Infant Adoption

In Virginia, the primary way to adopt an infant is through an open adoption that provides expectant parents the opportunity to make an individualized adoption plan and to choose the family who will parent their child. It provides prospective adoptive parents the opportunity to meet, share information and discuss future plans with a child's birth family, to receive a child from the hospital, and to access more complete information about family history. Expectant birth parents receive counseling, support and assistance in exploring options, gathering resources and making an adoption plan. Coordinators²inc considers "family preservation" as the first, best option for children and will explore that with any pregnant client as the first consideration. If an adoption plan is going to be made, coordinators²inc believes a fully open adoption plan is the best way to meet all of the needs of the child who will be placed. Adoptive parents receive home study, placement and post-placement services and support.

In Virginia, you can now choose two different legal paths to complete an open, infant adoption. The decision of which legal path to take is typically made by the placing parent(s) as they are considering their options for placement. One legal path is referred to as a Parental Placement Adoption (a term unique to Virginia). Parental Placement is considered a direct placement from birth parents to adoptive parents without an agency ever taking legal or physical custody of the child. The placing parent(s) choose the adoptive family with whom they wish to place their child, usually prior to the birth of the child. This agency requires the birth and adoptive parents to meet at least once “simultaneously” with their home study agency to exchange information such as names, addresses, medical and family history. While there is no longer a legal requirement for this meeting or for the exchange of identifying information, this agency requires this of all clients who use our Infant Adoption Services. Coordinators²inc believes that it is in a child's best interest for ALL information to be shared and will require the exchange of names and addresses and full background information if you choose to work with this agency.

The second legal path for an open, infant placement is an Agency Placement Adoption. For this type of adoption, the placing parent(s) sign an “entrustment” to an agency and the agency is responsible for placing the child into an adoptive family. The placing parent(s) may choose the family or allow the agency to choose the family for them. They may also choose to exchange identifying information or choose not to, preferring instead to keep names and addresses confidential. Currently, coordinators²inc is not licensed to take entrustments but can assist in Parental Placement Adoptions. Coordinators²inc can also facilitate an infant adoption from another state. Many of our adoptive parents choose to find placements via out of stage agencies. We assist our clients in locating reputable, competent agencies but allow for families to seek their owen agency if they wish. We caution all clients to ask lots of questions of out of state agencies and attorneys to be sure they are aware of ALL fees involved and the laws regarding consent in the other state.

Our staff knows that the decision to adopt a child or to place your child for adoption are life changing events and we are here to make sure that our clients feel supported from the beginning and for as long as they need our services. Coordinators²inc is committed to a lifetime partnership with our families.

 

Services Offered

• Home studies specific to Parental Placement Adoption

• Placement and post-placement services and support

• Expectant parent options counseling, support and referral to community resources.

What's Unique about Our Infant Program