Unplanned Pregnancy?
Adoption Is An Option.

Text or Call 1-480-999-4788

Unplanned Pregnancy? Adoption Is An Option.

Text or Call: 1-480-900-5520

I'm Pregnant

Baby Is Here

Hoping to Adopt

I'm Pregnant

Baby Is Here

Hoping to Adopt

Our Services For Your Adoption Plan

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy or are not in a situation to parent a newborn, you have options.

Sometimes the father is not around or refuses to take responsibility. Perhaps you are struggling to make ends meet or trying to further your education. Maybe you are already parenting a child and you know you cannot take on the further responsibility of raising another child. DCS might be undesirably involved in your decisions.

No matter your case, placing your baby up for adoption at birth can be a positive and loving experience for all concerned. Adoption can have no-cost to birth mothers.

I’m pregnant – Considering adoption and need help

Child Adoption in Arizona

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The Adoption Process

STEP 1 | CONTACT ADOPTION CHOICES OF ARIZONA
Toll-Free 888-422-9912
Text: 602-505-4190

STEP 2 | SCHEDULE INITIAL MEETING
Birth Parent Counselor can come to you

STEP 3 | COMPLETE PAPERWORK
Birth Parent Counselor will provide you with all the necessary paperwork. Please bring a proof of pregnancy with you.

STEP 4 | FIND A DOCTOR
The matching process begins

STEP 5 | REVIEW FAMILY PROFILES
Birth Parent Counselor will bring you profiles to choose from. Don’t feel you have the right family? We’ll get more profiles.

STEP 6 | CONGRATULATIONS, YOU’RE MATCHED!
Birth Parent Counselor will help secure a place for you to live (if you need it).

STEP 7 | FAMILY INTRODUCTION
Birth Parent Counselor will help you schedule a conference call with your adoptive family. And maybe even a visit!

STEP 8 | STAY IN TOUCH WITH BIRTH PARENT COUNSELOR
Attend doctor’s appointments. Communicate with your adoptive family.

STEP 9 | YOUR DUE DATE!
Birth Parent Counselor will be present to advocate for you at the hospital.

STEP 10 | BIRTH OF CHILD
The baby will leave the hospital with the adoptive family. Birth Parent Counselor will schedule a court date for you to give your consent.

STEP 11 | GOODBYE DINNER
Goodbye Dinner with adoptive family (if you want). You should receive pictures and updates at 1 month. Expenses will continue to be paid for 1 month after delivery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know the adoptive family will provide a safe environment in which to raise my child?
All of our prospective adoptive parents go through extensive FBI clearance and state background checks. Social workers meet them in their homes to interview them and the homes are inspected for safety. The couples are required to provide a State Bureau of Investigation report and a child abuse clearance report as well as birth certificates, a copy of their marriage license, and physician’s reports that include HIV test results. They provide financial statements of all their assets and debts. They are required to submit their federal income tax forms. References are required. Adoptive families are carefully screened.

Will I be able to meet the adoptive family in person?
Yes, if you wish they can come meet you before the baby is born and you can have as much or as little of a relationship with the adoptive family as you want. You also have the opportunity to talk with them over the phone throughout the pregnancy. You can call to let them know how your doctor’s visits are going. If the family is able, and you are willing, they can even attend a doctor’s appointment with you.
You will know as much information about the adoptive family as we can legally give you. However, if you prefer to have a closed adoption with the adoptive family, that is also available.

Who will help me understand this decision and deal with the loss of my child?
The decision to choose adoption is not an easy one to make on your own. Although it may be a difficult and painful choice, we will be there to provide support, including counseling, if you would like.

Can I make an Adoption Plan without the Birth Father’s Consent?
Yes, if the birth father will not give his consent, or if you are unable to locate him, the attorney for the agency will complete the legal process to terminate his parental rights. Our Adoption Counselors will explain the process or we can put you in touch with an attorney who will explain the termination process.

Can I have contact with my baby while I am in the hospital?
You can see your baby as often as you want while you are in the hospital. Your Adoption Counselor will help you make that decision and will help you develop a hospital plan that works emotionally for you.
If the adoptive parents live out of state, they must remain in Arizona for about 2 weeks after the birth while state mandated paperwork is completed. Often birth mothers and the adoptive parents will make arrangements to get together during this time. We strive to respect the birth mother’s wishes for contact.

When will the adoptive family take the baby home?
In most situations, the adoptive family is at the hospital while the birth mother is in labor. If you would like, the family can even be in the delivery room with you. The agency suggests if they are from out of the area that they come to Arizona a day or two before your estimated due date. If you deliver early, they will be on the next flight out of their home town.

Under ideal situations the baby leaves the hospital with the adoptive parents. Most times, both you and the baby will be discharged from the hospital at the same time. Your Adoption Counselor will be with you during this emotional time.

Is transitional care ever involved?
In extreme cases, when the adoptive family is unable to arrive before the baby is released from the hospital, we will place the baby in cradle care. The families who provide care for the child during this short period of time are screened as intensively as the adoptive family.

Do I have to go in front of a Judge to give my consent?
The consents to the adoption are not taken in front of a judge unless (1) a child falls under the Indian Child Welfare Act or (2) the birth mother’s mental capacity is questioned.

Will I have to find my own attorney for the consent?
We will provide an attorney for you as well as pay his or her fee. The agency will cover all of your legal fees for the adoption.

Will I be able to know about my child’s health and well-being after his or her birth?
Ongoing correspondence is definitely an option for you as a birth mother. We require that the adoptive family be open to sending pictures and letters at least once a year until the child reaches the age of 18. You are also able to send the adoptive family letters and pictures for the baby through the agency.

The amount of contact you have is dependent on the openness of the adoption and your relationship with the adoptive family.

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If you believe that adoption is your best plan, we offer financial help with some expenses. We can assist you and want to make sure you and baby are ok throughout pregnancy and after birth. For more information about how we can help you, contact us day or night.

The agency will cover appropriate living expenses to birth mothers who need the help. We understand how difficult it is to get back on your feet and return to work after delivering a baby.

Adoption Choices of Arizona is very responsive when we receive a call from a homeless pregnant woman. If you are sincere about an adoption plan, we will respond immediately and place you in a hotel and provide a week’s worth of food while we help you assess your situation. If we all agree to go forward with an adoption plan, we provide appropriate and court approved financial assistance of housing, food, sundries, bus pass, and other necessities to make your pregnancy comfortable.

The choice of adoption is always at no cost to the birth mother. We will help you find assistance in paying the medical bills. The portion of the medical expenses not covered by private insurance or by state funds will be provided by the adoptive family.

Your counselor will help you with transportation to and from your doctor’s visits and take you to pick up prescriptions. If further assistance is needed, e.g. trips to the grocery store or a ride to work, your case worker will be glad to help arrange that for you. We understand how important it is that you stay healthy and well taken care of.

We are here for you. A caring caseworker from Adoption Choices of Arizona will be by your side to provide you with comfort and emotional support. But our involvement doesn’t end there. We’re with you through the birth and afterward for all of your emotional needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Adoption Choices of Arizona?

If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and do not feel you are ready to parent, you may wish to consider adoption. We will be happy to discuss all options related to the pregnancy with you and our local agency.

If you do choose adoption, our agency provides each birth mother with your own personal birth parent counselor who guides you through the process in person. She can help you get to and from doctor appointments, set up housing, and insurance appointments, such as Medicaid, WIC, and food stamps if you qualify.

Most importantly, she can talk to you and listen to your feelings while going through the process of adoption. The birth parent counselor helps you find the plan that is right for you!

Services available to you are tailored to your specific needs.

Why should I consider adoption?

The choice of adoption is a positive alternative to an unplanned pregnancy. Many women who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy situation do not search out all of their options. You may be financially unable to support a child or if you are already raising children, unable to support another child. You may be at a place in your life where you are not emotionally ready to care for a new baby.

A mother who creates an adoption plan for her child is placing her child’s best interest above her own. It is the ultimate unselfish act of love for a mother to choose life for her child and do what is best for her child. Adoption is a caring and responsible process that is as natural and loving as parenting. It does not mean that you do not love your child, it means you love your child so much that you will sacrifice your own emotions for your baby.

There are many couples, families, and individuals that would love the opportunity to parent your child. The reasons vary from an inability to conceive or other infertility issues to a desire to expand their family. Our adoptive families are certified through the courts or licensed by certified agencies and have undertaken a thorough process to ensure your child’s safety with a stable and loving home.

An adoption plan can be whatever you want it to be.

Can I choose the adoptive family of my child?

Yes, you have the option of approving the parents who will be adopting your baby. Each family makes a picture profile, which is a mini-scrap book that tells you about their lives. The profiles we will present to you are filled with photos of the family, their vacations, their home, hobbies and much more. It may also include a “Dear Birth Mother” letter that addresses other frequently asked questions such as their likes and dislikes, as well as their desires for you and your child.

The preferences that you have for parents for your child are matched with profiles of families that have similar preferences. Open adoption, closed adoption, families with no children, families with children, gay couples, and religious preference are all factors that you control. The one thing they all have in common is a desire to be a parent and make a lifelong commitment to love your child unconditionally.

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Arizona Adoption

Resources for Birth Mothers

Books About Adoption
www.tapestrybooks.com

Child Welfare Information Gateway
www.childwelfare.gov

National Domestic Abuse Hotline
www.thehotline.org

National Planned Parenthood Website
www.plannedparenthood.org

National Council for Adoption
www.adoptioncouncil.org

Adoption Story Fund
www.adoptionstoryfund.org

Arizona Child Health Plans
www.azahcccs.gov/applicants/categories/KidsCare.aspx

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
www.fns.usda.gov/snap

Arizona Department of Health Services
http://www.azdhs.gov

National Sexual Abuse Resource Center
www.nsvrc.org

United States Department of Health and Human Services
www.hhs.gov

Testimonials

Our Magical Little Boy

“I wanted to thank you both so much for everything you did for us. Without your dedication and expertise, we probably would not have our magical little boy."

- Love, Shelby, Conor, and Owen

High On Our List

“And you and ACAZ are way high on our list of folks that we have worked with as well. After some of the hassles and headaches we've dealt with on other adoption endeavors, including the one that ultimately placed these twins with us, we realize now just how great and smooth you guys made the process (with our first adoption)."

- Mike & Michelle

Right Decision For Me

"When I first found out I was pregnant, I was totally freaked out. I knew there was no way I was going to have an abortion, but I knew I could not raise another child right now.

The only right decision for me and my baby was to look at adoption.

I had a friend who did adoption so I asked her for her counselors name. I am not sure what I would have done if not for Adoption Choices. My counselor was there for me every step of the way even on her day off sometimes.

She always had great ideas but would never push me and she never judged me. In the hospital she was my voice when it was not such a good experience.

Thanks so much."

- Michelle C. (Adoption Choices Birth Mom)

No One Knew

"No one knew I was pregnant. My plan was to have the baby and use Safe Haven at the hospital. When the hospital social worker told me CPS was Safe Haven or I could pick my own family through an adoption agency – I did not want my baby in a foster home so I called Adoption Choices. They were in my room in less than an hour, helped me with the paperwork and my discharge. I did this in the best interest of my baby. Sometimes I’m sad... but I know my baby is happy and in a wonderful home."

- Anonymous (Adoption Choices Birth Mom)

It's People Like You

"It's people like you that make the world for kids like me better. People like you who help children and parents makes me happy, because people like you helped me get adopted by my family. I can't thank you or others enough for that."

-Samantha W.

I Am So Happy To Have Had You

"I wanted to say that through the entire pregnancy I was nervous that we'd get to delivery and I'd feel second thoughts or hesitation but when that moment arrived I felt so happy and completely secure in our decisions and I've felt so happy ever since. It's like a huge anxiety just disappeared and, for me, that's amazing. Thank you for everything you've done through this. I am so happy to have had you personally working with us."

-Kayla, Birth Mom

I Am So Happy To Have Had You

"Mike and I adopted twin girls through Adoption Choices. I'll never forget our conversation with you after our failed adoption. While we were deep in our grief, you told us about the special nature of failed family adoptions and how each one feels like it was hand-picked for us. Well, you are absolutely correct. We had an instant connection Francis, the girls' birth mom. It was so different than the one we had with Amanda.

Thank you for comforting us and giving us hope. There is no doubt you played a significant role in expanding our family!"

Anna & Mike Kraftson