An Overview of the Adoption Process in Arkansas

Are you living in Arkansas and facing an unplanned pregnancy? You may be considering adoption, and it can be comforting to know there are resources to help you along the way.

With the support of an Arkansas adoption agency, you can lovingly make an adoption plan for your child. This is sometimes still referred to as “giving a baby up for adoption” in Arkansas, but those in the adoption community know that this is not an accurate depiction. Adoption is not “giving up”. It is, in fact, one of the bravest, selfless, and loving decisions a mother could make for her baby. Choosing adoption means putting your child’s needs before your own wants. It ensures that your child grows up in a safe and stable home, full of love and opportunity.

If you think that adoption may be the path for you, read on. In this guide, we will offer an overview of the adoption process in Arkansas.

1. How to Decide if Adoption in Arkansas is Right for You

First, you must decide whether adoption is right for you and your child. It is not the right path for everyone, but many can benefit from adoption. Adoption offers both birth mother and child a bright future full of possibilities. While birth mothers experience a sense of loss initially, the grief is met with a sense of hope and an understanding that the relationship is not gone forever. With open adoption, many birth and adoptive families form close bonds. The two parties often build a relationship throughout – and beyond – the child’s upbringing.

If you are thinking about adoption, it may help to read testimonials of birth mothers who have placed their children for adoption. There are support groups on Facebook and other online forums wherein you may turn, as well.

As you consider adoption, speak with an Arkansas adoption agency. A private, full-service adoption agency like Adoptions With Love can walk you through the adoption process and answer questions you have. They can explain everything in detail and take the time to listen to your concerns, without placing any pressure or obligation upon you. This call can be purely informational. You never have to make a commitment before you are ready to sign consent forms. In Arkansas, the earliest a birth mother can sign consent to adoption is after the baby is born.

2. Which Type of Adoption Should You Pursue?

There are a few different types of adoptions with which you may be familiar. As you research the Arkansas adoption process, you may come across the following:

• Private adoption
• Foster care adoption

foster care adoption is typically only a pathway for children who have been removed from their homes by a family court.

If you are living in Arkansas and voluntarily choose adoption for your child, then private adoption is the best option for you. A domestic, private adoption agency in Arkansas can help you design an adoption plan that meets your needs and makes you feel confident in the decision.

With a reputable, full-service Arkansas adoption agency like Adoptions With Love, expectant parents can choose the type of adoption plan they want. They can also choose the adoptive family for their child.

3. How to Choose an Arkansas Adoption Professional

Finding an adoption agency that you trust is key. This professional will be with you every step of the way throughout the Arkansas adoption process. This organization should offer you supportive services, at no cost to you.

At Adoptions With Love, every expectant/birth parent who chooses adoption has access to the following free services:

• Housing assistance. We can cover a deposit and several months of rent.
• Other living expenses, such as utilities, phone bills, transportation, food, and even maternity clothes, as needed.
• Medical care. We can help you find a doctor or midwife and cover any uninsured medical bills related to the pregnancy and birth.
• Legal services. We provide our expectant/birth parents with adoption attorneys specifically trained in Arkansas adoption laws. These professionals can meet you at a time and place that is convenient for you, including your home or the hospital. They will answer your questions, ensure the adoption is handled safely and legally, and help you understand your rights as an expectant/birth parent.
• Counseling services, from experienced and compassionate professionals, during and up to a year after the adoption.
• Adoption planning services. We can help you create an adoption plan (and a hospital plan) that makes you feel comfortable with your decision, and help you choose the adoptive
• Ongoing support. We check in with our birth mothers occasionally. Adoption is a lifelong journey. It does not end once the paperwork is complete.

Look for an Arkansas adoption agency that will treat you with respect and dignity. This professional should never be critical, judgmental, or biased. The best adoption agencies will prioritize your health and wellbeing, while making sure you feel seen and heard throughout the adoption process.

4. How Do Adoptive Parents Get Matched to a Child and Birth Family?

When a prospective adoptive family seeks out adoption, they must first complete a Home Study. This process takes several months to complete. It involves a thorough background check, multiple home visits and interviews, and the review of medical and financial records. This is how the adoption agency ensures that each parent adopting is healthy – physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. It also ensures that the child is going into a safe and stable home.

Once an adoptive family is approved, their adoptive family profile is made available to expectant/birth parents making an adoption plan.

As you consider adoption for your child, you may browse through these profiles to get an idea of who each family (or individual) is and how they would parent. At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth parents can speak with – or meet – these prospective adoptive families before making their decision.

Learn More About the Arkansas Adoption Process

If you are considering adoption for your child, reach out to Adoptions With Love any time. We are available to help answer your questions 24/7. You are never obligated to follow through with the adoption plan and can simply request more information. Call 800-722-7731, text (confidentially) 617-777-0072, or contact us online. We can help you create an adoption plan that makes you feel confident in your decision and build a positive, long-lasting relationship with your child’s adoptive family for years to come.