Adoption - Upstate Pregnancy Center

When you think about adoption, does it feel like you’re giving your child away? While this is understandable considering outdated media portrayals of adoption, modern adoption couldn’t be further from this image!

Modern adoption is all about honoring your goals and desires for the child. When considering adoption, it’s important to know how the process works to learn if this is the right option for you.

How Does Adoption Work?

When you choose adoption, you will work with an adoption agency or attorney. If you personally know the adoptive family (for example, they are friends or relatives), you can work directly with an attorney to finalize paperwork and make arrangements. However, most women choose to work with an adoption agency.

When you work with an adoption agency, they will provide you with adoptive family profiles. You will be able to view the profiles and meet with the families to decide which family is the perfect fit.

Next, you will work with the adoption agency to create an adoption plan, which is a document that outlines your goals within adoption. While adoption plans are customizable, they come in one of three types:

Open adoption

Most adoptions today are open. Like the name implies, open adoption plans are the most flexible. With open adoption, you get to choose how often and in what ways you communicate with the adoptive family and child (for example, do you want to meet periodically in person? Talk on the phone? etc.).

Semi-open adoption

This is similar to open adoption, but instead, all communication is mediated by a third party, like the adoption agency). This might be a good option if you want your contact information to remain confidential.

Closed adoption

This type of adoption is rare today, and it’s where your information your and the adoptive family’s information remains anonymous.

Is Adoption Right for Me?

Thinking through your pregnancy options can be overwhelming, but asking yourself the following questions about adoption can help:

What questions do I still have?
What are my biggest worries when it comes to adoption?
How might I feel if I choose adoption?
What might my life look like if I choose adoption?
What kind of life do I want for my child? Will adoption make this possible?

Next Steps

We’re here for you as you navigate your next steps. While we don’t offer adoption services, we’re here to listen to your questions, provide information, and connect you to local adoption resources.