Frequently Asked Questions from Birth Mothers Considering Adoption
What
if I change my mind?
Will this cost me anything?
Will I get to see the baby?
Do I get to choose the family?
Do I need to be Jewish?
Can I have contact with the family after the adoption is
finalized?
Does the birth father need to be involved?
If I think I'm interested and want to know more, how soon do
I have to call?
Q.
What if I change my mind?
A. You will not sign any legal documents until the baby is born. Even at
that point, there is still some room for changing your mind. You and the counselor
will talk about the adoption process at length, and you will feel certain of
your decision before signing any papers. Legal details will be clearly laid
out early in your discussions with the counselor.
Q.
Will this cost me anything?
A. There is no charge for adoption services at JFS. We will also help you apply
for any medical or financial assistance for which you may be eligible.
Q.
Will I get to see the baby?
A. Each birth mother has a different opinion about seeing the baby. For some,
it is helpful; for others, spending time with the baby makes the decision even
more difficult. Before you deliver, you and your counselor will discuss your
feelings about seeing the baby. We want you to feel comfortable with every decision
throughout the entire process.
Q.
Do I get to choose the family?
A. One of the first decisions that you will make is whether or not you want
to know the prospective adoptive couple. Virginia law allows you to decide,
and JFS, or any other agency, should not try to influence you in either direction.
If you want to know the couple, Virginia law requires that you exchange identifying
information with the prospective family, in the presence of a social worker.
You and the family will decide together what kind and how often you will be
in contact with each other after the placement. We have many Jewish and non-Jewish
couples who are waiting to meet with you and discuss the level of "openness"
in your relationship.
Q.
Do I need to be Jewish?
A. No. JFS is licensed to place children of all religious backgrounds for adoption.
Q.
Can I have contact with the family after the adoption is finalized?
A. If you prefer not to exchange identifying information and remain anonymous,
JFS can also assist you in choosing a family, based on non-identifying information
(ie., ages, employment, other children, etc.) Since the job of JFS is to promote
Jewish family life, we primarily place infants in Jewish homes. Some of our
families are intermarried, meaning one is Jewish and the other is non-Jewish,
but they have agreed to raise their adopted child as Jewish.
Q.
Does the birth father need to be involved?
A. Virginia law mandates that all parental rights and responsibilities of the
father be terminated in order for a child to be legally adopted. Your adoption
counselor will discuss these and other legal issues, as they apply to each individual
situation.
Q.
If I think I'm interested and want to know more, how soon do I have to call?
A. Call us anytime. We can begin working together
at any point during your pregnancy or at any time thereafter.
Services
for birth families | Services
for perspective adoptive families | Parental
placement adoption
International adoption | Agency
adoption | Home study | Upcoming
events | Links | Contact
us | Home