Open Adoption Today

When a woman is faced with an unplanned pregnancy, many people think of adoption as it was twenty years ago, when a woman didn't have the choices in adoption that she has today. So much has changed for the better. Now, through open or independent adoption, birth parents, children, and adoptive families can come to know each other and make decisions that are best not only for the baby, but for everyone involved in the decision.
Your child will always know you, the birthmother, wanted the best for them and loved them very much and selected the best family to lovingly parent, nurture, and guide them through a happy and safe life. You have an opportunity to know, meet and develop a relationship with your child's adoptive parents before the baby is born. If your child has already been born, you will see how you and the prospective family respond to one another.

The choices are yours
Did you know that at the hospital you can receive, if you would like, a copy of your baby's birth certificate that includes footprints, the baby's wrist band, a lock of hair, and photos of you and your baby? In addition, you can hold and feed your baby, and some birth parents even choose to name their baby. Some of our birth parents decide it would be easier not to see the baby right away, and others want to. The choice is yours. Please feel free to call us for more information, or if you would like to speak to a birth mother who has chosen adoption for her child.

Adoption has changed in the last 20 years
Open adoption is now allowing birth families to make the choice to have ongoing contact with adoptive families. Not all birth parents are interested in ongoing contact and should not feel badly if their choice is to not continue contact. Many birth parents have told us that they really want the child to know they were loved enough to want the very best for their child, that's why they choose the adoptive parents. When birth parents are able to speak to and meet the adoptive family that will adopt their child, they are able to determine if the family has the qualities that are important to them.

We encourage birth parents to look beyond the physical appearance and read through the profiles for the lifestyle and values that the child will be raised with. In doing these few things, they will have a greater peace about their choice, allowing them to go on with their life and feel they have made the right decision.

Often we receive questions about the screening process of the families. We are seeking quality families that we feel we can help adopt, and are ready for the dedication and commitment to adoption. Families need to be able to pass a home study that consists of an FBI background check, financial verification, medical exam, home inspection and a clear child abuse report. This can give you peace of mind. We are here to help with your decision and future.

We offer a number of additional services to birth parents. We can provide a referral to a non-profit foundation that provides educational scholarships to women that have gone through an adoption plan in the last 5 years. Call Lifetime Foundation, a non profit 501(c)(3) charity for more information, (530) 432-7383. We can help you find out more about housing, counseling, and free maternity clothing.

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One Woman's Choice
"For three years I tried to raise my daughter myself. The father left two weeks after he found out I was pregnant. My parents live in another state. My mother is remarried and my stepfather didn't really like me. So we didn't see each other very much.

It had been Amber and me from the start. I tried to take care of her the best I could at nineteen. She had been raised by a lot of day care people. Something I didn't want. But welfare wasn't enough and I had to go back to work when she was six weeks old. I only saw her in the evenings when I picked her up from the sitter after ten hours of being apart. Sometimes she came to me but sometimes she'd look up and didn't want to leave. That broke my heart to see her reject me and hug the sitter. I worked long shifts, came home smelling like fried chicken and grease. I was dead tired and all I had at home was bills and more bills. I couldn't seem to get ahead. I made just enough to get by. I was able to buy her a toy now and then, pay the sitter and was forever putting money in the dang thing called a car. I came home one Friday to an eviction notice. I don't where we were going to go since my credit was shot. I wouldn't be able to get into a decent apartment. The only apartments were located on a trashy side of town and Amber's sitter was on the opposite side where my job was. I could have gotten another job but then she would be at the sitter over fourteen hours per day and Saturdays.

I looked into her sad eyes and saw that I wasn't doing parenting very well either. She wasn't happy and she always knew when I was upset and acted out. I decided she needed more than I could offer.

I rethought the choice I had considered when I was pregnant with her. That was adoption. That was the hardest thing that I've ever done. But I loved her enough to follow through with my decision. I chose an adoptive family that had one child that was seven so she would have a big sister to play with. Something I couldn't give her. She would also have a mom that was at home and a dad. Another thing I couldn't give her. It is still hard, but I couldn't have kept on living the life we were. Moving and dragging her at all hours of the day in here pj's to babysitters, so I could come home dog tired and just sleep while she waited for me to wake up to play with her. Sometimes I was so tired that all I wanted to do was push her away and she couldn't understand why I was rejecting her. I felt like we would both have a better chance at a new start. Some of the people at work thought I was being selfish. I think I had been selfish for keeping her in this lifestyle for so long. I thought of adoption when her dad left. My family pressured me to parent, saying that they would help. Yeah, for a whole three weeks and then they were gone and I was alone again.

Amber has been with her new family for six weeks. It was hard for me the first few weeks. I went to see a counselor that helped. That day I got in my mail, more bills but also a card from the adoptive family. I could tell by the way the envelope felt that there were photos inside. My heart started pounding and when I got into my apartment, I just placed the envelope up against the lamp on the kitchen table. I looked at it awhile going through the other mail and bills. I couldn't open it. It took me until the middle of the night when I woke and went to the kitchen; there it was still sitting waiting for me to open it. How would I feel when I saw the photos? What if I cry? What if she looks sad? Finally, I carefully opened the envelope, on the back there was a pretty pink heart sticker that was over the flap. When I looked inside I found a card with a teddy bear on the front, a verse that said "To a Special Person." I guess that's me. Inside the card were four photos. The first one was Amber sitting on the lap of her new sister. Their arms were wrapped around each other; big smiles covered both their faces. I couldn't remember Amber ever having a smile like that before. The second one was a photo of Amber with Becky, her adoptive mom. They were outside at a park. Becky looked so relaxed, so natural. Amber had her arms wrapped around Becky's neck; squeezing it so tight it distorted Becky's neck. The third one was just of Amber alone. Olin Mills Studio was stamped on the lower left side of the photo. Her hair was up in a little pony on the side of her head. I never thought of putting her hair up that way, but it was really cute on her. She had on an old fashioned ivory dress with little buttons on it. It looked real expensive. Her eyes were shining. I realized she looked like me when I was her age. She looked so happy, it made me cry. The last photo was a special one. It was one of the four them. She was being held by her new dad, Doug, a dad she never had before. He held her with such love and confidence. I could tell Amber was happy. Seeing her with them as a family made me realize I had done what was right for her, very right. I cried, but my tears were from knowing she was safe, happy and relieved that I had made the choice that was right, even when others said it wasn't. Other people weren't here. They couldn't see what I could see or feel what I could feel or know what Amber really needed. She needed this family and this family needed Amber. I finally just went back to bed. Sleep came easier. When I woke up the next morning I felt a weight had been lifted. The final act of a play had been played out and now it was my turn to start over. One thing I will always remember is I made the choice from Amber's standpoint. Through her eyes, she told me what she needed and I'm glad I looked into her eyes and realized it before it was too late and I would no longer be able to tell. Her eyes spoke to me again when I saw the photos of her with her new family. They were saying thank you for giving me a chance. I know she loves me and she will always know I loved her enough to want the best for her life. I wrote her long letter and put together a small photo album of her life with me and sent it with her the day she went to be with Becky and Doug.

Amber is always in my prayers and will always be in heart. It is hard sometimes, but these days are becoming fewer. What keeps me going is knowing that she is living a wonderful life with everything I ever wanted for her. A second chance for both of us.

I love you, Amber,

Your birth mother