A Letter from Adoption Choices of Arizona Dear Expectant Parent,
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for choosing Adoption Choices of Arizona and placing your trust in us for your potential adoption journey. Unplanned pregnancies can present tough decisions for many women, and considering adoption may not initially come to mind due to limited awareness. Yet, once equipped with comprehensive information about adoption, many find it to be a positive solution to challenging circumstances. We urge you to explore and understand the potential advantages of adoption for both you and your child before making a decision. Our dedicated support is here to guide you through this option because we genuinely prioritize your well-being and that of your child. Please know, you're in a safe space where compassion and care pave the way forward.
At Adoption Choices of Arizona, our team empathizes with the emotional weight, stress, and uncertainty that often accompany an unplanned pregnancy. We recognize that this moment, whether you're still exploring choices or have already chosen adoption, can be filled with numerous concerns and questions about the process.
We're dedicated to helping you with comprehensive information to assist you with a well-informed decision. If you choose to move forward with adoption, your caseworker will work closely with you to create an individualized adoption plan that fulfills your specific requirements. This includes ensuring that the criteria you request for a prospective adoptive family are met.
For instance, you can actively participate in the process by selecting and meeting the potential adoptive family for your child. Furthermore, you have the option to receive periodic updates through photos, videos, phone calls, emails, and text messages. Additionally, if you want, you can arrange in-person meetings with both the adoptive family and your child following the placement. Your preferences guide this personalized process, ensuring that it satisfies your wishes every step of the way.
We offer complete support throughout your journey, at no cost to you. During your pregnancy through delivery and after, you will have a caseworker by your side, providing care and guidance. Moreover, our team includes your own attorney who will explain your parental rights and clarify the relinquishment process.
Matching
Upon selecting and being matched with an adoptive family, we extend further assistance by helping with court-approved pregnancy-related living expenses. These include essential needs like rent, maternity clothing, transportation, utilities, food, and phone. Our commitment is to ease any financial concerns, allowing you to focus on your well-being and the experience ahead.
Processing your thoughts around adoption can be complicated, especially with the initial worry about it feeling like "abandonment" of your baby. But as you delve deeper into understanding adoption, a different picture emerges. Adoption isn't about abandonment; it's about making the best choice for your child's future. It's about ensuring they find a loving family and are given a life filled with opportunities that might be challenging for you to provide at this moment. Essentially, it shows the depth of your care as a mother, seeking the very best for your child.
At Adoption Choices of Arizona, your sense of control of the process is essential. Creating an adoption plan that fulfills your desires and preferences is our priority. Picture this: you hold the reins. You have the power to select the family for your baby, armed with comprehensive insights into their background, motivation, interests, relationship, and the nurturing environment they offer.
But here is what sets our agency apart: the control remains in your hands. Before and after your baby's arrival, the level of interaction with the family is entirely up to you. Whether you want an in-depth connection, a single meeting, or no meeting at all, it is your call.
Throughout this journey, we're not just a support system; we're your companions. Our guidance and unwavering support are constants, right by your side. Your adoption journey will be filled with our encouragement and assistance every step of the way.
We're thrilled at the chance to work together with you and be an incredible support throughout this remarkable journey toward adoption!
Frequently Asked Questions 1. Why Choose Adoption Choices of Arizona?
The decision to choose adoption presents a positive alternative when experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Often, women facing a crisis pregnancy might not explore all available options. With adoption, you have the freedom to tailor a plan that aligns precisely with your wishes and preferences. It's a deeply personalized choice, allowing you to create it according to what feels best for you.
2. Who will help me understand this decision and deal with the loss of my child?
Choosing adoption is a weighty decision that's rarely easy when attempted alone. It's a complex and often emotionally challenging choice. Nonetheless, in a supportive and positive environment, there are avenues to alleviate some of the associated difficulties. Our agency is committed to offering free counseling services to assist you through this process. Our experienced Caseworkers, with years of experience, are dedicated to walking alongside you every step of the way.
3. Can I choose the adoptive family of my child?
You have the opportunity to choose the parent(s) who will adopt your baby. Each family creates a detailed profile, almost like a personalized scrapbook, offering insights into their lives. These profiles are a treasure, filled with vibrant photos showcasing their family dynamics, memorable vacations, their home, daily routines, extended family, and much more. Our aim is for you to feel truly confident and positive about the family your choose for your baby. Should you have further questions about a particular family, your Caseworker will readily provide additional information on the prospective adoptive parent(s). Your comfort and peace of mind in this journey are our priority.
4. How do I know the adoptive family can provide a safe environment in which to raise my child?
All of our prospective adoptive parent(s) go through intensive background checks.Social workers meet them in their homes to interview them. The couples are required to provide a State Bureau of Investigation report, FBI fingerprint report, sex offender registry report and a child abuse clearance report. Prospective parent(s) must provide birth certificates, a copy of their marriage license, physician reports, proof of employment, etc. We screen the adoptive families intensively to make sure each family would provide a safe, loving and welcoming home to any child in their care.
Adoption Choices of Arizona strictly vets our prospective adoptive parents through a comprehensive process called the home study. Our social workers conduct in-depth home interviews to understand each family's environment. Along with these interviews, prospective parents must submit essential documents such as CBI and FBI fingerprint reports, and clearance reports from sex offender registries and child abuse databases. In addition to these reports, we ask for vital documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, physician reports, and proof of employment. This comprehensive screening process is designed to ensure that every adoptive family we approve can offer a secure, nurturing, and embracing home for any child under their care.
5. Will I be able to meet the adoptive family in person?
Absolutely, you have complete control over the level of involvement you'd like to have with the adoptive family. If you're open to it, they can meet you before your baby is born. Throughout the pregnancy, you can connect with them in person, through phone calls, texting, and emails, in order to share updates about your health and prenatal visits. This allows you to build a rapport and get to know each other better before the birth of your child.
Should you wish, the adoptive family can even accompany you to the prenatal appointments, provided it works for everyone involved. However, if a closed adoption is your preference, where there is no contact with the adoptive family, that option is also available. We want you to feel completely at ease with your adoption plan, so we will present you with various levels of openness. Your comfort and preferences are our priority throughout this process.
6. Can I make an adoption plan without the birth father’s consent?
If the birth father will not give his consent to the adoption, or if you are unable to locate him, the attorney for the agency will attempt to terminate his rights according to state law. For more information on your specific situation, please call the agency at 800-681-4673.
7. Will I be able to receive help with transportation if I need it?
Our Caseworkers offer wide-ranging support, ensuring you reach your prenatal appointments and access necessary prescriptions hassle-free. Should you require additional assistance, whether it's trips to the grocery store, commuting to work, or any other essential errands, our team is ready to arrange transportation for you. Your well-being is paramount to us, and we're committed to ensuring you stay healthy and well cared for. Additionally, we can assist in acquiring a transportation pass if you prefer that option.
8. How do I pay for the medical costs incurred by the pregnancy and birth?
Choosing adoption and the services provided to you will be at no expense to you. We are committed to assisting you in covering medical expenses and navigating insurance coverage, making sure you receive the necessary support without any financial obligations.
9. Can I have contact with my baby while I am in the hospital?
Your Caseworker will be there to support you through this decision-making process. You are encouraged to visit your baby as frequently or as infrequently as you'd like during your stay at the hospital. For many, these moments spent together can provide beautiful, cherished memories that will remain close to your heart.
10. When will the adoptive family take the baby home?
During labor, the adoptive family typically accompanies you at the hospital, and if preferred, they can be present in the delivery room. For out of state adoptions, to ensure their presence, the agency recommends their arrival in your state a day or two before your estimated due date. Should the delivery occur earlier than expected, they are prepared to swiftly travel from their hometown to be by your side.
Upon the baby's discharge from the hospital, the adoptive family will care for the infant at their hotel. Within a timeframe of five to ten days, once the necessary approvals are obtained, they will be permitted to leave the state and bring the baby home. For in-state adoptions, upon the baby’s discharge, the adoptive family will bring the baby home directly from the hospital.
11. Is transitional care ever involved?
In extreme cases, when the adoptive family is unable to arrive before the baby is discharged from the hospital, the baby will be placed in transitional care. The families who care for the infants for this short period of time are licensed and screened as intensively as an adoptive family.
12. How do I give my consent?
Adoption processes vary by state, with distinct laws governing birth parent consent. To better understand the consent procedures required by your state, please reach out to us at 480-900-5520. Our team will connect you with a knowledgeable attorney in your area or a representative from our office. They will provide comprehensive information, addressing your questions and guiding you through how your state's laws apply to your unique case.
13. Will I have to find my own attorney for the consent?
We will cover the costs of providing an attorney for you to review the relinquishment documents and discuss your legal rights. However, any additional legal representation for other matters beyond the adoption plan will not be included.
14. Will the agency help me with living expenses?
Living expense laws vary by state, impacting the financial support available to expectant parents. Nonetheless, in many states, there are provisions for assistance during pregnancy and post-birth recovery. To understand the specific aid and legality of our covering these costs in your state, feel free to contact our staff or attorney at 480-900-5520.
15. Will I be able to know about my child’s health and well-being after his/her their birth?
Maintaining ongoing contact is absolutely available to you as a birth mother. You have the option to regularly exchange texts, emails, and photos with the adoptive family if you so desire. You and the adoptive parents will agree on future interaction through a Post Adoption Contact Agreement (PACA). Our agency facilitates the exchange of updates, photos, videos, etc. between parties through a secure online service, ChildConnect.
Arizona Adoption Laws In Arizona, we have Expedited Relinquishment Procedures for children placed for adoption under one (1) year of age. In this process, the birth mother receives relinquishment counseling before and/or after birth of the child. Birth parents may sign pre-birth an Affidavit of Relinquishment Counseling upon receiving this state mandated counseling which reviews all the rights of a parent placing for adoption. Furthermore, you are required to sign a Petition for Relinquishment of parental rights, which allows for the termination of your parental rights. Furthermore, you are required to sign a Petition for Relinquishment of parental rights, which allows for the termination of your parental rights. This Petition can be signed after the birth.
Legal Counsel:
At Adoption Choices of Arizona, we prioritize the well-being of birth parents by offering legal counsel at no charge. Before signing any relinquishment documents, we facilitate a meeting with an independent adoption attorney to ensure that you understand your legal rights. They will thoroughly explain all of the legal paperwork, empowering you to make informed decisions.
Birth Fathers (Not all fathers are the same):
Legal Biological Father a/k/a Presumed Father: The legal status of fatherhood in Arizona is established in various ways. If a man is married to you at the time of conception or birth, or if a Judge signs an order recognizing him as the legal father, he assumes that role. When a child is born to a married couple, the law typically presumes the husband to be the child's father. In Arizona, the biological father has the opportunity to sign a legal consent form, undergo required relinquishment counseling, or provide consent or denial after the child's birth, just like the mother. This acknowledges his parental rights and responsibilities in line with the law.
Legal Father but not Biological Father: While not the biological father, if you have not finalized a divorce from him, there are steps he can take after the birth. He has the option to sign a Consent or Denial of Paternity using a Confession & Waiver of Rights document. Additionally, he can participate in Relinquishment Counseling and sign the Petition for Relinquishment.
Alleged or Putative Father: In legal terms, an unmarried potential biological father who hasn't acknowledged paternity of a child in court is referred to as the putative father. If the identity of the putative father is known, the adoption agency or a legal representative can serve an Expedited Relinquishment Notice Form and an Expedited Reply Form, both prepared by the agency's legal counsel. The Reply Form allows the putative father to either consent to the adoption or contest it by checking the respective box provided. Clear instructions on how to return these forms to the agency are included. For further guidance on this process, individuals are encouraged to consult Adoption Choices of Arizona and seek advice from their own independent legal counsel. Cases involving Adoption Choices of Arizona are typically filed in Clear Creek County District Court within the State of Arizona.
Next Legal Steps:
If there is an unknown birth father, you will be required to attend a termination hearing in front of before a Judge or Magistrate. Your presence is necessary for this hearing but you can attend either virtually or in-person. During this the hearing, the agency attorney, and your attorney, will ask you certain questions regarding the unknown birth father. Some questions include, but are not limited to; any known first name, last name, physical address, email address, phone number, acquaintances, work place, how you met, where you met, last communication, etc. After a legal notice published in the newspaper for Unknown Birth Father’s, the Judge can terminates all rights of any potential birth father(s). Furthermore, even though the child is currently residing with the adoptive parents, the Judge will sign an order granting Adoption Choices of Arizona’s legal custody of the child, who will remain in the adoptive parent’s physical custody until finalization of the adoption (usually in the seventh month after the birth).
Subsequently, after the child has spent an amount of time in the adoptive parents' home, the adoptive parents adoption hearing will take place. Prior to this hearing, all post-placement visits must be finalized, and the Agency must provide consent for the adoption.
After a six-month period of time, the adoption hearing will take place in court. Prior to this hearing, the completion of all post-placement visits with the adoptive parents is required, along with obtaining the Agency's consent for the adoption to proceed.
Birth Parent Relinquishment Counseling:
You will be provided a caseworker who will walk alongside you throughout the decision making process of adoption. Your caseworker will listen to you, help you set goals, and provide options counseling to you while you are making an adoption plan for your child. Relinquishing your rights is a legal process by which an expectant parent severs all parental ties and allows another party, the adoptive parents, to take full custody of your child. Throughout this period, our caseworkers are here to support you.Here is an example of what the Affidavit of Relinquishment Counseling looks like. You will complete this document with your Caseworker and our Child Placement Supervisor.
The following is an example of what the Affidavit of Relinquishment Counseling looks like. You will complete this document with your Caseworker and our Child Placement Supervisor.
Relinquishment Counseling Affidavit Check boxes to acknowledge that you have completed the relinquishment counseling from Adoption Choices of Arizona as required in C.R.S. § 19-5-103(1) and (2) and as required in C.R.S. § 7.710.57(H). The content of such counseling has included, but not been limited to, the following: (Birth Parent to Check Each Item)(Required)
A. Information concerning the permanence of the decision and the impact of such decision on myself now and in the future;
B. Information concerning each parent’s complete medical and social histories, including information regarding previous losses and life stability;
C. In the case of pregnancy, referral of myself for medical care and for determination of eligibility for medical assistance;
D. Information concerning alternatives to relinquishment and referral to private and public resources that may meet my needs;
E. Relinquishment services that might be necessary to protect the interests and welfare of a child born in a state institution;
F. Information about applying for public assistance for myself and the child and the necessity of cooperating with the child support enforcement unit for the establishment and enforcement of a child support order;
G. The confidentiality of all information, except non-identifying information as defined in Arizona Revised Statutes § 19-1-103(80) that may be accessed as provided in law, obtained by the child placement agency in the course of relinquishment counseling unless I provide written permission or a release of information is obtained by a court of competent jurisdiction. The counseling has also included notice that I have the opportunity to file a written statement specifying that my information remain confidential, and an explanation of rights and responsibilities of a birth parent who disagrees about granting consent to access adoption records;
H. Discussion of my motivation to consider relinquishment of the child;
I. Discussion as to whether I have been pressured or coerced to relinquish the child;
J. Discussion as to whether I have been promised or received money, goods, or services, or anything of value to motivate the relinquishment of the child;
K. Discussion of life-long loss and grief issues that include, but are not limited to, helping me identify and understand the present emotional impact of the relinquishment decision and gain an understanding of possible future grief-related emotions and behaviors;
L. Discussion of the life-changing effect of pregnancy and birth of a child, including physiological changes;
M. An assessment of my ability to understand the consequences of my relinquishment decision and my ability to intellectually and emotionally understand the options available to me;
N. Discussion regarding the identification of the presumed birth father, the serious ramifications of failing to provide known information, and the possible impact on the finalization of the adoption;
O. Discussion of whether I or the presumed birth father is a member of or is eligible to be a member of a Native American Tribe, and any applicable ramifications of such information;
P. Discussion that I may be reimbursed for verified and documented pregnancy-related expenses only;
Q. Discussion of the legal relinquishment options available, including being present at the termination or relinquishment hearing in person, or going through the expedited relinquishment procedure of filing an affidavit with the court without the necessity of a court hearing; this discussion includes, but is not limited to, the birth mother’s/father’s right to file a Petition for Relinquishment and appear before a Judge instead of filing an Expedited Relinquishment Petition which is completed in front of a notary and agency personnel; and
R. Discussion of the timeframe for withdrawal of the expedited relinquishment petition and affidavit (4 business days after birth), including that the petition for relinquishment may not be filed with the court until at least four (4) business days after the birth of the child. After the filing of these documents, you understand you cannot change your mind about the relinquishment;
S. Discussion of the administrative procedure by which my information is released to the presumed birth father(s) and/or published in an official publication in the area of the last known address of the presumed birth father(s);
T. Discussion that the filing of the administrative procedure notice to the presumed birth father(s) does not obligate me to file a petition for relinquishment;
U. Discussion of my right to complete the Contact Preference Form of the Arizona Department of Public Health and Environment’s Vital Records Section, and that I have the right to change that form at any time
V. Discussion of the right of the birth parent to complete the contact preference form for an open adoption, semi-open adoption or closed and the right to change the form at any time and make a Post Adoption Contact Agreement filed in the courts, if I so choose; and
W. Discussion of my right to complete a medical history form to be filed with the state registrar and my right to update that information every three years.
Other Discussions
Check Box to Acknowledge:(Required)