What Professionals Need To Know About Private Adoption And How It Is Different Than DCS
Are you a professional working alongside birth mothers and want to know more about the adoption process? At Adoption Choices, we want everyone to know the ins and outs when they’re helping someone place their baby for adoption. There are many people involved in the adoption process, so it’s important everyone is up to date on policies, patient rights, and the different parts involved in making an adoption plan. If you’re interested in learning more about the difference between private adoption and DCS, then keep reading!
When you work with prospective birth mothers in the hospital, you may come across some women who are dealing with addiction, substance abuse, or other difficulties in their lives. Often, if the mother is addicted, the baby is also born addicted. This is where Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) may step in. DCS caseworkers can step in and take the baby after birth and place them in foster care. This is usually against the wishes of the birth mother and not an ideal situation for a child. When a woman has made a voluntary adoption plan, it means she is likely working with an adoption agency and has already chosen adoptive parents. She wants her baby to be placed directly in their care at birth.
What is Private Adoption?
Many birth mothers who face an unplanned pregnancy want to know their options. Private adoption can offer opportunities for these women without worrying about raising a child they are not able to support or unable to provide for. Especially in a situation in which the state will come in and take the baby away at birth, private adoption is an option. The adoption process can be complex and requires a lot of emotional commitment from all members of the process to ensure a successful experience so it’s important to contact a licensed agency as soon as the child is born.
What is DCS?
Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is the entity charged with child protection in the state of Arizona. They are often the first to be contacted if a baby is suspected to be born to an addicted or troubled woman. The state takes custody of the child and places them in foster care. This means the birth mother does not control where her child is placed. This can result in anxiety, guilt, or fear for the birth parents.
This is a major differences between public intervention and private adoption. When a birth mother chooses private adoption, she is choosing to create an adoption plan and voluntarily places her child for adoption. She is choosing to work with an adoption agency such as Adoption Choices that can help to make this a smooth, ethical, and loving process. Private adoption means immediate permanence. Foster care could mean 18 years bouncing from home to home with less stability. Often, if a child is removed through the state, this takes away a lot of the birth mother’s choices and control.
Why Is Private Adoption Beneficial?
Private adoption provides many benefits for birth parents and hopeful adoptive parents. For birth mothers, the biggest pro is that private adoption is voluntary. The birth mother is in full control of whether or not she wants to be a participant. She can choose the adoptive family, choose the level of openness, and can even receive some financial assistance and post-placement counseling. Whether a birth mother or parents decide to pursue open or semi-open adoption, adoption agencies like Adoption Choices can help facilitate this communication.
How Can You Help Birth Mothers?
Knowing about private versus public adoption and the benefits of private adoption can be beneficial when you help aid birth mothers through this time. Depending on your profession, birth parents may look to you for opinions and advice, so knowing the different options they have can impact their adoption plan. If you’re looking for other ways to help a birth mother facing an unplanned pregnancy, keep reading!
1. Support The Birth Mother’s WIshes
As a hospital worker, you may be able to support birth mothers’ wishes to provide a stable home for her child. Especially if you know DCS will become involved, you can advocate for adoption and use your knowledge of the birth mother’s benefits to your advantage.
2. Communicate Openly and Honestly
She needs your support and guidance; this is the most important time to be open and honest with her. In having open and honest conversations, she can learn about all of her options and what she’s facing in her situation.
This will allow her to make the best-informed decision on what is best for her and her child. Open and honest communication can also create the best environment for her and her child post-placement.
3. Have Adoption Referrals
Staying informed is also essential for helping birth mothers choose the right path for themselves and their child. One way to stay informed is to be up to date with the different adoption agencies that can aid a birth mother throughout the adoption process.
One effective way to do this is to give her the contact information for Adoption Choices of Arizona, who can best assist her with different services to make this a smooth and stress-free process for everyone involved.
Working With Adoption Choices of Arizona
If you’re a professional working in the healthcare field or related to adoption, we know how much of a giving person you are and how you want to help others. One of the best ways to do that is to stay informed on patient rights, policies, and different paths for birth parents.
By staying informed, you can then help birth parents make the choice that best suits their needs and their child’s needs. At Adoption Choices of Arizona, we want the best for birth parents too. That’s why we are dedicated to providing them with different services and opportunities and providing you with the information you need so we can all help each other.
Content Author Katherine Doherty