How to Place Your Baby Up for Adoption in Arkansas

Facing an unplanned pregnancy is an emotional journey that you do not have to face alone. If you are living in Arkansas, you may be thinking about your options moving forward. Whether you are currently pregnant or have just given birth, one of your options is adoption.

If you are thinking about giving your baby up for adoption in Arkansas, it is important to learn about the process and requirements involved. First, know that you are not “giving up” your baby. You are making a thoughtful, loving, and brave plan for your child. In this guide, we will share information about adoption in Arkansas, and how to start an adoption plan for your baby.

Why Consider Placing Your Baby for Adoption in Arkansas

Factors to Consider When Deciding on Adoption

The decision to “give your baby up for adoption” in Arkansas is a life-changing one. It is important to take your time as you consider this decision. It is never too late to make an adoption plan. You can spend time praying or meditating on it, speak with professionals at a reputable adoption agency, and read the testimonials of others who have lovingly made an adoption plan. Some factors to consider when deciding on adoption:

• Can your adoption agency offer you the support you need throughout the adoption process?
• Adoption plan. Can you create an adoption plan that can meet your needs? If you want an open adoption: Will this adoption agency allow you to see your child grow over the years? If you want a closed adoption: Will you get a fresh start to move on after the adoption is complete?
• Your future. With adoption, many birth mothers enjoy the freedom to pursue their own personal and professional goals while knowing their child is safe and loved.

Understanding the Emotional Impact of Adoption

Adoption is a life-changing experience that brings a range of emotions to birth mothers. There is a period of sadness and a sense of loss. This grief can feel overwhelming at times. With the grief, however, comes an array of positive emotions. Many birth mothers experience joy and pride in their decision to lovingly place their baby for adoption. They feel happy to see their child grow up with a loving family. All these emotions can be discussed with a licensed counselor. At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth mothers can speak with an experienced and compassionate counselor before and after the adoption is complete.

How to Place Your Baby for Adoption in Arkansas

1. Choose an adoption agency.

When considering adoption, the first step to take is contacting a reputable adoption agency in Arkansas. Their experience and knowledge can help you navigate the adoption process.

As you begin researching Arkansas adoption agencies, you will want to understand the different types of adoption agencies available.

• Foster care

Foster care is a state-run system in Arkansas that finds temporary and permanent placement for children who have been removed from their homes. This is not the voluntary choice for birth mothers in Arkansas looking to lovingly make an adoption plan for their child.

• Domestic adoption agency

Domestic adoption involves the adoption of children born and placed into a home within the U.S. This is the most common type of adoption for those looking to place their child for adoption in the U.S. With a private domestic adoption agency, like Adoptions With Love, you can get the support and guidance you need throughout the adoption process.

Placing a baby for adoption can be complex and overwhelming, but working with a professional can ease the process. An adoption agency can ensure you are fully educated throughout the process, that your adoption is safe and legal, and that you always feel supported and heard. Many adoption agencies will offer services like financial assistance, free counseling, legal assistance, and help finding a safe and loving family. Adoptions With Love, for example, offers free services for birth mothers in Arkansas.

When looking for an adoption agency, it is important to find one that is experienced with Arkansas adoption and its laws and regulations. The right agency will offer you a compassionate team that can help and give you the respect you deserve – all without pressure or judgment. This should be a judgment-free zone, as adoption is a deeply personal and difficult decision. Only you know what is best for you and your child.

2. Meet with an adoption counselor.

Once you have found the agency that can meet your needs, you can start to move forward with your adoption plan. The adoption agency should offer you a licensed, compassionate adoption social worker who can meet you whenever – and wherever – works for you. This professional will then walk you through your options, help you understand your rights as an expectant/birth parent, and answer any questions you may have. Your adoption counselor can also outline the adoption options that you have to help you determine which is right for you: an open adoption, a closed adoption, or a semi-open adoption.

3. Select the adoptive family.

One of the greatest advantages to making an adoption plan with an Arkansas adoption agency is having the power to hand-select your child’s adoptive family. You can browse the profiles of families and individuals who are ready to adopt. Your agency will share with you the profiles of those who best meet your wishes and expectations. If and when you make your decision, you can speak with the adoptive family, if you wish, either on the phone, via email, virtual chat, or you may even choose to meet them in person. This is completely up to you and based on your personal comfort level. If you do not wish to speak with the adoptive family, that is okay, too.

When deciding on an adoptive family for your child, you can feel confident that the baby will be going to a safe, stable, and loving environment. In Arkansas, every potential adoptive family must complete a Home Study with a licensed adoption professional. Many private agencies today, including Adoptions With Love, require this Home Study. This process involves at-home visits, multiple interviews with everyone in the household, and thorough examination of documents (such as medical history, financial records, letter of recommendation, etc.). This ensures that every child is going to a home that is physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially healthy. All household members must have criminal background checks, including FBI fingerprints and sexual offender checks.

4. Understand Arkansas adoption laws.

Adoption laws can be hard to understand, but your adoption agency will ensure you have an attorney who can walk you through each step. The right adoption agency will have attorneys knowledgeable of adoption in Arkansas and will offer legal services that are free of charge to expectant/birth mothers.

In the State of Arkansas, an expectant/birth mother can consent to adoption at any time after the baby’s birth. This gives you time to ensure you are fully comfortable with the decision to place your baby for adoption. Any man whose consent is required for the adoption can sign consent forms either before or after the child’s birth. This man – whether he is the birth father or not – is someone who:

• Is or was married to the birth mother during or after the baby’s conception.
• Has custody of the child.
• A petition for adoption is filed.
• Has a written order that gives him legal custody when a petition for adoption is filed.
• Proves significant custodial, personal, or financial responsibility for the child.

When you work with an Arkansas adoption agency like Adoptions With Love, you may contact your social worker at any time with questions regarding the adoption.

5. Make an adoption plan.

One of the many benefits of making an adoption plan is having choices. You have the choice to design the exact type of adoption plan that meets your needs. You can choose between the following:

• Open adoption – Ongoing communication between birth and adoptive families after the adoption is complete. You may select the form and frequency of communication, such as email, text messaging, phone calls, or in-person meetings.
• Semi-open adoption – As the name suggests, this is somewhere in between open and closed adoption. For you, this may involve selecting the adoptive family but then limiting communication after the adoption is complete. You may use your adoption agency as a liaison between you and your child’s adoptive family.
• Closed adoption – This means there is no communication between birth and adoptive families and limited information given to the adoptive family about the birth mother.

Open adoptions are the most common type of adoption today, but there is no right or wrong choice in adoption plan. Your adoption agency can help you determine the right type of adoption plan for you and your child.

6. Make a post-adoption plan.

Once you have chosen your adoption agency and your adoptive family, you can begin to think about your post-adoption plan. This will be the communication following the baby’s adoption. During counseling, trained social workers at your adoption agency can help you custom design an adoption plan that works best for you. You may also consider utilizing post-placement counseling, also offered by your adoption agency – free of charge.

Adoption is a lifelong journey that can help you create and maintain relationships long after the adoption is complete. A supportive adoption agency in Arkansas, like Adoptions With Love, will help you navigate these uncharted waters as you plan for the type of adoption you would like to have going forward. As part of your post-adoption plan, for a year after placement, we offer ongoing, confidential counseling services at no cost to you.

We understand adoption is an emotional journey. In addition to Arkansas adoption planning and legal services, we offer expectant/birth mothers free counseling services during pregnancy and after the adoption is complete. Healing takes time, and we offer support and guidance every step of the way.

Financial Assistance for Birth Mothers in Arkansas

You may find yourself wondering, “How can I place my baby for adoption in Arkansas?” if you are worried about your finances. Another benefit of choosing to work with an Arkansas adoption agency is the financial support you can expect.

At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth mothers who choose adoption get the following financial services:

• Housing (we can cover a deposit and several months of rent)
• Utilities
• Phone bills
• Food
• Transportation
• Maternity clothes, as needed

Emotional Support While Placing Your Baby for Adoption in Arkansas

Support Groups for Birth Mothers

There are birth mothers in Arkansas who have walked in your shoes. It can help to connect with these women and hear their stories. The experience of other birth mothers can help you find peace with your decision, give you a shoulder upon which to lean, and offer you advice during the trying times of your adoption journey.

Counseling and Therapy Options

It is important to continue professional counseling throughout the adoption process and long after the adoption is complete. At Adoptions With Love, this service is completely free for birth mothers up to one year after the adoption.

Place Your Baby Up for Adoption in Arkansas Today

If you want to “give a baby up for adoption” in Arkansas (remember: It is NOT giving up!) you can learn more, obligation-free, by contacting a reputable adoption agency. For more information about Adoptions With Love in Arkansas, please contact us today. We are available any time of day, any day of the week. Just send us a text at 617-777-0072, call us at 1-800-722-7731, or contact us online. We are here to help guide you through this journey.