A Guide to Adoption Agencies in Louisiana

Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption for your baby? Before you begin the process, it is important to find a Louisiana adoption agency that you can trust. The right adoption agency will offer you support and guidance throughout the adoption process, without pressure or judgment. The agency’s staff will ensure your adoption plan is safe and legal, and that your needs are met along the way. Most of all, the right adoption agency will be there to support you before, during, and after the adoption takes place.

Making an adoption plan for your baby is an emotional journey, but you are not alone. At Adoptions With Love, caring counselors are ready to help you every step of the way. Adoptions With Love is a private, reputable adoption agency serving Louisiana since 1986.

Types of Adoption Agencies in Louisiana

The first step for every adoption plan is finding the best Louisiana adoption agency. You will want to find one that will offer all the services you need, listen to your concerns, and wishes, and support you every throughout the adoption process. Here is a breakdown of the different types of adoption agencies in Louisiana:

• Private adoption agencies

The most common type of adoption agencies in Louisiana – and the U.S. in general – are private adoption agencies. These are also the most common type of domestic adoption agencies, as well. With a private, domestic adoption agency like Adoptions With Love, you have the power to work with an experienced, reputable adoption agency that often handles the entire adoption process. The best adoption agencies in Louisiana will offer free supportive services. They also give expectant/birth mothers the power to choose the child’s adoptive family. With a private adoption, you can also select the type of adoption you want. If you want an open, semi-open, or closed adoption, that can be arranged. Your health, wellbeing, needs and wishes will always be respected.

• Foster care

Foster care is a temporary service offered by the State of Louisiana to ensure the safety of a child. A child is only placed in the foster care system when their parents have been deemed unfit to raise a child. This happens when there are signs of abuse, neglect, and/or in the inability to raise a child – due to financial, emotional, mental, or physical challenges. Foster care is not something that an expectant/birth mother chooses. This is something that the courts deem necessary for the safety and health of a child.

• Open Adoption vs. Closed Adoption

One of the many decisions expectant/birth mothers get is the type of adoption plan they would like to have. The three basic choices include:

• Open adoption
• Semi-open adoption
• Closed adoption

With an open adoption, you can have ongoing contact with your child’s adoptive family. This looks different for every family. It may involve text messages once a month, or emails once every few weeks – and in-person reunions, if you choose. You can determine the form and frequency of communication. Your adoption counselor can guide you and help you determine the plan that will best meet your needs. You can also determine the way your open adoption will be with your child’s adoptive family. Often, the relationship between birth and adoptive parents grows over time. Open adoption is more common today, and children, adoptive parents, and birth parents all benefit from this arrangement.

If you would rather have a closed adoption, that is okay, too. Your adoption agency should respect any decision you make regarding your adoption plan. Adoptions With Love keeps photos and letters on file, should a birth mother change her mind and wish to open the adoption later.

• The best agency for expectant/birth mothers?

This is a personal decision that every expectant/birth mother must make for herself. You should feel comfortable with your adoption agency. The best Louisiana adoption agencies will let you know that you and your baby are a priority; they will make you feel like someone who deserves the best care, and they will treat you like family. This is often based on the feeling you get when you contact the organization. There are some important things to look for in an adoption agency in Louisiana, too, such as supportive services offered.

Why should birth mothers work with an adoption agency in Louisiana?

Working with an adoption agency means ensuring your adoption is safe and legal. It is important to work with a fully licensed organization that can oversee every step of the legal process. That is why it is helpful to work with an adoption agency in Louisiana.

The best Louisiana adoption agencies will be the ones that can offer you free supportive services, such as:

• Medical care. Adoptions With Love will help you find a doctor or midwife who understands your circumstances and can help you feel at ease. We can also cover any uninsured medical expenses related to pregnancy, birth, and recovery.
• Housing assistance. Adoptions With Love can cover a deposit and several months of rent, if needed.
• Other living expenses. Adoptions With Love can assist with utilities, phone bills, and maternity clothes as needed.
• Legal support. Adoptions With Love can offer you a well-trained attorney team in Louisiana who is experienced in adoption law and will keep you informed.
• Counseling services. Adoptions With Love will work with you before and after the adoption is complete, offering compassionate counseling services.
• Ongoing contact. Adoptions With Love will help mediate the open adoption plan, if you choose to have one, with birth mother and adoptive family.

Important Factors to Consider When Choosing an Adoption Agency

Before you decide on your Louisiana adoption agency, consider what is most important. The best adoption agencies in Louisiana will:

• Be fully licensed
• Have an excellent reputation and experience
• Offer supportive services – including financial assistance
• Travel to you, no matter where you live in Louisiana
• Make a personal connection with you
• Help you feel supported and respected throughout the adoption journey

The Adoption Process in Louisiana

Making an adoption plan in Louisiana is a positive decision. The first step is to find an adoption agency with whom you can trust.

The next step is to find an adoptive family. Your Louisiana adoption agency can provide you with adoptive parent profiles. These booklets include information, photos, and letters about the prospective adoptive family. You can speak with the family – or even meet with them in person if you wish – before your baby is born.

It is also important to understand the Louisiana adoption laws. Adoption laws vary by state. Through Adoptions With Love, you can ensure your adoption is in accordance with Louisiana adoption laws, and that your rights are respected every step of the way. In the state of Louisiana, if an adoption is being handled by a licensed adoption agency, birth parents can sign their consent to adoption three days after the child’s birth. Before signing the consent forms, birth parents must first complete two counseling sessions, to ensure they are fully confident and comfortable with their decision.

Another key step in the adoption process is to make an adoption plan. You can choose between an open, semi-open, or closed adoption plan. Your adoption professional can help you determine the plan that works best for you.

It is also never too late to receive emotional assistance from an experienced and compassionate professional. The emotions tied to adoption do not disappear once the paperwork is signed. Adoption is a life-changing experience. The expectant/birth mothers who choose to work with Adoptions With Love become family and are always welcome to speak with one of our experienced and caring counselors.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does it cost to adopt a baby in Louisiana?

Adoption costs nothing for expectant/birth parents in Louisiana. In fact, expectant/birth mothers who choose adoption can get financial support as it relates to pregnancy, birth, and recovery. Adoptive parents pay a fee that covers all the expenses that go along with adoption planning. Contact your adoption professional for more details.

• What are the laws and requirements for adopting a baby in Louisiana?

Adoption laws can be complicated. It is important to work with an adoption professional who can offer you an attorney well-versed in the Louisiana adoption laws.

• Can a Birth Parent revoke their consent to adoption in Louisiana?

According to Louisiana adoption laws, consent is final and irrevocable after the legal consents to the adoption are signed.  A birth mother cannot sign a consent to the adoption until 3 days after birth and she has received the appropriate counseling.  This is why Adoptions With Love encourages birth mothers to take all the time they need before deciding to place their child for adoption. It is never too late to make an adoption plan.

• What rights do Birth Fathers have in the adoption process in Louisiana?

The rights regarding birth fathers can be complicated. They are typically handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact your adoption professional for more detailed information as it applies to your circumstances.

Work with Our Adoption Agency in Louisiana

Adoption is an emotional, life-changing journey. You do not need to go through it alone. Adoptions With Love is ready to guide you through the adoption process in Louisiana. Our services are confidential and always free of charge to birth/expectant mothers. We are a full-service Louisiana adoption agency that offers comprehensive, compassionate, and supportive care. We support expectant/birth parents throughout the State of Louisiana, whether you live in New Orleans, Batton Rouge, Lafayette, or anywhere in between. We can meet you at a time and place that is most convenient for you – even if that means the hospital bed or at your home.

The adoption journey does not end once the baby is born. We are here to forge lifelong relationships and provide guidance to you throughout your life.

For more information about Adoptions With Love or placing your baby for adoption in Louisiana, please contact us today. Text us confidentially at 617-777-0072, or call us at 1-800-722-7731. You may also message us online. Our staff is here to answer your call any time of day or night, any day of the week.