baby and/or the adoptive parents, if that is what you desire. You can also create a plan for future contact with your child and the adoptive parents, that can include photos, updates and possible visits.

We have meet with an adoption attorney at no cost to you

Adoption MN can refer you to an attorney who specializes in adoption law. This attorney is at no cost to you. Your attorney will talk with you about the legal process and make sure that you understand your rights.

Delivery and Placing Baby

After you deliver, your hospital stay is “your time”. You can decide if you, and family or friends, will spend time with the baby. The adoptive parents can come to the hospital and you may or may not want to spend time with them, it’s up to you. Once the baby and you are ready to be discharged from the hospital, the baby goes home with the adoptive parents. We do not use foster care.

Signing your final consent paperwork to finalize the adoption plan

To complete the adoption process, birth parents need to consent to the adoption. The consent is a legal document that birth parents in MN cannot sign until between 72 hours after the birth of the baby, and up until 60 days after birth. Once this consent is signed, it isn’t final until 10 working days after signature.

On going support

Your counselor will be available to talk and meet with you before, during and after the adoption placement for as long as you need support.

Adoption Minnesota is always available to talk and answer any questions you may have. We can be reach through email at info@adoptionmn.com or by phone at 612-333-0593. For more information you can also look at our website www.adoptionmn.com.

 

 

 

Important Factors to Remember When Giving up Your Baby for Adoption

Important Factors to Remember When Giving up Your Baby for Adoption

If you are thinking about giving your baby for adoption or placing your newborn or child for adoption there are many things you should know about your rights and the process before you start working with an adoption agency. Here at Adoption Minnesota we think that it is important to work with a private adoption agency who helps you through the adoption process in a caring, compassionate and non-pressuring manner. An adoption agency should be there to help you through the process, make sure your legal rights are followed and support you with each step of your journey. Here are some important rights to remember that you have during the process of giving up your baby for adoption.

  1. You have the right to receive FREE, in person adoption counseling.
    • Counseling for adoption should always be free. At Adoption Minnesota it is also free from pressure, and any influence. This should be your plan and an adoption agency should not push their agenda on you. If you chose to place your child for adoption, you also have the right to receive support after the adoption takes place for as long as you need it.
  1. You have the option to work with a licensed, nonprofit private adoption agency.
    • If you are thinking about placing or giving up your baby for adoption, keep in mind that not all adoption agencies are the same. Some unlicensed organizations and individuals earn a great deal of money by encouraging and pressuring women to place for adoption. Always ask the adoption agency you are working with if they are licensed for adoption in the state you live in.
  1. You can receive financial assistance if you choose to make an adoption.
    • If you decide that adoption is right for you and your child, you have the right to receive help financially. Adoptive parents can help with basic living and medical expenses during your pregnancy, and for up to 6 weeks after you deliver.
  1. You as the birth parent should be allowed to decide how you want your adoption to go.
    • If you decide that giving up your baby or placing for adoption is right for you, then you should be in control of how the adoption will proceed. You can decide who the adoptive family will be, how the hospital time will go, and also what you want for openness or contact after placement. An adoption agency should not pressure you to do it “their way.” At Adoption Minnesota every adoption is different, and unique. We feel that it is very important to support and help birth parents create an adoption plan that fits them and their child.
  1. You have the right to your own attorney and to have your legal rights represented at no cost to you.
    • If you are planning on placing for adoption or giving up your baby it is important that you have your own attorney. If you are not working with an adoption agency, we urge you not to waive your right to an attorney. Having your own attorney allows you to have the legal support you need, and also have the emotional knowing that you have someone on your side making sure your rights are respected and followed.
  1. You have the option to have a legally binding agreement about what kind of future contact you want with your baby.
    • A legal binding Contact Agreement lays out the details of what kind of contact birth parents, adoptive parents and your child will have after placement. Each Contact Agreement is different and not every state has them, but your agency should tell you about them and offer to get you in touch with an attorney to draft one if you would like.
  1. No matter what you should be respected, regardless of your decision.
    • Whether you decide to give up your baby for adoption or not, you should not be pressured or made to feel guilty by the agency or people that you are working with. Making a choice about adoption is a very difficult decision and you should be respected no matter what you decide. Adoption Minnesota supports women in whatever decision they make and are here to support them in the process.

If you have any questions or want to talk more about the adoption process please reach out to us at info@adoptionmn.com or www.adoptionmn.com.

Social Media and Adoption

Social Media and Adoption

Our society uses social media to keep in touch with family, friends and many others. Social media has changed the way we communicate both in our personal and even work lives. Adoption is no different and birth parents and adoptive families are no exception.

In the adoption world social media can help make connections between adoptive parents and birth parents. It can help to keep an open adoption going with easy communication. Online support groups offer communities for adoptive and birth parents, that are easily accessible for when they need them.

Before agreeing to be friends through social media Adoption Minnesota encourages adoptive parents need to think about how they will feel if they were to see their child’s birth parents or family posting about their struggles and the coping that go along with placing a child for adoption. They also encourage birth parents, to think about how they will feel reading about the feelings adoptive parents might post about the adoption process, fear, stress, nervousness, happiness etc. When using social media, it’s important to remember that the adoption process is not only your story, but your child’s story, and the way you tell that story could impact everyone involved in the adoption. The following are some tips for when you are considering using social media on your adoption journey.

For Birth Parents and Adoptive Parents:

  • Assume that anything you say or post on social media will stay there forever. Before posting sensitive information about your adoption plans and your child, consider the possibility that the information you share now could one day be seen by your child.
  • It is a good idea to work on a post adoption social media plan. Adoption Minnesota along with many other agencies help adoptive parents and birth parents create one so that everyone is on the same page about what will be posted. Having a plan in place will allow birth parents and adoptive families to establish and agree on boundaries regarding discussions of their child and the adoption on social media.
  • If you are not currently a social media user or not a frequent user, it is very important to become familiar with sites before using them. Many sites have features that you should understand about public or private information and how you add information that is private verses public. Even after you become familiar with the privacy settings on any given site it is also important to still be aware that these sites often change the settings options. If you plan to share information about your adoption process on social media, adjust your privacy settings to limit the people who can access that information.
  • When sharing adoption information with your social media networks, remember that friends can share or respond to your posts, opening your information to a wider audience beyond your intended group of friends and followers. Include this consideration in your pre- and post-adoption social media plan.
  • Adoption Minnesota suggests that parties do not share identifying information about the birth or adoptive family or the child.
  • When sharing images of children, consider private photo-sharing websites that require a password to view posted photo galleries.
  • If you have an open adoption, consider setting up a separate, private website or private Facebook page to share pictures, information and milestones between the birth and adoptive families. This will allow you to share adoption information with a select group of individuals without including the day-to-day information you might share on your public social media sites.
  • Have clear boundaries from the beginning about who you will accept friend and follower requests from, including extended birth and adoptive family members.
  • Avoid angry or emotionally charged communication about other members of the adoption process. Again, remember that anything you do or say on social media could potentially be seen by your child one day, and these types of negative posts could be upsetting to your child.
  • Monitor and censor what friends post on your social media pages. If you shared adoption information with a friend or family member outside of social media, they may post questions or information to your social media pages that publicly reveals this information.
  • When posting to online adoption support groups or discussion forums, be careful to guard the privacy and identity of the members of your adoption. Consider changing names or using commonly used acronyms, such as “BP” for birth parent.

For Birth Parents:

  • Talk with your family, friends and the birthfather about your post adoption social media plan. Make sure everyone understands your wishes regarding the information that is shared on social media.
  • If you receive a friend request from a child, speak to your Adoption Minnesota counselor or an adoption specialist before responding. Social media is often not the best format to make these types of connections, and you may consider redirecting the request to more traditional formats, such as personal letters or emails.
  • Do not criticize the adoptive parents on social media, including expressing frustration with their parenting decisions.

For Adoptive Parents:

  • Do not post pre-placement adoption information, such as ultrasound photos, without an agreement from the birth parents.
  • If you are connected to your child’s birth family on social media, avoid posting complaints about your child. Simple expressions of routine frustrations over late-night diaper changes or a messy bedroom can be misinterpreted by birth parents and lead to hurt feelings.
  • If you have an open or semi-open adoption with your child’s birth parents, share big news and milestones regarding your child with them directly via letter, email or phone call before posting it online for the rest of your social network to see.
  • Never criticize members of the birth family on social media, including those who seem to be unsupportive of the birth mother’s adoption decision.
  • As your child grows up and begins to use social media, consider their privacy settings and their access to information about their birth family. Prepare your child for the pros and cons of developing a social media relationship with his or her birth family.

Social Media can be a great way to get to know each other and stay connect, but it can also lead to hurt feelings and misconceptions if not used right. The important thing to think about when using social media for adoption purposes is how it will affect everyone involved. As long as both sides are on the same page and have discussed their plan, Adoption Minnesota feels that social media can be a very helpful adoption tool.