If you are pregnant and considering adoption as an option you are probably curious about what the process of making an adoption plan looks like. You may be feeling overwhelmed, excited, scared, joyful, or a mix of emotions when you think about your pregnancy. We are here to support you and walk alongside you in your decision making and planning for your pregnancy. We want you to feel comfortable and prepared to meet with us for the first time.

You may be feeling overwhelmed, excited, scared, joyful, or a mix of emotions when you think about your pregnancy. We are here to support you and walk alongside you in your decision making and planning for your pregnancy.

Things to Note Before the Meeting

Before your first meeting with an expectant parent worker, there are probably many questions that come to mind. It’s important to know that wherever you are in your pregnancy it’s not too late to meet with us to explore the option of adoption. You do not have to be set on making an adoption plan to meet with us. If you are leaning towards parenting, but want to schedule a meeting with us, please do!

We are here to answer your questions and support you as you make the best decision for you and your child. If you live in Minnesota, but are not near one of our offices, we can travel to you. Meetings can take place wherever you would feel the most comfortable, and in a location that is convenient to you. For example, it could be at a park, library, coffee shop, or another place that you might have in mind.

What is Discussed at an Initial Meeting?

At an initial meeting, our main goal is to get to know you and your situation. You are unique and so are the reasons you may be considering adoption. We will ask some questions that will help us get to know you. This helps us guide you in making a unique plan that best fits your situation. We will also discuss our role in supporting you and how we can best walk with you through your pregnancy.

You are welcome to ask any questions you may have about adoption, the process, or your unique situation.

We will give you an overview of what the process of making an adoption plan looks like, and you will be given an Adoption Guide that you can take with you, read through and fill out as you continue to meet with us. You are welcome to ask any questions you may have about adoption, the process, or your unique situation. We will also work with your medical providers and other resources to make sure you have all the support you need for your pregnancy.

Answering Your Questions

The rest of the meeting is to answer any questions you have. We can talk through any aspects of the process that you want to know more about. This can include talking through open adoption including different levels of openness and your thoughts and preferences for ongoing contact. Your Expectant Parent Social Worker will work with you to find any resources that would be beneficial for your unique situation. We can also discuss your feelings about your pregnancy, what support from family and friends, and what goals you have for the future. If you are further along in your pregnancy or recently gave birth and are thinking about adoption as an option, this initial meeting can also be used to talk about next steps and to get started on the process of looking at waiting families.

What is the Next Step?

As the meeting is wrapping up, we will discuss next steps and what that may look like for you. Next steps can look different for different people. If you have decided that making an adoption plan is not for you that is okay! We would love to get you connected to people and resources to support you in your parenting plan. It is normal to not know right away what the right option is for you. We are here to help you think through each of your options until you can feel confident about your decision whether that is to parent or to place for adoption.

We are here to help you think through each of your options until you can feel confident about your decision whether that is to parent or to place for adoption.

Maybe you feel like adoption is the option that is best for you and your child. If so, let’s schedule a meeting to continue your plan. This could include talking further about your situation and decision making, your support systems, your emotions throughout your pregnancy, or starting to discuss your preferences for openness and an adoptive family. If you fall somewhere in between, that is okay too! No one story is the same as another, so your adoption journey will look different compared to someone else’s.

Meetings with us can happen as often as you feel necessary. If you are at the beginning of your pregnancy, meetings can be spaced out over a few weeks. We will still check in with you to make sure your plan is going the way you would like it to. If you are nearing your due date, or recently gave birth, we will have more frequent contact so that the process can move along more quickly.

Want to learn more about the option of adoption? Contact us today! We are excited to meet you and support you throughout your process.