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Need Someone
Speak to a Spence-Chapin counselor or schedule an appointment at a location convenient to you.
To Talk To? Call toll-free 800.321.5683 Email: amy.silverman@spence-chapin.org
Birth Parent Bill of Rights
As a birth parent, you have rights. Learn about them here.
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FAQsI’m interested in adoption. How does it work? How do I get started?The first step is to schedule an appointment with an options counselor. You can either come into our offices or meet at a place of your choosing to speak about all possible options for your baby. You will not be pressured to make an adoption plan.
If I choose adoption for my baby, does that mean I don't care?Women who plan adoption for their babies love them very much. After choosing adoption, they never forget or stop loving their child. It is not an easy decision and you will feel grief and loss afterwards. Reassurance can come from knowing that you made the plan that you believed was best for you and your child.
What should I look for in an adoption agency?Agencies should provide options counseling to women considering adoption. You shouldn't feel pressured to make an adoption plan. You have the right to take the time necessary to decide what is best for you and your baby. To find out more about your rights, call Spence-Chapin at 800.321.5683. All calls are confidential. Our services are free and at no obligation to you.
Do minors need their parents’ permission?No, minors do not need their parents to agree to an adoption. However, a reputable agency will help you involve family and friends, if appropriate.
What if I'm not sure about adoption?Spence-Chapin offers free counseling. Your counselor will help you explore all of your options so that you can decide what is best for you and your baby. There is no pressure to choose adoption. More than half of the women who receive counseling from Spence-Chapin decide to parent their children.
I’m pregnant. Can I just sign papers now saying I want to place my baby for adoption?No, you cannot legally sign papers placing your baby for adoption until after you have given birth. If you are working with an agency or an attorney who has had you sign papers while pregnant, you should know that these documents are not legally binding.
Spence-Chapin encourages you to meet with a counselor before signing papers. Adopted children and families need to have certain information (such as medical history) that only you can provide. I'm not sure I want adoption, but I can't take the baby home.If you need more time after the baby's birth, Spence-Chapin can place your baby with one of our experienced interim care families who will provide a loving home for your baby while you decide. You remain the baby's legal parent during this time and may visit the baby.
What kind of women choose adoption?Women from all races, ethnicities and religions have decided to place their children through Spence-Chapin—more than half of them are African-American, Hispanic or Asian. The agency has families waiting to adopt who may reflect the birth parents' own racial, ethnic and cultural heritage.
How is the family for my baby chosen?You choose the family for your baby by looking at pictures and reading profiles of waiting families. You can meet the one you choose to make sure they are the right family for your baby.
How do I know that good, trustworthy people will adopt my baby?Spence-Chapin conducts a careful study of families who want to adopt. Fingerprints, child abuse clearance, references and interviews are part of the process. Families receive education about adoption and how to help the child understand adoption. Birth parents meet and choose the adoptive parents for their child.
What is open adoption and how does it work?In open adoption, the birth parents choose their baby's family and the amount of their future contact. This gives you the opportunity to know your child, even though you have surrendered legal and parenting rights to the adoptive parents. Birth and adoptive families may decide to stay in touch through letters, pictures, phone calls, e-mails and/or periodic visits. Whatever the arrangement, children generally feel better knowing where they came from; and both birth and adoptive families feel more comfortable about the adoption when they have information about each other and the child.
Do I need to bring the baby's father into this?In most cases, the birth mother decides whether or not to name the father. You can discuss your particular situation with your counselor to determine what is best for you. The agency encourages both birth parents to be involved in planning for the adoption whenever this is possible. Having as much information as possible about the medical background from both sides of the family will help ensure the baby's future health. If you are married, or if the birth father has legally claimed paternity of the baby, then he must participate in the planning. You can explore your circumstances with your counselor with complete confidentiality.
What if I used drugs or alcohol during pregnancy?It is important that you speak with your counselor about any alcohol or drugs you may have taken during your pregnancy, so that we can find the best family for your child. Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy can increase your baby's risk for certain challenges.
What if I have been told my baby may have special needs?Spence-Chapin has a program that connects adoptive families with infants with a variety of special needs, from the most serious to very minor challenges. There are families across the United States who are waiting to bring an infant with special needs into their home and family.
Will I get help with my expenses?Spence-Chapin may be able to help you with some pregnancy-related expenses.
What if I’m not a legal resident of the United States?You have the right to make a legal and safe adoption plan for your infant, regardless of you immigration status. Your immigration status remains confidential.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to call us toll free at 800.321.5683 and talk to a counselor. In New Jersey, call 908.522.0043. In Long Island, call 631.979.5863. We can answer your questions on the phone or can arrange a meeting with you in a convenient place. |
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