Kentucky Open Adoption Agency Guide

How Does Open Adoption Work in Kentucky?

You can choose the form and frequency of communication for your child’s open adoption plan. Sometimes this is determined after choosing your child’s adoptive family – another empowering part of open adoption. You can browse the adoptive family profiles of those who are ready to adopt. Once you have found an individual or couple that you like, you may speak with – or meet – them before making your decision.

Once you have met and chosen your child’s adoptive family, you can focus on the adoption plan itself. You can choose the way you would like to stay connected, such as:

• Email correspondence
• Text messaging
• Phone calls
• In-person reunions

The frequency can be determined, as well, such as:

• Monthly
• Quarterly
• Annually

There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to a Kentucky open adoption plan. Your Kentucky adoption agency can help you determine the best plan to make you feel comfortable with and confident in your decision, but it is ultimately up to you. This is your pregnancy, and your child’s adoption. The choices are yours.

While the options are all yours, you can get help in designing the open adoption plan. At Adoptions With Love, your adoption counselor can work with you to create a plan that makes you most comfortable. This plan is put into a legally-binding, signed contract, but it may be tweaked over the years to accommodate evolving relationships and the changing needs of a growing child.

With a Kentucky open adoption plan, there is an emphasis on communication and mutual respect. Your adoption agency can help you navigate the new relationships with your child’s adoptive parents. They will encourage open and honest conversations and set healthy boundaries for the sake of birth and adoptive families.

It is important to understand that open adoption is not co-parenting. You will always be your child’s birth parent. This is a special role that will always be yours, no matter what. Once the consent forms are signed, however, you will not have any parental rights. Your child’s adoptive parent(s) will have legal custody of the child. This means that visits and care are the responsibility of the adoptive family.

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What are the Benefits of Open Adoption in Kentucky?

Open adoption offers many benefits for birth parents. Here is a brief outline of a few of the most discussed benefits:

Choices A baby changes everything. Deciding whether to raise a child can be stressful, and choosing parenthood can mean a long, hard road ahead. In choosing a Kentucky open adoption, you are choosing to continue pursuing your personal and professional goals, all while knowing your child is safe and well-loved.

Peace of Mind

It is also comforting for birth parents to know that they do not have to say goodbye forever. You can check in and see your child as they grow. This gives many birth parents the feeling that they can experience the best of both worlds.

You can rest assured that your child will be safe, loved, and well-cared for throughout their life. Every prospective adoptive family must have an approved Home Study. This process is how adoption agencies evaluate potential adoptive families. It takes several months to complete and includes:

• Criminal background checks and screenings
• Multiple at-home visits and interviews
• Review of medical and financial records

The Home Study ensures that every child adopted goes to a stable and healthy home.

Ongoing Contact Over the Years

Making an adoption plan can be incredibly emotional. It can also be incredibly rewarding, for those who opt for an open adoption. With a Kentucky open adoption plan, you can see your child’s growth and progress over the years. You can stay connected and build a deep, meaningful relationship with the entire adoptive family. One of the most important bonding experiences in life is the shared love of a child. With open adoption, you will always be connected with your child’s adoptive parent(s).

You can also look forward to a relationship with your child in the future. It may take some time, depending on the terms of your open adoption, but you can eventually build a bond so that your child knows who you are, knows how much you love them, and knows that this adoption plan was made in the best interest of their life. With open adoption, it is never a question of whether they were “wanted.” The child of an open adoption knows they are loved by two families, not just one.

Supportive Services

One of the biggest benefits of working with a Kentucky open adoption agency is the supportive services you may receive. At Adoptions With Love, expectant/birth mothers have access to the following services, at no cost:

• Financial assistance with living expenses, such as rent, utilities, phone bills, and even maternity clothes, as needed.
• Choosing the adoptive family. We can help you find the perfect adoptive family for your child and custom build an adoption plan that makes you confident in your decision.
• Medical care. We can help you find a midwife or doctor with whom you are comfortable and cover any uninsured medical expenses related to the pregnancy and birth.
• Counseling services with our compassionate, experienced professionals, before and after the adoption is complete.
• Legal support. Our team of Kentucky adoption attorneys can help you understand the Kentucky adoption laws and ensure your rights are protected.
• Ongoing support over the years to assist with the open adoption agreement, if needed.