|
The decision to consider adoption as a plan for
yourself, your child and possibly your family
can be a difficult one and trying to figure out
what you need to do can often times be confusing
and become overwhelming. We hope that you will
look at Friends In Adoption as your support and
helpful guide through what can be a challenging
process. However, before working with any agency
(including Friends In Adoption), attorney or adoption
facilitator, you should know exactly what to expect-
everything from the paperwork you may sign, to
the services and options available to you. For
that reason, we make it our first priority to
let anyone considering creating an adoption plan
with Friends In Adoption know what services we
provide and what options are available. If you
have any questions about any of our services below,
please call us at 1-800-844-3630 or e-mail us
at: fia@vermontel.org.
Words of Wisdom from Monique, a Birth Mother:
"Knowing just what to expect at all times is
so important, but especially when things are tough.
An agency should be caring towards a birth mom-
and not hide a thing... lay it all out there for
you- and be right there to give you a listening
ear or put you in touch with someone else who
has gone through the same thing."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
- Expect the staff of Friends In Adoption to
value your privacy & strive to maintain strict
confidentiality in all our free services to
you.
- Expect kind, experienced staff available 24
hours/day to answer your questions and provide
support and guidance throughout the process.
- Expect honesty from us. Expect to feel confident
and comfortable to speak honestly throughout
the process, without fear of being judged. You
will be treated with respect and dignity every
step of the way.
- Expect prompt, confidential delivery of helpful
materials & resources upon request.
- Expect freedom of choice! If you wish, you
may see profiles, interview and/or meet families.
If you prefer the agency to choose a family
for your child, we will also respect and honor
that decision. In every case, expect us to really
listen to what is important to you in a prospective
adoptive family.
- Expect to be given the freedom to create an
adoption plan that fits you! An open adoption
is a relationship and like every relationship,
will be individually shaped by the people involved.
What every adoption connection will be, regardless
of the level of contact, is lifelong.
- Expect to be offered the opportunity to talk
with, e-mail and in some cases meet a team of
dynamic birth parents who believe that every
person considering adoption should be able to
hear from others who are living the experience.
- Expect our staff to offer and make available
free, face-to-face, local counseling services
for you and your family, both prior to and after
the birth of your baby.
- Expect us to personally know our families!
We make it our priority to meet all of our families
in person before approving them to be able to
adopt.
- Expect all FIA families to be financially
secure and pre-screened thoroughly through the
home study process, which includes: physicals
and emotional health reports by a physician,
as well as child-abuse and criminal clearances.
In addition, FIA families must update their
home study yearly.
- Expect our agency to educate you as well as
all of our adoptive families to the lifelong
and intergenerational issues of adoption.
- Expect free, independent legal services from
attorneys experienced in adoption.
- Expect to be offered help with medical & living
expenses to the extent the law allows.
- Expect that, if you choose to not have direct
contact with the adoptive family, the agency
will be available for continued contact throughout
the years for the following: Updates on your
child & the adoptive family and to update important
areas of your file, like medical and social
history.
return
to top
|
