“For a birth mother to choose life for her baby and give the gift of the child to another, is, and always will be, the essence of courage.”

At A Chosen Child, Inc., we believe this to be true and that belief has become the cornerstone of our agency philosophy. Deciding to place your baby for adoption takes a great deal of sacrifice and courage. You are about to embark on a bittersweet journey…hopefully turning this difficult time into the best thing you have ever done.

You probably have questions, and are wondering how you go about “making an adoption plan.”

If you believe that placing your baby for adoption is what is best for you and the baby at this time, then we, at A Chosen Child, Inc., are committed to helping you bring your plan to fruition. The staff at A Chosen Child, Inc.:

• Can offer support and counseling during this trying time, and will be there for you—24/7—when you need to talk.
• Will listen carefully to what you have to say about the type of family you would like for your baby, and will present you with profiles of many wonderful, stable and loving families that are qualified to adopt an infant so that you can select a family that is just right for your baby.
• Will arrange for a meeting between you and your selected family, if you so desire.
• Will be on hand to assist you with “labor-coaching” if you need us.
• Will arrange for you to receive regular updates and photos of your child as he or she grows, if you desire.
• Will protect your privacy at every stage of the process.
• Will arrange a fully open adoption if you believe this is the best option for you and your child.

Most importantly, the staff at A Chosen Child, Inc. will assure that you participate fully in the decisions associated with your adoption plan and that you are always treated with consideration and respect, not only by us, but by all of the professionals you will need to deal with, from the doctors to the insurance processors, to the hospital staff.

If you are pregnant, and would like to speak with someone regarding an adoption plan, please contact our 24 hour phone line at 321-287-5236 for immediate assistance.

TYPES OF FAMILIES
Once you have committed yourself to an adoption plan, the next step is to select the right family to parent your baby. When you work with A Chosen Child, Inc., we will ask you to think about the type of family you believe would be the best suited to raise the baby.

We believe it is important to hear from you about this vital decision. There are many factors you can consider, such as experiences from your own family, or your desire to insure that a specific area in your baby’s childhood is addressed and satisfied. Some of the most common factors that are used in deciding the type of family are as follows:

• Do you prefer a childless family or a family that already has children?
• Do you want to place your baby with a family that is truly infertile, who may have one or more adopted children, or will you consider families that are able to have biological children, but have made a conscious choice to expand their families through adoption?
• If you are seeking a married couple, how long do you want the couple to have been married?
• Are you seeking a two-parent family or would you prefer or consider a single adoptive parent?
• Do you have a religious preference?
• Do you prefer a family with pets? Or without?
• Do you want a family highly committed to education?

Most importantly, remember that you should consider the factors that are important to YOU. A Chosen Child, Inc., will make their best effort to find families that meet all or most of your criteria, but again, be assured that any family we present to you will be appropriately qualified.

PROFILES
All of the families that work with A Chosen Child, Inc., are asked to prepare a “profile” of themselves, their relatives, friends, and even their pets!!

When you are ready to select a family to adopt your baby, A Chosen Child, Inc., will gather several profiles of qualified families to present to you for consideration. These profiles are picked after you have told us about the type of family you envision raising your child.

Each profile is unique and intended to give you a glimpse into each family. Many of them will include pictures of them, their home, their wedding, special times with family and friends, travel snapshots and frequently also include pictures of the “four-legged” members of their family, along with a special letter directed to you. Once you have had the opportunity to hold one of those profiles in your hands, you will be able to understand the love and yearning for a child that is woven into every word and picture. Many families agonize for weeks trying to put together the “perfect” profile to introduce themselves to you.

We encourage you to read each one carefully, and let your heart decide. You will know when you have found the right family.

HOW FAMILIES ARE “QUALIFIED TO ADOPT”
The most important decision you will have to make regarding an adoption is how to choose the right family to raise your child. A Chosen Child, Inc., has the responsibility to insure that any family they present to you for consideration has been thoroughly investigated and qualified. We want you to feel confident that our families have been held to the highest standards our laws require for adoptive parents.

Under Florida law, a family must receive a favorable recommendation from a licensed home study provider in order to qualify to adopt a child. This means that social workers or other licensed professionals are permitted to conduct home studies under the laws of their states and will complete an exhaustive investigation of each family and prepare a report that will later be submitted to the court where the adoption will be handled.

In order to complete a successful home study, a family must show that they are emotionally and financially prepared to take on the responsibility of parenting a child. They will also have to submit to criminal and child abuse clearances. They will need character references that will be checked and medical clearances indicating that they are physically and emotionally healthy. The home study provider will also have to visit their home to make sure that it is a suitable environment for a child.

Once the investigation is completed, the home study provider will prepare a lengthy written report recommending the family as adoptive parents. This report can only be used by our agency and the court where the adoption will be processed.

When it is time for you to make your selection of a family to adopt your baby, we will only present you with families that have completed the above process, so you can be sure that they are properly qualified.