Pregnant and Considering Adoption?
Personalized adoption services
Catholic Charities West Michigan offers personalized adoption services and works as your advocate through the adoption process, prioritizing your well-being and what is best for your child. If you are considering adoption for your baby, you likely have a lot of questions and want to know you are working with an agency that has your best interests at heart. Our experienced counselors can help you explore whether parenting or adoption is the best option for you, at this point in your life. If you ultimately choose adoption, we will help you make the best adoption plan possible. If you choose to parent your child, we will assist you in meeting your goals as a parent.
For more information, contact one of our on-call counselors at (877) 673-6338 or email us at pregnancy@ccwestmi.org.
Adoption Services Offered
- Counseling at no cost
- Exploration of parenting and adoption options to insure a well thought out decision.
- Full explanation of the legal and emotional process of adoption
- Assistance choosing an adoptive family, either selected from among those prepared and educated by our agency, or identified by you to be evaluated by the agency.
- Help identifying the degree of openness desired in the adoptive relationship.
- Support of a counselor to walk with you both during and after your adoptive placement.
- Ongoing grief and loss support and connection to a community support group.
- Pregnancy support services to assist you if you ultimately choose to parent your child.
For more information, contact one of our on-call counselors at: (877) 673-6338 or email us at pregnancy@ccwestmi.org.
Information on Open Adoption
Our adoption program allows you to choose the degree of openness that feels right for you. Our counselors will help you explore open adoption and the ongoing impact on you and your child. Our goal is to have quality adoptive families who are educated regarding the benefits of openness and who are committed to this type of adoption. Choices concerning the openness of the adoption range from exchanging letters and pictures to visits with your child and adoptive parents. Each relationship is unique and based on the needs of all parties involved. You are provided the opportunity to select the adoptive family for your child, meet this family and develop an ongoing relationship for the life of the child.
For more information, contact one of our on-call counselors at: (877) 673-6338 or email us at pregnancy@ccwestmi.org.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
No, we serve people of all faiths.
No, our adoptive pool is also open to families of all faiths.
No. The services are completely free to you.
Yes, you can choose an adoptive family from among the families prepared by the agency or we can study a family that you choose. You will also have the opportunity to meet and develop a relationship with the adoptive family prior to the birth of the baby.
You are in full control of how much time you want to spend with your baby at the hospital.
You are also in full control of whether the adoptive family is part of the birth and hospital experience.
An open adoption refers to an adoption where the birth family and the adoptive family exchange identifying information and have ongoing contact throughout the child’s life. This contact can range from pictures and letters to an extended family type relationship based on the needs of all parties involved. Open adoptions are a way to join two families and to serve the long term identity development of the child.
In the state of Michigan there are no laws that make openness in adoption legally enforceable. This relationship is based on a trust agreement between the birth and adoptive parents. For this reason, it is important to choose an adoptive family that is fully committed to the level of open adoption you are hoping for.
All adoptive families need to have a pre-placement assessment as required by the State of Michigan. This includes FBI background checks, medical clearances, references, Child Protective Services background checks and an extensive study of the family’s home, community and social history.
The father is a very important part of the process and we work to engage him as much as possible during the process to get his input, and his genetic and social history. If that is not possible, we will work with you to understand his legal rights as a parent and how he plays a role in the adoption process.
Your baby gets to go home with the adoptive family you choose directly from the hospital in what is called a temporary placement. After a period of time passes (often around 3 to 6 weeks) you will go to court and consent to the adoption before a judge or referee. This is when you consent to the adoption and make your decision final. Up until the day you go to court you can request the return of the baby to your care.
Michigan law allows in some cases for birthparents to consent to their adoption in a way that does not require the consent to be before a judge/referee in a court room. In these cases, the birthparents sign their adoption consent papers before an attorney and an adoption case worker. Michigan law allows this to be done as early as 72 hours after the baby’s birth.
For more information, contact one of our on-call counselors at: (877) 673-6338 or email us at pregnancy@ccwestmi.org.
Why Choose Catholic Charities West Michigan?
With the number of agencies and attorneys located throughout West Michigan it can be difficult to know who to trust to walk you through this difficult decision.
- It is not our goal to get you to make an adoption plan. We are here to work with you to help you decide what is best for you and your baby. We will support you no matter what decision you make.
- Our adoption program was created to find families for children, not children for families. We are committed, above all else, to the needs of children.
- Our agency has been providing adoption services in West Michigan for over 70 years. We were pioneers in the area of open adoption, and continue to lead in this area.
- Our program serves South West Michigan, so all of our adoptive families are local.
- We provide lifelong counseling services to assist you as you process your adoption decision. We also provide you with connection to a community wide support group.
- We will provide you with opportunities for a truly open adoption. Our adoptive families look to open adoption because they believe it’s what is in the best interest of an adopted child.
For more information, contact one of our on-call counselors at: (877) 673-6338 or email us at pregnancy@ccwestmi.org.
