ADOPTION PROCESS
How Does the Adoption Process Work?
The adoption process can feel overwhelming at first, but you do not have to navigate it alone. From exploring your options to creating an adoption plan and choosing a family, our team will guide you through each step at your own pace.
ADOPTION JOURNEY
What Does the Adoption Process Look Like?
Every adoption plan is unique, but most birth parents move through the same general steps with support and guidance along the way.
1
LEARN
Ask questions and explore your options.
2
PLAN
Create an adoption plan based on your wishes and goals.
3
MATCH
Review profiles and we will help you match with a family.
4
PREPARE
Make a hospital and placement plan with your team.
5
MOVE FORWARD
Receive post-placement support and ongoing resources.
STEP 1
Learn About Adoption
The first step in the adoption process is learning about your options and getting answers to your questions.
Adoption is one path, but it is not the only path. You can learn about different types of adoption, available pregnancy support, and what the process may look like for you and your child. Our team is here to answer questions and provide information without pressure or obligation.
STEP 2
Create Your Adoption Plan
An adoption plan is a personalized roadmap for your pregnancy, hospital experience, and adoption preferences. You decide what feels right for you, and your plan can change as your needs evolve.
Type of Adoption
Explore open, semi-open, and private adoption options to determine the level of communication and connection that feels most comfortable.
Find the Right Match
Review waiting family profiles and explore the qualities that matter most to you. Your adoption specialist will help identify families who may be a good fit for your goals and preferences.
Hospital & Delivery Preferences
Decide who you would like involved during labor, delivery, and placement, and create a plan that respects your wishes.
Communication Preferences
Discuss updates, photos, visits, messages, and future contact so everyone understands expectations from the beginning.
STEP 3
Find the Right Match
Finding the right adoptive family is a personal process. You can review family profiles, learn about their values and lifestyles, and discuss potential matches with your adoption specialist. There is no pressure to rush your decision.
Family profiles often include photos, videos, personal letters, information about their home and community, and details about their hopes for adoption. As you review profiles, you can think about the qualities that matter most to you and your child.
Your adoption specialist will help identify families who align with your preferences and answer questions throughout the matching process. The goal is not to find a perfect family, but to find the family that feels right for your adoption plan.
STEP 4
Prepare for Placement
As your due date approaches, your adoption specialist will help you prepare for the hospital experience and placement process. Every plan is customized to your wishes and can be adjusted if your needs change.
Hospital Preferences
Decide who you would like present during labor, delivery, recovery, and time with your baby.
Placement Planning
Discuss how and when placement may occur, including any preferences you have for the experience.
Emotional Support
Access counseling, guidance, and support before, during, and after delivery.
Flexibility & Choice
Your plan can evolve. You can continue asking questions and discussing your options throughout the process.
STEP 5
Move Forward With Ongoing Support
Moving forward after placement is not the end of your support—it is the beginning of a new chapter.
Every birth parent’s experience is different. Some women want ongoing counseling and regular contact with their adoption specialist. Others focus on healing, school, work, family, or future goals. Your support plan can continue long after placement.
If you have an open adoption agreement, communication may include updates, photos, messages, calls, or visits based on the plan everyone created together. Relationships often grow and change naturally over time.
Heart to Heart remains available to provide guidance, resources, and support whenever you need it.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions About the Adoption Process
Can I change my adoption plan after I start?
Yes. Creating an adoption plan does not lock you into a decision. You can take more time, ask questions, explore different options, or change parts of your plan as your circumstances evolve.
Do I have to choose an adoptive family right away?
No. Many birth parents spend time reviewing profiles, learning about families, and discussing their preferences with an adoption specialist before moving forward. There is no requirement to make a quick decision.
Can I talk with an adoptive family before making a decision?
In many cases, yes. Phone calls, video meetings, messages, or in-person meetings may be arranged if everyone is comfortable. Your adoption specialist can help facilitate communication throughout the process.
What support is available during pregnancy?
Support may include counseling, medical-care coordination, transportation assistance, housing support, groceries, and other pregnancy-related expenses when permitted by state law and your specific situation.
What happens at the hospital?
You create a hospital plan based on your wishes. This may include who is present during labor and delivery, time spent with your baby, and how you would like interactions with the adoptive family handled.
Can I have an open adoption?
Yes. Many adoptions today include ongoing communication after placement. Open adoption plans vary and may include photos, updates, messages, phone calls, or visits depending on what everyone agrees is appropriate.
What support is available after placement?
Support often continues after placement through counseling, emotional support, adoption specialists, and post-placement resources. Every birth parent’s experience is unique, and support plans can be tailored to individual needs.
What if I'm not sure adoption is right for me?
That is completely okay. Adoption is one option, but it is not the only option. You can talk with an adoption specialist, ask questions, and learn about your choices without pressure or obligation.
