Considering Adoption During Quarantine
With the unpredictability that is COVID-19, major life decisions become even more daunting. Hope is difficult to maintain during this time and with an unplanned pregnancy, anxiety is heightened to a crippling degree. It’s normal that, as a birth mother, you want the best for your child, even if that means you aren’t raising them. We support your decision to place your baby for adoption.
Here at Adoption Choices of Arizona, we are still operating full services and are here to help. COVID-19 and state-wide shutdowns will not stop us from giving you the help and guidance you need on this journey. Continue reading if you are considering adoption during quarantine.
What’s the first step to choosing adoption during quarantine?
Despite social distancing guidelines, there are a variety of ways to get in contact with someone to guide you in the process of placing your child for adoption. These can include phone calls, texts, emails and even video chatting. Because we are a local, private adoption agency, we are operating full services and don’t have shorten business hours. Even if you live in a different state, we are more than happy to offer applicable resources to you.
How is the adoption process different during quarantine?
Even though we are in a global pandemic, and fear of the unknown future is high, quarantine and social distancing guidelines have only affected adoption in a few ways.
One of the most notable differences is the relationship between birth mother and adoptive parents. The relationship will need to be developed virtually, rather than in person. In some cases, it’s not a big change, considering many hopeful adoptive parents match with birth mothers in different states. Yet, even if all parties live in the same state, or close to each other, in-person meetings have been put on hold to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Adoptive parents won’t be able to attend doctor’s appointments or even the birth of the child. Fortunately, with technology such as FaceTime, ZOOM, Skype and more, the birth mother and adoptive parents can still work together to develop a relationship with one another.
Other than this virtual change, we are continuing to make the adoption process as seamless as possible.
Do people want to adopt during quarantine?
Babies don’t stop being born just because there’s a virus targeting the world. There are still adoptions happening, but not at a normal rate. COVID-19 has not only affected birth mothers, but potential adoptive parents as well. The global pandemic has slightly reduced the number of adoptions due travel ban, personal financial struggles, and more. This doesn’t stop many families from starting the adoption process, though.
Our adoption professionals have seen a record number of families beginning the adoption process. With more time to focus on the paperwork and personal details of an adoption plan, an increase in ready families is logical.
It’s important to know that although the adoption process is a little different right now, your child will be in a safe place. If you give birth before finding the right family for your child, your baby will be temporarily cared for by a safe care facility until their forever family comes. We are thankful for caregivers in many of these facilities as they are spending their lockdown away from their own families to take care of children in need.
Considering Adoption During Quarantine
Don’t be afraid to reach out and we’ll answer any questions you have to the best of our ability. The world is a scary place right now, but we’ll do our best to make the adoption process a little less daunting and a little more comfortable.
Always remember that regardless where you are in the decision making process of placing your child for adoption, you have the right to wait until you are comfortable to sign any paperwork.
For adoption resources or to begin your adoption journey, birth parents can visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona or call or text us at 1-480-900-5520. If you are an prospective adoptive family hoping to adopt a baby, please instead, visit us here!
Meet the author: Sarah Aguilera, a Northern Arizona University linguistics and creative writing graduate, is an aspiring author with a passion for influencing others through written words. She has a healthy ardor for all things literature and is often found with a book in her hands.
When she’s not working, Sarah likes to spend her free time swimming, playing with her dog, going to concerts with friends and having crazy adventures with her family. Her love for her own family is what pushed her to join the adoption writing team. She looks forward to educating those hoping to grow their family through adoption.
