Adoption Agencies in Minnesota Archives

August 11, 2023 In Adoptive Parents, Birth Parents, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By Amanda Warner

Advantages to Working with a Local Adoption Agency

Advantages to Working with a Local Adoption Agency

Adoption Minnesota is a local adoption agency in Minnesota. Our office is located in Golden Valley, MN. We pride ourselves on answering questions about adoption and explaining the process without judgement or pressure. Because we are a local agency, we can meet with birth mothers in person rather than over the phone. We have found that many birth mothers would rather have a “real” person to talk with in person rather than having to communicate solely through their phones. Our counselors can come to you. We can meet birth mothers in their homes, restaurants near them or anywhere they feel comfortable.

Another advantage to working with a local adoption agency in Minnesota such as Adoption Minnesota, is that we thoroughly follow all the adoption laws in MN. When working with a national agency they may not know all the different states laws.

Adoption Minnesota also specializes in knowing all the resources for birth parents in our state. Since we are a local adoption agency, we know more about what is convenient and accessible to you. We have information on support groups, good hospitals, and doctors to work with, and which attorneys to use. We also have many other birth mothers who are willing to meet and talk with you about the adoption process.

Birth mothers who work with Adoption Minnesota are given choices about how they want their adoption to go. They get to make the decisions about what is best for their baby and themselves. Since we are a private adoption agency, we can support them through this process without having any county involvement. This is a birth mother’s choice, and we want to make sure that they feel supported long after placement.

Overall, there are many advantages to working with a local adoption agency. If you want more information about adoption, please reach out at www.adoptionmn.com or call 612-333-0593.

June 9, 2023 In Adoptive Parents, Birth Parents, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By Amanda Warner

Open Adoption

In most of the adoptions at Adoption Minnesota, a local adoption agency in Minnesota, there are some amounts of openness after the adoption placement. Openness in adoption can mean a lot of things and can vary. It can mean that adoptive parents provide the birth parents with updates, photos, and letters throughout the years after placement. It can also mean that the adoptive family gets together with birth parents for in person visits throughout the child’s life. Of course, the degree of openness depends upon the wishes and comfort level of the birth parents and the adoptive parents.

Adoption Minnesota has been around for over 33 years, and we have found that each birth parent and adoption is different. Some women want semi open adoptions while others want open adoptions with visits with their children. We make sure that your adoption is tailored to how you feel comfortable with post adoption, it is not a one fits everyone situation. Since we are a local adoption agency you have easy access to us.

We at Adoption Minnesota see that open adoption can be very successful and can benefit everyone in the adoption triad. Some of the benefits of choosing an open adoption are:

Getting access to medical health information so that you know your child’s medical history and have access to the birth family if something comes up through the years.
Allowing both sides to know how each other is doing and sharing accomplishments through the years.
Giving your child the opportunity to have a bond and knowledge of where they came from.
Allowing birth parents to know that their child is safe, happy and healthy.

If you are looking into adoption and want more information about the process, or what open adoption looks like please reach out by either emailing info@adoptionmn.com or calling at 612-333-0489. Adoption Minnesota staff is here to help! Again, we are a local adoption agency, meaning our office is in Minnesota, so we can come to you and meet in person, wherever it works best for you.

November 4, 2022 In Adoptive Parents, Birth Parents, Birthmother Stories, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By Amanda Warner

November is National Adoption Month

The History of November being National Adoption Month began in 1976 in Massachusetts when Governor Michael Dukakis announced an Adoption Week. This was then proclaimed as National Adoption Week by President Reagan in 1984. It was in 1995 that National Adoption Week’s awareness and time span was expanded to an entire month by President Clinton.

Adoption is an important, beautiful, and incredible option. National Adoption Month is a month that people use to celebrate and reflect on how their lives have been impacted by adoption. It also provides a platform for spreading awareness of adoption-related news and issues.

August 2, 2022 In Birth Parents, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By Amanda Warner

Looking to Give Your Baby up for Adoption?

Looking to give your baby up for adoption?

Here are 6 steps you may take if you have an unplanned pregnancy and want to work with a private adoption agency:

Deciding adoption is right for you and your baby:

Before even starting the process of “giving a baby up” for adoption, you must take time to learn about the process and if adoption is right for you and your baby/child. Adoption Minnesota is a licensed adoption agency, who explains this process and works with women to educate them on adoption in a non-judging or pressuring way. We believe that you can’t make a decision about giving up your baby until you have all the facts.

Create a private adoption plan for your baby:

At Adoption Minnesota we help you with your unplanned pregnancy. You can create a plan of how you want your adoption to go. You are in control and get to make many of the decisions about how you want the process to go. You get to decide how to go about putting your baby up for adoption in a way that you are comfortable with.

You will be assigned a counselor who will explain your options and go over what you are looking for in a family. They will help you create a hospital plan for labor and delivery along with a plan for openness or ongoing contact after placement.

Choosing an Adoptive Family for your baby:

At Adoption Minnesota we feel that finding an adoptive family that you feel comfortable with is one of the most important parts to placing your baby for adoption. We know how much you love your baby, and therefore it is so important to find a family that you feel is a perfect fit.

All the families at the adoption agency have completed a home study and background checks to ensure they are stable, fully prepared to adopt, and will provide a safe home full of love for an adopted child.

You will be given the opportunity to go through all of our families and get to know them through emails, texts, phone calls and in person visits. Once you have chosen the family that you would like to place with, Adoption Minnesota helps you finish planning the rest of the adoption plan. With a private adoption agency like Adoption Minnesota, you are the one in charge when creating the adoption plan and giving up your baby.

Give Birth/Delivery

The hospital experience will be planned out with your Adoption Minnesota counselor, who will coordinate this plan with your hospital of choice. Much like your adoption plan, you have full control over your hospital stay. You get to decide if and how much time you want to spend with your baby and if and when you want the adoptive family to come to the hospital.

Complete the Legal Steps to finalize the adoption plan.

Once your baby is born your Adoption Minnesota counselor and your adoption attorney will make sure you understand your rights and the legal aspects of finalizing the adoption. They will make sure you’re comfortable with your decision before proceeding with the paperwork that gives your consent to the adoption, allowing the adoption to become final.

After placement of your baby for adoption and ongoing contact:

Placing your child for adoption is just the beginning. Rather than “goodbye,” birth parents have the option to have openness and ongoing communication and visits after placement with their child and the adoptive family.

It is up to you to decide what kind of relationship you want to have with your child and the adoptive family after the adoption. Just as you get to decide how to “give up” your baby for adoption, you get to decide how you want your open adoption to look after placement.

Typically, women receive updates and photos of their child for 18 years.
Many also stay in contact with the adoptive family through emails, phone calls, text messages and social media updates.
Some plan in person visits once per year or more.

Adoption Minnesota hopes that this information was helpful. If you have any questions or want to learn more. Please reach out to us at www.adoptionmn.com or call at 612-333-0593!

April 22, 2022 In Birth Parents, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By Amanda Warner

Pregnant Considering Adoption

unplanned pregnancy support minnesota

If you are pregnant considering adoption you may want to ask yourself, do I have:

A dedicated social worker who will meet you in person in a location of your choice
A worker located in MN
A worker who will help you find a doctor in your area if you need
An adoption worker who will come to the hospital and help you through that difficult time
An adoption worker who is only working and supporting you through this process and not the adoptive parents as well
post adoption support
support groups that you can attend

If not, you may be working with a facilitator and not an adoption agency. Adoption Minnesota is a local agency in Minnesota that makes sure that their clients have someone to meet with in person, who is willing to come to them anywhere in MN. We walk birth parents through the process step by step and help them to create an adoption plan that fits their needs and wants for their child.

May 13, 2019 In Birth Parents, Birthmother Stories, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By CAIRS

Angela’s story

“As painful as it was to let go of my daughter, it was the most loving thing I could have ever done for her.”

I was 23 years old, a single parent of a 4 year old with a full time job and education goals. The father of my baby had left me. I had intended to raise the baby, but I didn’t feel that I had the tools to do this on my own. I could not offer my children a secure future. I wanted my baby to have the support and security of two parents who could fulfill her needs and give her a peaceful childhood full of attention and love.

First, I called Adoption Minnesota to find out about adoption. I felt so comfortable with the woman I talked to that I came in right away to get more information.

On my first visit to the agency, I looked through the book of families. When I saw my adoptive parents’ picture, I just knew they would be my family. I know that sounds silly, but looking back, I think God was guiding me. They were the perfect match. I grew to love them and wanted them to be my child’s parents. They were kind, supportive, and loving people who never pressured me about my decision. They really seemed to care about me. The relationship they had with each other was very loving. They seemed genuine.

I didn’t really decide that I was definitely doing adoption until I met the adoptive parents. Then I prayed a lot, searched my heart, and got to know them. It was finally clear that this was the best decision. A few weeks later, my baby was born.

When my daughter left the hospital with her adoptive parents, I felt very sad and overwhelmed. Everyone, especially the adoptive parents, treated me kindly. That helped me immensely. I was afraid the pain I felt would never end and, at the same time, I really always felt at peace about my daughter’s safety and well-being. I knew she would be in a good, safe, and loving place.

My birth parent counselor was always there to talk to, and after I placed the baby, she was there for me continuously to help me through the grieving process. She always let it be my decision and didn’t ever make me feel incompetent to raise my baby myself if I decided I could.

As painful as it was to let go of my daughter, it was the most loving thing I could have done for her. I’ve never lost sight of that and am grateful that adoption exists because of how deeply I love her. The adoptive parents’ gift to me was letting me be at peace knowing that she will always be loved, happy and safe.

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May 8, 2019 In Birthmother Stories, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By CAIRS

Malia’s Story

“If you would have asked me about adoption before I was pregnant I would have said that I could never go through with it. Now that I have I can’t imagine what my life would have been if I hadn’t!

I was fifteen and a sophomore in high school when I found out that I was pregnant. I had just played in a basketball game and came home feeling horrible. I went to the doctor the next day and was told the surprising news that I was pregnant. I didn’t believe my doctor at first. How could this have happened? Not to me! My boyfriend at the time was also in high school, and both of us knew that we were not ready to parent. I wanted to finish school and go to college. I was too far along in my pregnancy to get an abortion, so we knew that adoption was the right choice.

My mom helped me find an adoption agency and set up a meeting for an adoption worker to come to our house. I was so nervous! I thought that it would be some old woman who would tell me what I needed to do. I could not have been more wrong. The worker came and made me feel comfortable right away. She told me that I got a lot of choices through this process. She told me that I got to choose the family, decide how I wanted the adoption to go, and also have contact after placing.

My boyfriend and I went through the book of families. We chose one to meet with. They came to our house to meet because we thought that would be easiest for us. Everyone was so nervous at our first meeting, but after they left, we both said that they were the ones. We asked them to meet us again and we told them in person that we were choosing them. Everyone was crying and hugging. It felt really good.

When it came time to deliver, the family was in the waiting room. We wanted them to meet their daughter as soon as she was born. They had a separate room at the hospital and it was nice to have some time with them and our baby and also some time alone with her. When we all left the hospital, there were more tears, but they were good tears. We had all been through so much together and truly cared for each other. Even though it was extremely hard, we knew that we would be seeing each other and be in each other’s lives forever. That made it a little easier.

Since placing, I have seen my daughter a few times a year. It has been really amazing having her in my life. She got to come to one of my basketball games and meet my team. It was so incredible to see her cheering in the stands. If you had asked me about adoption before I was pregnant I would have said that I could never go through with it. Now that I have I can’t imagine what my life would have been if I hadn’t!

May 8, 2019 In Birth Parents, Birthmother Stories, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By CAIRS

Jodi’s Story

“Seeing him in their arms and how happy they were actually helped me. I could tell from the moment that he was born that they loved him with all their hearts.”

I found out that I was pregnant when I was 37. I was already parenting a 16, 10 and 6 year old on my own. We were struggling as it was, and I didn’t feel like I could parent another child on my own. The birth father was an addict and I knew that he would not help. I wanted this child to have more than what I could give him right now.

I found my adoptive parents through a mutual friend. From the first time I met them, it felt like we were all family. They treated my daughters and I like we were extended family members and really wanted to have us in their lives. We spent many months getting to know them better. We met at restaurants, parks and even their home.

The farther along I got in my pregnancy, the harder it got for me emotionally. I knew that adoption was the right choice and that I had found a great family, but it was extremely hard. My kids had a hard time, too, because they were so excited for a baby. I had to keep explaining to them that we would still see their brother, but that he would be living with another family.

When the day came, labor went pretty quickly. The adoptive parents were in the room with me during delivery and were a big help. After he was born, we all cried together because we were happy and sad at the same time. Seeing him in their arms and how happy they were actually helped me. I could tell from the moment that he was born that they loved him with all their hearts. It made me feel better about the situation and that I could do this for both them and him.

Since the adoption happened, we have had visits a few times a year and I get lots of pictures updating me on how he is doing. The adoptive parents and I continue to have a great relationship. Adoption was both one of the hardest and one of the best things that I have ever done.

August 1, 2018 In Adoptive Parents, Birth Parents, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By Amanda Warner

Adoption is About Creating a Plan Not “Giving Up”

Adoption is About Creating a Plan for your Child not “Giving Up.”

We at Adoption Minnesota work hard to promote positive adoption language. If you are just beginning to look into adoption as a birth parent, adoptive parent or adoptee you may hear or read the term “give up”. While this is a common term used by modern society and the media it is actually not the preferred term. It does not positively and realistically speak about the adoption process. It tends to present an outdated version of the process.

Birth mothers are not “giving up” their babies. They are doing quite the opposite. They are creating very detailed plans for their children and making sure they are given the very best. It is a very tough decision made from their love and strength for their child. Using the words “give up” makes it seem like it’s a quick decision where a woman gives up her child without any thought or plan.

Thankfully women are no longer told that they must hand over or give up there babies without ever hearing from them again, never getting to know how they are doing or telling them how much they are loved.

Adoption truly has changed through the decades. Women are now able to create their adoptions to fit their needs. They get to plan how they want things to go. In many adoptions today women create their adoption plans and get to have on going contact with their children through pictures, updates and sometimes visits.

Adoption Minnesota, a private adoption agency in Minnesota and other adoption professionals advocate and prefer to use terms such as “place your baby for adoption,” or “create an adoption plan,” rather than “give up your baby.” We feel that it better reflects the work that goes into finding the right adoptive family and the birth mother’s strength, courage and love for her child.

If you want to talk about adoption, the process of have any questions please feel free to call us at 612-333-0593 or email us at info@adoptionmn.com.

April 26, 2017 In Adoptive Parents, Adoptive Parents Stories, Birth Parents, Birthmother Stories, Uncategorized, Unplanned Pregnancy By Adoption Minnesota

Reid and Paul’s Adoption Story

On a Sunday September 18th we received a screening call from Kathi, our Adoption MN social worker. She told us there was a birth mother interested in 5 families, and we were her second choice. We were told the birth mother, Lauren, was shy and working slowly through the process. She was due on November 4th, so time was quickly approaching for her to make a plan.

Many days went by and we didn’t hear anything. We wondered if Lauren had picked her first choice. We started to think that maybe this situation wasn’t going to be “the one” for us, which was OK. Our philosophy surrounding our adoption plan was “when it happens, it happens…” as we wait and hope for a placement.READ MORE