FLORIDA ADOPTION AGENCY — HEART TO HEART ADOPTIONS
What Makes an Adoption Family Profile Work? A Florida Placement Story
They started their adoption process during a pandemic. They took create care with the profile trying to accurately representing them as a family. A birth mother in Florida chose them within 12 hours. What made their profile different and what open adoption has looked like since.
What does a 48 hour adoption look like?
After getting married Libby and Cory wanted to start a family.
Ultimately they decided that adoption was the right path for them to make this happen.
A year into the process, after getting their home study together, Libby and Cory put a lot of themselves into their family profile book. Cory, an artist and adjunct professor, and Libby, a museum educator, and ice skating coach, made sure their profile was a candid representation of their distinct and fun lifestyle. They wanted potential birth mothers to see a loving, caring, often silly, but always thoughtful couple that would be the perfect fit for their child.
Most importantly, they wanted to present their authentic selves to a birth mother that would always be in their lives through an open adoption.
The couple started the process with a DC-area agency. They used resources from that agency for several classes but then decided to expand their reach and go with an adoption agency out of their immediate area. That is how they found Heart to Heart Adoptions.
After being listed with Heart to Heart and another out-of-area agency, it was a long wait of almost a year. However, this past July, Libby and Cory were sent an email from Heart to Heart asking if they’d like their profile shown to a birth mother in Florida.
A birth mother in Florida chose them within 12 hours. What are the calls with a birth mother like?
“We did want our profile to be shown to this mother.” Libby said, “It was important that whoever chose us to raise their child to feel comfortable with us, and we hoped our profile would represent us well.” Within 12 hours of having their profile shown to the Florida birth mother, Cory and Libby were on a phone call with her.
“We didn’t know what we were doing or the expectations,” Cory said. “We had a great, quick conversation that highlighted a lot of the heart and soul we put into our profile book. But the second we hung up, we thought about everything we should have said.”
“A day later, she wanted a follow-up phone call, and we thought, great! We could talk about all the stuff we didn’t talk about during the first phone call,” Libby said.
Five hours in the hotel lobby — the lowest point
“But there were no follow-up questions, “ Cory said of the second phone call. “Just a decision. She wanted us to parent her baby.”
What followed was a mix of shock, delight, terror, and joy. The couple used the month before the infant’s due date to gather basic essentials and supplies and take parenting classes.
During that time, there was a week when no one could contact the birth mother. It was a stressful moment, to say the least.
“Eventually, we found out her phone was broken,” Cory said. “Heart to Heart worked with her to get a new phone, and things were back on track.”
“We decided to go down two days before her due date so she could get to know us and be sure of her decision,” Libby said. “Thanks to Heart to Heart, we got to have dinner with her a couple of times. Since she passed her due date, we had the opportunity to get to know her even better.”
“Our profile book and actually meeting the birth mother before our daughter’s birth date really established a connection between us,” Libby noted, “but being able to support our daughter’s adoption story through an open and continued connection with the birth mother is helping shore up and maintain our relationship, for what we hope will be years to come.”
Cory admitted he is a “bit of a crier,” and this little girl’s birthday was an emotional day.
Questions About this Florida Open Adoption
What makes an adoption family profile stand out to a birth mother?
Authenticity. Birth mothers are reading dozens of profiles and can tell when a family is performing rather than being real. However, you do your family profile, let it represent you. You can contact us for specifics on what should be included in the family profile.
How long does it take for a birth mother to choose a family?
This is a question that doesn’t have a simple answer. It varies widely. In this story, a birth mother chose within 12 hours. Others take weeks or months. Heart to Heart keeps families’ profiles active and updated throughout the wait.
What is ICPC in adoption?
ICPC stands for Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. It is the legal process required when an adoptive family in one state adopts a baby born in a different state. In this story, the family was not in Florida. ICPC was required. Heart to Heart coordinates all ICPC paperwork.
Can an adoptive family from another state adopt a Florida baby?
Yes. Heart to Heart regularly matches Florida birth mothers with adoptive families from other states. ICPC ensures all legal requirements in both states are met.
What is OurHeartsConnect?
OurHeartsConnect is a private messaging app Heart to Heart uses to help birth mothers and adoptive families stay connected safely after placement. It allows photos, updates, and messages without requiring direct contact information exchange.
What happens if a birth mother has second thoughts after choosing a family?
She has the legal and emotional right to reconsider at any point before consent is signed. Heart to Heart supports birth mothers through uncertainty without pressure. In this story, meeting the family in person resolved the second thoughts, but that is the birth mother’s choice to make.
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.
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
Reviewed by licensed adoption professionals at Heart to Heart Adoptions.
Wendy Knowles, Birth Parent Support Specialist
Michelle Barrus, Birth Parent Support Specialist
Jodi Grizzle, LCSW
Last Reviewed:
