The steps to making an adoption plan
Anyone who is experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and is considering making an adoption plan for their child should first research different agencies that complete adoptions. It is important to find an agency that they're comfortable with. Each agency will offer a slightly different process and each has its own style. Interview several and ask lots of questions. Click here for a list of adoption agencies in Minnesota.

Next, birth parents need to contact the agency they'd like to work with. They'll be assigned a pregnancy counselor or adoption worker. This person's role is to help birth parents in their decision-making, educate them about adoption, and help them prepare for the grief they will experience in making an adoption plan for their child. After a person has contacted an agency and has decided on adoption, several steps need to be completed.

1 Every birth parent needs to fill out a Social and Medical history form. All agencies have these forms.

2 After the background form is completed, birth parents need to begin choosing a family for their child. Sometimes birth parents may already know the family that they want to adopt their child. The family may be relatives, friends of the family, or someone else they know. Sometimes they don’t though. In these cases most agencies have a large book with many profiles of families who are waiting to adopt a baby. Birth parents can go through this book to select a few families that they want to meet with.

3 After the birth parents have chosen a family, they need to work on their Cooperative Agreement. The Cooperative Agreement is a document that helps birth parents and adoptive parents structure their relationship. It covers how much time they will spend together before the birth of the baby, in the hospital, and after the baby is with the adoptive parents. Birth parents and adoptive parents can spend as much time together as they choose.

4 When the baby is born, birth parents can spend as much time as they want to or need to with their baby. Most often, the adoptive parents take the baby home from the hospital. (This is decided in the Cooperative Agreement.) Some medical staff members are very aware of modern adoptions; some may need help understanding the process. Feel free to talk with your social worker if you feel like the medical staff members caring for you need additional information about adoption.

5 After the baby goes home with his/her new parents, the birth parents need to terminate their parental rights. This is accomplished in one of two ways:
a. Signing of Voluntary Consents
b. Court Termination The pregnancy counselor/adoption worker will be able to tell the birth parents if Signing Voluntary Consents or a Court Termination is best.

6 After the adoption is completed, birth parents, adoptive parents and the child are able to maintain a relationship as agreed upon in the Cooperative Agreement.

Want more information?
People are ready to help. If you would like more information about the adoption option, ask us.
Adoption Option Committee, Inc.
P.O. Box 24132 Minneapolis, MN 55424
phone: 952-944-0866
e-mail: info@aoci.org

Or contact a local adoption agency.