If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, adoption is one of your options. Adoption is something you may or may not have considered. You may have seen something about it on a movie, you may have known someone who was adopted, or you may have heard something about it in the news. Whatever you've heard about this complex subject, you likely have some idea of what is involved.

Adoption is hard to understand. It involves two sets of parents and one child. One set of parents conceives the child, carries it, and gives birth to it. After birth, the other set of parents takes over. They nurture the child, supply its needs, and provide parental guidance. They are the child's parents. The first set of parents is considered the child's “birth parents” because they gave life and birth to the child, but they do not parent the child. The second set of parents is referred to simply as the child's “parents.”

We hope that the following information will help you to better understand adoption. The answers provided are reflective of policies of the Nebraska Children's Home Society. They are not necessarily answers you would find at other agencies. Remember, you can call one of our staff members at any time to set up an appointment or to talk about your situation.

Please visit our Adoption Questions & Answers page to learn more about the adoption process.