Pregnancy Support

Yes! There are many families waiting to adopt a baby. Even if your baby is born with a medical condition or if you or your family has a history of medical or other problems, there will be a family willing to love and raise your baby.

The families who are approved for adoption have met or exceeded all of the rigid requirements of the state for adoptive applicants. These include interviews in their home to assess their ability and readiness to become adoptive parents; a criminal record check to ensure that there is no record of child abuse; and completion of an education program that includes how to talk with your child about adoption and recognition of the importance of birth parents in this process.

All approved parents will complete a family profile with information about them that includes their ages, occupations, physical description, hobbies, interests, etc. It also explains what religion they plan to raise the baby in and what type of relationship they hope to have with you as the child’s birth parent.

If this process becomes overwhelming and you truly do not want to make this decision, we can make a choice on your behalf. Your social worker will talk with you about the things that are most important to you in a family for your child and we will respect and honor those wishes to the best of our ability.

Yes, you can choose to name your baby. The name you choose will be on the original birth certificate. However, the adoptive family can choose to change that name. Often times, the family has already chosen a name they wish to use, but many choose to use the name you selected as the middle name.

If you want, make sure that you get a copy of the original birth certificate. After adoption, the birth certificate will change and you will not be able to get a copy.

No, the adoptive family will over expenses related to the adoption. You should utilize whatever health insurance or Medicaid you have for prenatal and birth expenses.

It is illegal to receive payment for placing your child for adoption. Only expenses directly relation to the care of your child or the adoption will be covered.

An adoption can occur without the birth father’s consent if you are not legally married to him, he has not been involved with you or your pregnancy and he has not expressed a desire to raise or support the baby. However, it is generally in everyone’s best interest if the birth father is involved in the process. Our staff can assist in speaking to the birth father and collecting the necessary information from him. Your baby deserves complete and accurate medical information and a legally sound adoption.

Absolutely! You can hold, hug, love and take as many pictures of your baby as you want. This is an important time for your and your baby, and you are free to spend as much or as little time with your baby as you want while you’re in the hospital. You are in charge of the decisions for your baby and we will respect your wishes.

Yes, in most cases a parent or guardian would need to consent to the adoption. There are some case-by-case exceptions that some courts in Michigan will make. Please discuss this with your adoption counselor.

If you have selected adoptive parents for your child, you can sign Temporary Placement documents after your baby is born. This allows the child go directly from the hospital to the adoptive parents you have selected. At this point, you still have all parental rights to the child.

Yes, in Michigan a woman must go to court to consent to the adoption. The male is only required to go to court if he is a “legal” father.

Once you go to court and sign the release or consent to adoption, the decision is final. In the State of Michigan, this usually happens 2 to 4 weeks after the baby’s birth.

If you should decide to parent your child and/or need further assistance, your social worker will provide you with a list of local community resources as requested.