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WORKING-CLASS ROOTS, TIGHT COMMUNITIES
Heart to Heart Adoptions — Buffalo and Western New York
Pregnant in Buffalo or anywhere in Western New York? There is someone that can help you. We are here and have worked with women in Buffalo. This is such a unique place with working-class roots, tight-knit neighborhoods built by Polish, Irish, and Italian immigrant families. We know you recognize that an unplanned pregnancy in your community can feel both like you have great support and exposed at the same time. Especially if you are in a situation where everyone knows their neighbors, and sometimes that means everyone knows your business too.
Heart to Heart Adoptions is here to gives confidential, free support across Buffalo and Western New York. You will receive counseling from your first call, living-cost help starting at month 8 of pregnancy under New York law.
Florida Phone: 518-557-1722
Ithaca, New York Office
200 E Buffalo St # 301, Ithaca, NY 14850
Reviewed by: Jodi Grizzle, LCSW (Clinical Director) | Wendy Knowles and Michelle Barrus, Birth Parent Support Specialists
Last reviewed: August 2026
What support is available for birth mothers in Buffalo?
Heart to Heart Adoptions has spent years learning the best way to give legal, confidential, compassionate, free support to women in Buffalo and Western New York.
Doesn’t matter how far along you are when you first call, counseling will start immediately. This means that the first time you call we will help you understand all your options. Those options might include adoptions, parenting, or something else. Living-cost help starts at month 8 of pregnancy, under New York law.
- Counseling is available 24/7. There is always someone to talk to. Occasionally a woman will call and not get a response because we are on the line with another women, but you won’t get AI advice. But when you talk to us you are talking to a real person.
- New York law allows housing assistance and other financial assistance starting at month 8 of your pregnancy. We can also help you get back on your feet after giving birth.
- You have a free adoption lawyer that only represents you. This is your lawyer that makes sure you know your rights and every legal aspect of the adoption.
Western New York covers Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Lockport, and the surrounding area. Heart to Heart Adoptions can support all of it. We are concerned about women in the rural western counties who can’t or would rather not travel. Just let us know how we can be of service.
How do you talk to a potential adoptive family?
If you are choosing an adoptive family, here are some questions you might want to ask.
Hospitals in this area
If you’re making a hospital plan, here are two maternity hospitals in Buffalo. Your caseworker can coordinate with either of these, or with a different hospital you’re already working with.
- Sisters of Charity Hospital — Main Street Campus
2157 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214 | 716-862-1000
- Mercy Hospital of Buffalo — Family BirthPlace
565 Abbott Road, Buffalo, NY 14220 | 716-826-7000
Don’t worry if you are working with a medical facility that is not listed. We are flexible and will make arrangements for whatever you feel the most comfortable with.
How does the adoption process work?
The first call to Heart to Heart Adoptions will get you started. Not necessarily started on an adoption process, because maybe that isn’t the right answer for you. But the call will connect you with someone who has worked with women who are uncertain about what to do with the pregnancy.
Everything will and should be done at your own pace.
Deciding to sign consent to the adoption has a window that you can use to change your mind. This occurs if you sign the consent outside of court.
Also, New York law provides you the opportunity to write a contract of content. That means you (and we will help you if you want) can write about what kind of contact you want with your child after the adoption and what kind of contact you want with the adoptive family. If this contract is approved by a judge, then it is legally binding. This gives you safety in how your future can be.
Can I stay connected with my child after adoption in Buffalo?
Yes. New York is one of the few states where a Post-Adoption Contact Agreement can be enforced by the law. The contact agreement needs to be approved by a judge which is an easy process we will help you complete. This way you can decide how you want to stay in contact and the contact is something that will be required by the adoptive family.
To read more about how an open adoption works and more things you should consider about the open adoption go to this link.
→ Open adoption in New York — how it works and what’s protected
/open-adoption-in-new-york/
If you want to understand more about how the adoption process works go to this page.
→ How the adoption process works in New York — full step-by-step
/how-do-i-place-a-baby-for-adoption-in-new-york/
What do women in Buffalo ask before calling?
Women here often ask:
- What if my neighborhood is small and everyone might find out?
- What does Heart to Heart actually know about Buffalo?
- Can you help with Western New York housing costs?
- What about women in Niagara Falls, Lockport, or other WNY towns?
Heart to Heart’s counselors have answered all of these.
“Buffalo’s neighborhoods are tight-knit in a way that’s different from a big city. We work with that, not against it — building plans that respect how much people here know each other.”
— Birth Parent Support Specialist, Western New York
A BUFFALO STORY
The light rail in Buffalo was Evelyn’s favorite public transportation. As her pregnancy advanced getting off the NFTA (Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority) and onto one of the connecting Metro buses made her incredibly sick. She felt fortunate that her job was on Main Street where the rail ran.
However, doctor’s appointments weren’t nearly as convenient. Kathy, a case manager from Heart to Heart Adoptions helped her find and pay for transportation to and from these doctor’s appointment. She found out that she could complete her entire adoption plan, from counseling, to choosing a family, to getting to doctor’s appointments without having her own care.
- Name changed
“I don’t drive. And I’m used to taking the Metro Bus, but pregnant it was so hard. Kathy was the best. She got me where I needed to go.”
— Evelyn, Birth Mother, Buffalo
Real Questions Women Ask About Buffalo Adoption
Explore each topic in more detail.
I'm pregnant in Buffalo and don't have transportation. What are my options?
Heart to Heart can arrange rides to medical appointments starting at month 8 of pregnancy, and most other conversations can happen by phone or video.
Can I place my baby for adoption from a Buffalo hospital?
Yes. Heart to Heart has worked with hospitals across the Buffalo area. Your caseworker can coordinate ahead of time.
Can I work with an agency if I live outside Buffalo?
Yes. Women throughout Western New York, including Niagara Falls and Lockport, work with the Buffalo-area team.
What if I'm already due next month?
Call now. It’s not too late to start, even this close to your due date.
Can I choose a family before labor begins?
Yes, if you’d like to. You can also wait until after birth if that feels right for you.
Is adoption really free for birth mothers in Buffalo?
Yes. Heart to Heart pays for everything — legal help, counseling, case management, medical coordination. Living-cost help also starts at month 8 of pregnancy, under New York law.
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What if I'm not sure about adoption yet?
Support, this include including counseling, starts with your first call, before you’ve decided anything. The month-8 rule under NY law only affects money for living costs. Counseling and emotional support start right away.
How quickly can I reach someone in Buffalo?
Call or text 518-557-1722 right now. Someone answers 24/7. If it’s urgent — housing, safety — we can move fast.
Are adoption laws in New York different from other states?
Yes. All states have laws specific to them. Many laws are similar, but there are differences.
Go here to see.
→ New York adoption laws
/adoption-laws-in-new-york/
We're Here for You
Whether you're just starting to explore or ready to talk, our compassionate team is here to listen and support you—without pressure or judgment.
New York Downloadable PDFs to Help Plan an Adoption
→ Adoption Help in New York City
→ Adoption Help on Long Island, New York
→ Adoption Help in Albany and the Capital Region
→ Adoption Help in Buffalo and Western New York
→ Adoption Help in Rochester, New York
→ Adoption Help in Syracuse and Central New York
→ Adoption Help in the Hudson Valley, New York
→ Adoption Help for Upstate and Rural New York
You don't have to do this alone.
We're here to walk beside you—every step of the way.
Call or Text Anytime
801-563-1000
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