Frequently Asked Questions
Adoption is a big decision. Start by getting answers to your questions.
Additional Adoption Questions & Answers
Yes. If you have an open adoption, you can choose to communicate with them directly to explain your reasons. You will also be able to write letters and send pictures to your child.
Adoption Advocates works with families all over the United States, but most of them are in Central Texas. You have the option to specify either a family from Texas or a family from anywhere in the United States.
Yes. This is something you can discuss with your adoption specialist, or with the prospective adoptive parents, if you feel comfortable doing so.
Yes, you can choose the religion you wish the adoptive couple to be. Adoption Advocates works with families from all types of faiths, and we can help you connect with a family that shares your religious beliefs, if that is important to you.
Adoption Advocates asks adoptive families what religion they plan to bring up the child in. We cannot promise what the future brings, but we feel that an open adoption is the best way we know for birth parents and adoptive parents to build a relationship built on mutual trust.
The adoptive family will be given de-identified (no last names or addresses) information about your social and medical history, unless of course, you have a fully open adoption and then you may share any information that you choose.
Just as you are curious about the adoptive family, they are curious about you. They want to know your hobbies, likes and dislikes, type of music you listen to, favorite movies, favorite food, goals and dreams. How much information you choose to share is always up to you.
Adoptive families put together profiles that include their ages, occupation, religion, education, other children, pets, reasons for wanting to adopt and more. You can set up calls or meetings to learn more about them before officially matching.
With open adoption, you have the right to choose the adoptive couple for your child. You can be involved as much — or as little — as you feel comfortable with.
We work with married heterosexual couples, same-sex couples and single parents that are:
- Between the ages of 25 and 46 years old
- Financially sound
- Emotionally stable
- Ready to participate in an open adoption
All approved families have passed a comprehensive screening that includes background checks, interviews and home studies.
Adoption Advocates requests background social and medical histories from birth fathers.
You may send whatever you wish with the child, including gifts, books and letters, and be assured that the child will get these items. We encourage this as they are considered treasures by the adoptees.
Yes, the number and frequency of pictures is up to you. At the very least, you may have pictures taken at the hospital, pictures and a letter every month for the first year and pictures once a year until the child turns 18. Again, this is the agency minimum. Many families do more than the agency minimum.
If the baby is born with a birth defect, the adoptive family will decide if they are ready to provide the necessary care to parent a special needs child. If for any reason, they decide that they cannot adopt the child, AAI works with other families who are ready to open their hearts and their homes and are prepared to raise a child with special needs.
Yes, you can name the baby on the original birth certificate. The adoptive family will also enter a name on a new birth certificate when the adoption is finalized. You will need to discuss your feelings about keeping the name you choose with the adoptive family because naming the baby is a very important issue. Some adoptive families have a special name that they have picked out for many years to name the child. Many adoptive families are more than willing to either keep the name you choose or work together with you to choose a name that you both like.
You decide. You, the birth father and your families will be able to spend time with the baby, but how much contact and who is allowed to visit is up to you.
Adoption FAQ
for expectant parents
What Is Open Adoption?
An open adoption is one where you build a relationship with the adoptive family. You exchange personal and contact information, and have direct communication which each other. In an open adoption, you will always be honored as the child’s birth parent, because that’s who you are. Research shows that open adoption benefits everyone involved, especially the adopted child.
In most open adoptions, the adoptive parents provide pictures and updates of your child. In many open adoptions, communication includes phone calls, text messages and connecting on social media, and some include in-person or Facetime visits. Every open adoption looks different, but you and the adoptive family will decide together what yours should be.
Open adoption is an informal agreement based on trust and respect, but cannot be legally enforced in the State of Texas. That why we educate our adoptive families to respect the bond between your child and you, and to understand the importance of your child knowing his or her beginnings. Chances are that you will choose a family who you like and trust, and they will be committed to honoring their agreement with you.
Open adoption is one of the many choices you can make with your adoption plan. If you do not feel comfortable with that level of openness, you can choose to have a semi-open or closed adoption. With a semi-open adoption, you can still receive updates on your child, but all communication will go through the adoption agency. In a closed adoption, there is little to no contact between you and the adoptive family, and no communication happens after the baby has been placed with the adoptive parents.