The adoption process for birth parents is not necessarily an order or a list of 10 steps you must complete; it consists of talking about different subjects that must be addressed before you make an adoptive plan. Every situation is different. We acknowledge that difference and are solely here to help you make the best decision for you and your baby.

First of all, it doesn’t matter when you contact Nebraska Children’s Home Society for assistance. You may be four months pregnant, eight months pregnant or you could be delivering your baby in the hospital right now. Of course, it is recommended for you to talk with us regarding your options as soon as possible, but we are here when you are ready. Please visit our statewide locations for a caseworker closest to you.

Also remember that our services do not have any fees attached and you are not obligated to do anything. We are simply here to help you make the best decision for you and your baby.

Meeting your Caseworker
One part of the adoption process is meeting with one of our caseworkers. We have caseworkers qualified and ready to work with you in a confidential setting. Your initial meeting is for you to get acquainted with your caseworker and to discuss all of your options for you are your baby. At this meeting you will not only discuss adoption, but also single parenting and marriage as a possibility. Click here to meet our staff.

Prenatal Care
Another important part of the process is keeping the baby inside you healthy. Once you meet with a caseworker, our concern will be with the baby and how you are dealing with your pregnancy. Please visit our Pregnancy Advise and Support section to learn about taking care of your baby. At this time if you do not have medical insurance to see a doctor, we will introduce you to Medicaid and how that process works.

A Father’s Role
Involvement with the father of the baby is another important part of the process. An adoption placement cannot take place without notification or signed relinquishments from the birth father. You will be asked to identify the birth father and to explain his involvement with the child. He could be your boyfriend or you may not know him well at all. Either way, he is still the father and needs to know that he has a child. Visit A Father’s Role section to learn more about his rights and role.

Support System
Identifying who is your support system during this time is very important. Our caseworkers will ask you who will be there for you whether you choose to parent or make an adoption plan. Have you told your parents? Does the father of your baby know? Do you have friends that you can talk to about your pregnancy? Who will be there for you? We ask about your support system because we understand that you should not have to deal with this by yourself. Your caseworker will be a part of your support system, but identifying others will help you greatly.

Picking an Adoptive Family
If you have eliminated single parenting and marriage and are ready to move forward with making an adoption plan, we will ask you to fill out a sheet regarding what you want in an adoptive family for your child. You will first be asked if there is someone in your family that could adopt the child. If there is not a relative, then we will help you find an adoptive couple in Nebraska Children’s Home’s adoptive couple pool. You will be asked to rank and choose characteristics such as age, occupation, hobbies, religion, and family size that you want in a potential adoptive family. From this list of characteristics that you provide our caseworkers will bring to you potential adoptive couple profiles for you to choose between. Once you choose an adoptive family for your child, you can decide if you’d like to meet them. It is up to you.

Adoption Education
If you have decided to make an adoption plan, our caseworkers will educate you on adoption today and how it can work for you. We will walk you through the different topics that are addressed in this ADOPTION PROCESS section and allow you to ask all the questions you have about adoption. To learn more about adoption, visit our Question & Answer section.

Exploring Open Adoption
You may have heard about open adoption and the degrees of openness, but it can all be confusing until you are in this situation. Firstly, an open adoption means that you are able to select the adoptive parents for your child. Some open relationships mean that pictures and letters are exchanged both between the birth parents and the adoptive family. Other open relationships mean that the two families meet and get together for holidays and birthdays. The degree of openness you want is decided between you and the adoptive family. Sometimes it will become more open over the years, sometimes less. We encourage open adoption and find that is best for the child.

At the Hospital
Going to the hospital for the delivery of your baby can sometimes be a very confusing and scary time. If you are nervous going to the hospital, our caseworkers will be there to provide support or even be your labor coach! It is up to you whether you want the adoptive family at the hospital or whether you want to be with your friends and family or just be alone with your baby. You are still the parent of your child when you are at the hospital and until you have signed relinquishments. Minimally, you have 48 hours before you can even sign relinquishments. We encourage you to take as much time as you need with your baby to decide whether you are ready to sign relinquishments or if you decide to parent. Your baby can go to Cradle Care with a NCHS family (not the adoptive couple) if you need more time to decide what you want for your child.

Grieving Process
If you have decided to make an adoptive plan and have signed the relinquishments, you may experience the grieving process. The length and level of your grieving depends on your individual situation and how you have previously dealt with changes in your life. At Nebraska Children’s Home Society, we will try to prepare you for the feelings you will have and also have birth parent support groups available for you. We found that being with others who have also gone through the same situation is very healing and beneficial. The decision you will make regarding your child will be challenging and we are here to help you through this time in your life. Our support is on-going and you can continue to call us forever. Visit our Testimonials page to hear how others have dealt with their decisions.