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| OPEN ADOPTION KEEPS YOU CONNECTED. |
This is to help provide all those who otherwise wouldn't know where to go or who to talk too. It will help you understand what options are available and how to go about reaching them without fear.
If you are giving a great deal of consideration towards relinqhuising your baby for adoption, an adoption counsellor will be able to help talk you through all the issues you are facing, the options, the processess and legalities surrounding giving your baby for adoption.
Below is a guide to help you understand the basic process when considering adoption.
Contact relevant adoption agency
Counselling is offered
Consent to adopt is made
Selection for placement with adoptive family
Support for placement
Adoption Order is made
Contact / Information exchange is arranged
Anyone considering adoption usually contact an adoption agency or hospital social worker. Contact is confidential and can take place before or after the baby is born.
Consent to adopt cannot be given until sixteen days after the baby is born, and once signed there is a further 28 days where the birth parent can change their mind. It's kind of like a cooling off period I guess you could call it.
Legal guardianship of your baby is transferred to the adoption agency handling the adoption until such time an Adoption Order is made and the adoptive parents are recommended to become the legal guardians. This process can take up to 12 months, but the baby lives with the adoptive parents during this time.
Open adoption is being able to keep in touch with your baby's progress throughout their life. You as the birth parent have the right to ask for either contact (access visits), or exchange of information about your baby. Access is restricted and can be negotiated further as you and the adoptive family become comfortable with one another. Exchange of information is usually done once a year and can be in the form of a letter and photographs.
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