Facts and FAQ's!

We are in a bit of a lull right now in the adoption process, so I thought I would provide some adoption facts specific to Gladney as well as answer some FAQ’s. 

The Facts:

·         The average age for a birth mom is 21-26.  Older than you thought, right?

·         As of last month Gladney had 120 waiting families and 40 birth moms.  That’s a 3:1 ratio with 3 waiting families for every 1 birth mom.  Not bad considering our society’s view on adoption. 

·         Gladney places approximately 350 babies each year through the domestic and international programs.  Roughly 250 of those placements are in the Agency Assisted Program (the program we were accepted into).

·         The average waiting period for placement of baby is 13.9 months.  The waiting period begins after you are officially approved and that’s after your home study is completed.   Just to give you an idea of where we are, our home study should be completed next month.

Here is a step-by-step look at the entire process:

Step 1: Attend Orientation – We attended orientation on June 17^th.

Step 2: Submit Application – Our application was submitted by June 23^rd!

Step 3: Complete Home study – We have our office interview scheduled for August 9^th, but are still waiting to schedule our in-home visit.  Hence the lull in excited news…

Step 4: Complete Trainings – We will have to complete certain classes and continually educate ourselves on all aspects of adoption. 

Step 5: Match with Birth Mother – In the coming weeks, I will work on a profile book that will capture exactly who we are in all facets of our life.  This book will be shared with birth moms and is the tool they use to choose the right adoptive parents for the baby.  Once the birth parent/s have requested to be matched with us, we will hear the background and if acceptable, we will agree to be matched.  At this point, we may meet the birth parent/s face-to-face.  Also, prior to being matched, we will most likely have spoken to the birth parent/s on the phone to answer any questions either of us may have and to get to know one another better.    

Step 6: Receive Placement of Baby – Placement, in case you don’t know, is where we finally meet the baby and bring him/her home.  Placement takes place in most cases, 48 hours after the baby is born.  The majority of placements occur where the child is born.  If the baby is born in a state other than Texas, our placement will fall under Interstate Compact Regulations, and we will not be able to return home with our baby until approval is received from the appropriate state.  This may mean our new family will be bonding in a hotel room for a couple of weeks, but from what I’ve read, this is not a bad thing.  It would just be Kris and I bonding with our baby and getting a routine down before family and friends come to celebrate with us. 

Step 7: Complete Supervisory Period – After we bring our baby home, there is a 6 month period where Gladney supervises placement.  Technically at this point, Gladney is the Managing Conservator of the baby, but we are responsible medically and financially.  We will be expected to submit monthly progress reports and at least 4 doctors’ reports prior to finalization.  During this period, a caseworker will also visit our home twice to conduct supervisory visits.  This is just to make sure the baby and our family are thriving.

Step 8: Attend Finalization – This is the last and final step in the process.  The step when the baby legally becomes ours!  Since Gladney has been the Managing Conservator of the baby for the last 6 months, we will file a ‘friendly’ lawsuit against Gladney to terminate their Managing Conservatorship and we will become the legal parents at this point.  This will be a momentous occasion and I’m sure we will host a celebration!

Most Frequently Asked Questions:

1.       When does the birth mother relinquish her rights to the agency?

·         Anytime after the child is 48 hours old.

·         Also applies to the legal husband if he is the father of the baby.

2.       When does the birth father sign his legal document in an agency adoption?

·         A birth father that is not married to the birth mother, may sign an Affidavit of Waiver of Interest in Child either prior to birth or after birth of the child.

·         A birth father that is not married to the birth mother, may sign an Affidavit of Relinquishment of Parental Rights after the child is 48 hours old.

·         If the birth father is unknown, he has 31 days to place his name on the Birth Father Registry.  If he does not do this, rights are relinquished at this point.  The case will still have to go to court to terminate parental rights, but in this circumstance, the judge sides with the adoptive parents.  

3.       What does “open” adoption mean?

·         “Open” adoption means, only first names and the state in which we live will be shared with the birth parent/s.  All other information is shared only if we are comfortable.  We will be expected to share letters and photos with Gladney and they will forward them on to the birth parent/s.  If we are comfortable and the relationship progresses naturally overtime, Kris and I are open to remove Gladney from the relationship and communicate directly with the birth parent/s.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to ask and I can add them to this post!