Adoptive Parents: The Adoption Process From Your Perspective with Adoption Choices of Oklahoma
You were looking to expand your family, but natural birth processes weren’t working out. Or adoption was always an option in your mind and heart. Either way, you are looking to lovingly welcome a child into your family to make it complete! Well, what does the adoption process look like for parents hoping to adopt? The adoption process involves many different aspects. An integral part of this process is the Adoptive Parents. With Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, you can be assured that our adoption agency provides quality guidance to our adoptive parents. We have over 20 years of experience assisting traditional and non-traditional families through their adoptive journeys. This article tries to narrow down what this journey might look like for you.
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is Proud to Assist a Diverse Range of Adoptive Parents!
Adoptive parents come from all walks of life and look to adopt for various reasons! In some cases, families might already have children of their own but would still like to pursue adoption in order to complete their family. Many of the families that we assist have children but would like to adopt for various reasons. If this is you, then adoption in Oklahoma is a great option for your family with our adoption agency!
If you and your partner identify as LGBT Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is proud to assist you with the adoption process. Our LGBT applicants apply and go through the adoption process just like any other applicant. The only requirement is for you to portray yourselves as the responsible and loving parents you’ll be to your baby. Our adoption center is proud to assist single parents looking to adopt as well. Again, the adoption process would be just like all other applicants for you. We simply encourage that you present yourselves to the birth parents as a responsible and loving parent you’ll be regardless of your circumstances.
The Adoption Process Starts with a Home Study
Home studies are basically a pre-adoption assessment for prospective adoptive parents. These are required in every state due to adoption laws. As a licensed adoption agency in Oklahoma, we are able to conduct these home studies.
Home studies are also designed to prepare prospective parents for parenting adopted children. You can expect interviews, paperwork, background checks, and a home safety check. These are measures taken in a way that is non-judgmental and cooperative by our compassionate professionals. The goal is not to portray you as a “perfect” family. Instead, the family’s difficult experiences make the process all the more relatable and even inspirational. Overall, the assessments work to reveal the strengths of the whole family members and as individuals in order to highlight your full potential in your journey as adoptive parents.
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is able to complete home studies for private, domestic, foster care adoptions, step-parent adoptions, guardianship adoptions, international adoptions, and surrogacies. So, no matter what adoption option you opt for, Adoption Choices of Oklahoma will be able to assist you in your adoption journey! More information and FAQs regarding the home studies can be found here.
What is the Right Adoption Plan for My Baby?
Post-placement refers to communication that takes place between the birth parents and adoptive parents after adoption. Any type of post-placement communication depends on what is decided regarding the openness of adoption. By openness of adoption, we are referring to the three types of adoption.
- Open adoption. This option allows the most interaction between birth parents and adoptive parents post-placement. This can look anything like being in the hospital room during the birth, letters with pictures, and/or invitations to birthday parties.
- Semi-open adoption. With this option, communication occurs but is limited.
- Closed adoption. With this option, there is no contact between the birth parents and adoptive parents.
Keeping the adoption options in mind is important when considering post-placement communication. Examples of post-placement communication include keeping in touch through emails, texts, and phone calls. It’s suggested that such contact occurs at intervals of two, four, and six months and around the child’s birthday.
- Videos of milestones and art projects made by the child are also a great way to keep in touch.
- A Mother’s Day and/or Father’s Day Card is a great way to remember the birth parents by commemorating what they have done and the amazing blessing they have given to your family.
- Social media sites are also a growing format that allows for quick and easy communication between the birth parents and adoptive parents.
It is crucial to remember to be mindful of what will be decided between the adoptive and birth parents regarding the adoption plan for the baby and the level of desired communication.
How Can I Stay in Touch with My Child After the Adoption?
If you are worried that the post-placement communication options listed above might not be what you’re looking for, don’t worry! Adoption Choices of Oklahoma has partnered with ChildConnect.com. This is an online picture and letter-sharing platform that allows swift communication between adoptive parents and birth parents. There is a system in place that allows adoptive parents to upload photos and videos whenever they like. Adoptive parents are also able to view how many times your child’s Lifebook was viewed. This is a great tool that allows birth parents the ability to see the photos and videos of your child. It is a beautiful and safe way to maintain communication and connection between the birth parents, child, and adoptive parents to monitor the child’s growth and change over time!
What is Family Marketing Plan and How Can I Use it?
If you are thinking “well how can I make myself more visible to birth parents?” We have an amazing opportunity for our adoptive parents. At our adoption center, we are looking to maximize the potential of our adoptive parents to fulfill their dream of adoption. This is why we have implemented a Family Marketing Program.
A Family Marketing Program or FMP creates a video and profile for you that will be viewed on our agency’s website as well as a network of social media and other adoption-related websites. Your profile is specifically made to be mobile-friendly and uses video formatting because many birth mothers, especially those who are expecting, search the web using a smartphone. The aim of FMP is to reduce wait times and increase prospective adoptive parent visibility to expectant parents who are exploring adoption.
Start Your Adoption Process Today!
While birth parents give you the gift when they decide to give their baby up for adoption, it is the adoptive parents that carry forward their integral role as loving and affectionate parents to their new little one. Our compassionate professionals are eager to help you get started on your adoption process. You don’t have to come to our office to get help. We will come to you or meet you virtually because we are your local adoption agency in Oklahoma. If you feel that you are ready to take this big step towards completing your family, what are you waiting for? Let’s get you started on this beautiful journey today!
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is a private adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and a leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive families in Oklahoma for over 19 years. Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized adoption experience to all involved in the adoption process. If you are currently in the process of adopting a baby and have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us.
Toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777 | Text: 405-310-8790 | Email
Meet the author: Ifrah Mohammed. Pursuing a Communications-Journalism Bachelor’s degree at Siena College, she is an aspiring content writer. A hard-working daughter of immigrant parents, she was born and raised in Queens, NY, and has resided in Fort Worth, TX. Her passions include writing and traveling. Moving around has allowed her to gain valuable perspective. When she is not writing or traveling, she is baking or reading. She currently resides in
Schenectady, NY, a town 30 minutes away from Albany.